As Aaron Expounded These Things Unto the Amalekites They Became Angry with Him

George Reynolds, Janne M. Sjodahl

Aaron was not to be confounded by the bickerings of the Amalekites, nor was he to be turned from delivering the message which he bore. Unmindful of their threats and undaunted in following the course he set out to pursue, Aaron, calmly, and even joyously, proclaimed the Salvation of the Lord to the unbelieving people of Jerusalem.

Aaron boldly declared Christ, his atoning blood; the resurrection of the dead, and the Redemption of mankind. But the Amalekites, so strongly entrenched in the doctrines of Nehor, would not hear his words. They mocked, they ridiculed, they reviled and smote God's holy servants. But, the missionaries, patient under trial and imbued with righteous faith, withheld blow for blow, refusing to revile the reviler. They thought of the sufferings foretold of Him, whose servants they were.

At length, seeing their words turned into mockery and their appeals into scorn, their testimonies rejected by the Amalekites whose sole rebuttal was to deny and deride, Aaron "departed out of their synagogue, and came over to a village called Ani-Anti."

In Ani-Anti, Aaron found Muloki, Ammah, and his brethren, preaching the word of the Lord. It was not difficult to engage the people there in arguments concerning their preachments; the Sacred Record says, "They contended with many about the Word." But, nevertheless, and notwithstanding the truthfulness of their words and the purity of their purpose, the harder the missionaries worked, the harder became the hearts of the people there. Again, the Sacred Record notes that the missionaries departed and sought others who would listen more attentively to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

Not far from Ani-Anti was the Land of Middoni. Aaron and his brethren entered there, and preached the Glad Tidings of the Gospel unto many. There were a few who believed their words and who took upon themselves the name of Christ. Others became more bitter and malignant.

Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 3

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