“Man cannot earn his own salvation. He cannot be cleansed by personal suffering for his own sins” (Oaks, “Another Testament of Christ”).
What does this verse teach us about the spiritual growth in Lamoni’s father? (22:15) “Lamoni’s father was so impressed with the message of the gospel that he said to Aaron, ‘I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy’ (Alma 22:15; emphasis added). In contrast, when Lamoni’s father was earlier faced with the fear of death, he promised Ammon up to ‘half of the kingdom’ if he would spare him (Alma 20:23; emphasis added). It is interesting to note that the king’s value of physical life was only half that of the value he placed on principles that would affect him eternally” (Williams, “Instruments in the Hands of God,” 102).