How much are you worth to God?

Since I'm working on Leviticus 27 in the Every Jot and Tittle Project, I'm updating this post using the current price of silver.

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Not much, I'm afraid.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying ... thy estimation shall be of the male from twenty years old even unto sixty years old ... fifty shekels of silver....

And if it be a female, then thy estimation shall be thirty shekels.

And if it be from five years old even unto twenty years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male twenty shekels, and for the female ten shekels.

And if it be from a month old even unto five years old, then thy estimation shall be of the male five shekels of silver, and for the female thy estimation shall be three shekels of silver.

And if it be from sixty years old and above; if it be a male, then thy estimation shall be fifteen shekels, and for the female ten shekels. Leviticus 27:1-7

Here's a table to make it a little easier to see.

The Value of Human Life (in shekels of silver)

Age	Sex	Value (in Shekels of Silver)
less than one month (Newborn babies and fetuses)	male	0
	female	0
one month to 5 years	male	5
	female	3
5 to 20 years	male	20
	female	10
20 to 60 years	male	50
	female	30
over 60 years	male	15
	female	10

And here's a graph, showing the same information.

So now you know how much you're worth in shekels of silver. But what would that be in U.S. dollars?

Well a shekel is about 11 grams and a kilogram of silver sells today for about $661.50. So here's the true value of every human life in dollars and cents.

The Value of Human Life (in U.S. dollars)

Age	Sex	Value (in U.S. dollars)
less than one month (Newborn babies and fetuses)	male	0
	female	0
one month to 5 years	male	36.40
	female	21.84
5 to 20 years	male	145.60
	female	72.80
20 to 60 years	male	364.00
	female	218.40
over 60 years	male	109.20
	female	72.80

From the graph, a few things are obvious.

1. People aren't worth much to God.
2. Males are worth more than females.
   (A female is worth one-half to two-thirds a male depending on age.)
3. Newborn babies (less than 1 month old) and fetuses are worth nothing at all.

EJ&T: Leviticus 25: Rules for buying land and slaves

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are 613. See here for a list of those that I've found so far.

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Every 49 years, blow a trumpet on the tenth day of the seventh month.

Thou shalt number seven sabbaths of years unto thee, seven times seven years; and the space of the seven sabbaths of years shall be unto thee forty and nine years. Then shalt thou cause the trumpet of the jubile to sound on the tenth day of the seventh month, in the day of atonement shall ye make the trumpet sound throughout all your land. Leviticus 25:8-9

Declare a jubilee year every 50 years.

During each jubilee year, proclaim liberty throughout the land; return to your place of birth; and do not plant or harvest any crops.

Ye shall hallow the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof: it shall be a jubile unto you; and ye shall return every man unto his possession, and ye shall return every man unto his family. A jubile shall that fiftieth year be unto you: ye shall not sow, neither reap that which groweth of itself in it, nor gather the grapes in it of thy vine undressed. For it is the jubile; it shall be holy unto you: ye shall eat the increase thereof out of the field. In the year of this jubile ye shall return every man unto his possession. Leviticus 25:10-13

Buy and sell property based on the number of years since the last jubilee, with the price proportional to the number of years until the next jubilee year.

If thou sell ought unto thy neighbour, or buyest ought of thy neighbour's hand ... According to the number of years after the jubile thou shalt buy of thy neighbour, and according unto the number of years of the fruits he shall sell unto thee: According to the multitude of years thou shalt increase the price thereof, and according to the fewness of years thou shalt diminish the price of it: for according to the number of the years of the fruits doth he sell unto thee. Leviticus 25:14-17

Don't oppress one another.

Ye shall not oppress one another. Leviticus 25:14

Ye shall not therefore oppress one another. Leviticus 25:17

If a man be just, and do that which is lawful and right, and ... hath not oppressed any. Ezekiel 18:5-6

Oppress not the widow, nor the fatherless, the stranger, nor the poor. Zecharaiah 7:10

Don't sell real estate. The land belongs to God, not you.

The land shall not be sold for ever: for the land is mine, for ye are strangers and sojourners with me. Leviticus 25:23

If you buy land, you must allow the seller the right to buy it back.

