Aaron, talking to Lamoni’s father, emphasized that because of the fall of man, man could not merit anything of himself. As you think about this, how would a king of that stature likely receive that teaching? King Benjamin was willing to admit that he was only “dust,” but that was rare. King Benjamin’s sentiments were not Lamoni’s father’s usual way of thinking about himself.
He was, however, impressed enough by Aaron’s teaching that he asked, “What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken?” (22:15). That was the crucial question that was asked by the Pharisee who came alone to speak with Jesus and asked, “What shall I do to inherit eternal life” (Luke 18:18). Lamoni’s father also asked, “What shall I do to be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast?” (22:15). People in the ancient world were very concerned about having wicked spirits in them and wanted to expurgate them. Lamoni’s father wanted to see that wicked spirits were removed from having any influence over him. He also recognized his failings, and he wanted to get rid of those shortcomings. Aaron took the opportunity to tell Lamoni’s father that he must repent, bow down before God, and call upon His name. And in response, this was the wonderful prayer that the king offered: “O God; if there is a God, … I will give away all my sins to know thee” (22:18)
When we urgently need an answer to a prayer, should we not be thinking of this same thing? We no longer make sacrifices of blood and sacrificial animals or grain offerings, but there are things we can sacrifice—things such as sins that we are willing to give up to know the Lord and his will. It is pleasing to the Lord when we say, “I would like to know, O Lord, what the answer to this problem is, and this is what I will give up that I might know.” Have you ever asked in that way, and how has it worked?
Remember in Alma 20:23, when Ammon was in a position to kill Lamoni’s father, what did that king say? He pled, “If thou wilt spare me, I will grant unto thee … even to half of [my] kingdom.” That was quite an offer, wasn’t it? But now, after hearing Aaron’s words, the king has made even greater progress. At first, he was only willing to give up half his kingdom. Now he is willing to “give up all that [he] possess[ed]” (22:15). He was even willing to “forsake [his] kingdom]” (22:5) and, more important, he was willing to give up “all [his] sins” (22:18).
With that, he was “struck as if he were dead” (22:18), and the queen orders the people to kill Aaron (22:21). But Aaron extended his hand and “raised the king from the earth” (22:22), and everyone in his whole household was converted unto the Lord (22:23). The king pacified his people “towards Aaron” (22:25), and then he sent a proclamation granting protection and freedom of religious expression to the four sons of Mosiah “throughout all the land” (22:27). Words from that proclamation are found in Alma 23:1–3. They will be discussed in the next installment of these Notes, together with the geo-political description of the lands that were affected by that proclamation, as was inserted by Mormon in Alma 22:27–34.