In all the land of your possession ye shall grant a redemption for the land. Leviticus 25:24

With every purchase of land you must grant the seller the right to buy it back. Leviticus 25:24, New Living Translation

If one of your close relatives is forced to sell land, then you must buy it, with the usual Jubilee year pricing.

The poor relative has the right to buy it back, but if he can't, then you get to keep it until the next jubilee when you must return it to him. (Or something like that.)

If thy brother be waxen poor, and hath sold away some of his possession, and if any of his kin come to redeem it, then shall he redeem that which his brother sold. And if the man have none to redeem it, and himself be able to redeem it; Then let him count the years of the sale thereof, and restore the overplus unto the man to whom he sold it; that he may return unto his possession. But if he be not able to restore it to him, then that which is sold shall remain in the hand of him that hath bought it until the year of jubile: and in the jubile it shall go out, and he shall return unto his possession. Leviticus 25:25-28

If one of your fellow Israelites falls into poverty and is forced to sell some family land, then a close relative should buy it back for him. If there is no close relative to buy the land, but the person who sold it gets enough money to buy it back, he then has the right to redeem it from the one who bought it. The price of the land will be discounted according to the number of years until the next Year of Jubilee. In this way the original owner can then return to the land. But if the original owner cannot afford to buy back the land, it will remain with the new owner until the next Year of Jubilee. In the jubilee year, the land must be returned to the original owners so they can return to their family land. Leviticus 25:25-28, New Living Translation

If you sell a house in a walled city, you have the right to buy it back within a year after the sale.

But if you don't buy it back within a year, the sale is final. You won't get it back even at the next jubilee year.

And if a man sell a dwelling house in a walled city, then he may redeem it within a whole year after it is sold; within a full year may he redeem it. And if it be not redeemed within the space of a full year, then the house that is in the walled city shall be established for ever to him that bought it throughout his generations: it shall not go out in the jubile. Leviticus 25:29-30

Anyone who sells a house inside a walled town has the right to buy it back for a full year after its sale. During that year, the seller retains the right to buy it back. But if it is not bought back within a year, the sale of the house within the walled town cannot be reversed. It will become the permanent property of the buyer. It will not be returned to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee. Leviticus 25:29-30, New Living Translation

If you sell a house in an village without a wall, you may buy it back whenever you like.

Or you can just wait until the jubilee year when you'll get it back for nothing.

But the houses of the villages which have no wall round about them shall be counted as the fields of the country: they may be redeemed, and they shall go out in the jubile. Leviticus 25:31

But a house in a village—a settlement without fortified walls—will be treated like property in the countryside. Such a house may be bought back at any time, and it must be returned to the original owner in the Year of Jubilee. Leviticus 25:31, New Living Translation

Levites own the suburbs and always have the right to buy back any property they sell.

Notwithstanding the cities of the Levites, and the houses of the cities of their possession, may the Levites redeem at any time. And if a man purchase of the Levites, then the house that was sold, and the city of his possession, shall go out in the year of jubile: for the houses of the cities of the Levites are their possession among the children of Israel. But the field of the suburbs of their cities may not be sold; for it is their perpetual possession. Leviticus 25:32-34

The Levites always have the right to buy back a house they have sold within the towns allotted to them. And any property that is sold by the Levites—all houses within the Levitical towns—must be returned in the Year of Jubilee. After all, the houses in the towns reserved for the Levites are the only property they own in all Israel. The open pastureland around the Levitical towns may never be sold. It is their permanent possession. Leviticus 25:332-33, New Living Translation

Help the poor.

If thy brother be waxen poor, and fallen in decay with thee; then thou shalt relieve him: yea, though he be a stranger, or a sojourner; that he may live with thee. Leviticus 25:35

If there be among you a poor man of one of thy brethren within any of thy gates in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thine heart, nor shut thine hand from thy poor brother. But thou shalt open thine hand wide unto him. Beware that there be not a thought in thy wicked heart, saying, The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand; and thine eye be evil against thy poor brother, and thou givest him nought; and he cry unto the Lord against thee, and it be sin unto thee. Thou shalt surely give him, and thine heart shall not be grieved when thou givest unto him: because that for this thing the Lord thy God shall bless thee in all thy works, and in all that thou puttest thine hand unto. For the poor shall never cease out of the land: therefore I command thee, saying, Thou shalt open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in thy land. Deuteronomy 15:7-11

Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy. Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked. Psalm 82:3-4

We should remember the poor. Galatians 2:10

If someone in your country becomes poor and is sold to you as a slave, treat that person as a servant, not as a slave, and set them free on the next jubilee year.

if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee ; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant: But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile. And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return. ... Thou shalt not rule over him with rigour. Leviticus 25:39-43

When you buy slaves, buy a heathen from a nearby country. After you buy them, they are your property and your children will inherit them after you die. They will be your family's slaves forever.

Both thy bondmen, and thy bondmaids, which thou shalt have, shall be of the heathen that are round about you; of them shall ye buy bondmen and bondmaids. Moreover of the children of the strangers that do sojourn among you, of them shall ye buy, and of their families that are with you, which they begat in your land: and they shall be your possession. And ye shall take them as an inheritance for your children after you, to inherit them for a possession; they shall be your bondmen for ever. Leviticus 25:44-46

If a foreigner buys someone who lives in this country, the slave may be bought back by the slave's family, with the usual jubilee year pricing.

And if a sojourner or stranger wax rich by thee, and thy brother that dwelleth by him wax poor, and sell himself unto the stranger or sojourner by thee, or to the stock of the stranger's family: After that he is sold he may be redeemed again; one of his brethren may redeem him: Either his uncle, or his uncle's son, may redeem him, or any that is nigh of kin unto him of his family may redeem him; or if he be able, he may redeem himself. And he shall reckon with him that bought him from the year that he was sold to him unto the year of jubile: and the price of his sale shall be according unto the number of years, according to the time of an hired servant shall it be with him. If there be yet many years behind, according unto them he shall give again the price of his redemption out of the money that he was bought for. And if there remain but few years unto the year of jubile, then he shall count with him, and according unto his years shall he give him again the price of his redemption. And as a yearly hired servant shall he be with him: and the other shall not rule with rigour over him in thy sight. And if he be not redeemed in these years, then he shall go out in the year of jubile, both he, and his children with him. Leviticus 25:47-54

Alma 24: Bright Swords

If you remember from the last chapter, the Anti-Nephi-Lehi’s were doing pretty good for themselves. But, (in the Book of Mormon) if things are going well, you can bet that war is just around the corner. The local Amalekites, Amulonites, and Lamanites who had not converted began to rebel against the king, and to “take arms against” the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. (I suppose you could call them Anti-Anti-Nephi-Lehis!)

And it came to pass that the Amalekites and the Amulonites and the Lamanites who were in the land of Amulon, and also in the land of Helam, and who were in the land of Jerusalem, and in fine, in all the land round about, who had not been converted and had not taken upon them the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, were stirred up by the Amalekites and by the Amulonites to anger against their brethren. Alma 24.1

And their hatred became exceedingly sore against them, even insomuch that they began to rebel against their king, insomuch that they would not that he should be their king; therefore, they took up arms against the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. 24.2

I guess the king was pretty intimidated by these rebels, because he decided to abdicate the throne and pass off his problems to his son. His son was pretty into the struggle, though, so maybe it was a good choice. He even changed his name to Anti-Nephi-Lehi. That must have made for some strange dinner parties. “Have you met my son, Anti-Nephi-Lehi?”

Now the king conferred the kingdom upon his son, and he called his name Anti-Nephi-Lehi. 24.3

But it didn’t matter a whole lot, either way. Turns out the king died the same year.

And the king died in that selfsame year that the Lamanites began to make preparations for war against the people of God. 24.4

When Ammon and his buddies had heard about the Lamanite’s battle preparations, they decided to rally their troops in the land of Midian, and then hold a war council in the land of Ishmael.

Now when Ammon and his brethren and all those who had come up with him saw the preparations of the Lamanites to destroy their brethren, they came forth to the land of Midian, and there Ammon met all his brethren; and from thence they came to the land of Ishmael that they might hold a council with Lamoni and also with his brother Anti-Nephi-Lehi, what they should do to defend themselves against the Lamanites. 25.5

But there was a problem. Not a single one of their new converts (The Anti-Nephi-Lehis) would fight. Not even to save their lives. They were just too damn enlightened. Mr. Anti-Nephi-Lehi gave a speech explaining all about how their sins had been washed away, and they didn’t want to sin any more. He spoke at length about how their swords had been washed clean by the blood of God, and how he didn’t want to stain them again with the blood of his brethren. He said that even if the Lamanites were going to kill them, they would bury their swords deep in the earth and not use them to defend themselves.

Now there was not one soul among all the people who had been converted unto the Lord that would take up arms against their brethren; nay, they would not even make any preparations for war; yea, and also their king commanded them that they should not. 24.6 

Now, these are the words which he said unto the people concerning the matter: I thank my God, my beloved people, that our great God has in goodness sent these our brethren, the Nephites, unto us to preach unto us, and to convince us of the traditions of our wicked fathers. 24.7 

And behold, I thank my great God that he has given us a portion of his Spirit to soften our hearts, that we have opened a correspondence with these brethren, the Nephites. 24.8 

And behold, I also thank my God, that by opening this correspondence we have been convinced of our sins, and of the many murders which we have committed. 24.9 

And I also thank my God, yea, my great God, that he hath granted unto us that we might repent of these things, and also that he hath forgiven us of those our many sins and murders which we have committed, and taken away the guilt from our hearts, through the merits of his Son. 24.10 

And now behold, my brethren, since it has been all that we could do (as we were the most lost of all mankind) to repent of all our sins and the many murders which we have committed, and to get God to take them away from our hearts, for it was all we could do to repent sufficiently before God that he would take away our stain— 24.11 

Now, my best beloved brethren, since God hath taken away our stains, and our swords have become bright, then let us stain our swords no more with the blood of our brethren. 24.12 

Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our swords that they be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for perhaps, if we should stain our swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son of our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins. 24.13 

And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations. 24.14 

Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright, as a testimony to our God at the last day, or at the day that we shall be brought to stand before him to be judged, that we have not stained our swords in the blood of our brethren since he imparted his word unto us and has made us clean thereby. 24.15 

And now, my brethren, if our brethren seek to destroy us, behold, we will hide away our swords, yea, even we will bury them deep in the earth, that they may be kept bright, as a testimony that we have never used them, at the last day; and if our brethren destroy us, behold, we shall go to our God and shall be saved. 24.16

So that’s what they did. All of the Anti-Nehpi-Lehis gathered together and buried their swords DEEP in the ground. So deep, in fact, that no archeologist has ever found a single one from that era! They must have had some great shovels.

And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth. 24.17

But all of this peace-loving hippy nonsense didn’t stop the Lamanites from fighting. They finished their war preparations and then marched on the Anti-Nephi-Lehis.

And it came to pass that their brethren, the Lamanites, made preparations for war, and came up to the land of Nephi for the purpose of destroying the king, and to place another in his stead, and also of destroying the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi out of the land. 24.20

But, true to their word, the Anti-Nephi-Lehis didn’t resist. They called out to God and prostrated themselves on the ground, even as the Lamanites started to stab them with swords.

Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword. 24.21

The Lamanites saw the Anti-Nephi-Lehis as easy pickins, and started just slaughtering them one after another. After killing a bunch of them they became really weirded out by the whole thing. Why weren’t they fighting back at all? The Lamanites started feeling really guilty, and they threw down their weapons after killing 1,005 of them. They even started repenting about the people they had killed.

And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God. 24.22

Now when the Lamanites saw that their brethren would not flee from the sword, neither would they turn aside to the right hand or to the left, but that they would lie down and perish, and praised God even in the very act of perishing under the sword— 24.23
Now when the Lamanites saw this they did forbear from slaying them; and there were many whose hearts had swollen in them for those of their brethren who had fallen under the sword, for they repented of the things which they had done. 24.24

And the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi ended up converting a lot of the opposing team. What a tactic! I doubt that there has ever been as impressive of a display of nonviolent resistance achieving it’s goals. And the cost wasn’t too great, because obviously the slain Anti-Nephi-Lehis went straight to heaven. I bet they even got 72 virgins and their own planet!

 And it came to pass that they threw down their weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were stung for the murders which they had committed; and they came down even as their brethren, relying upon the mercies of those whose arms were lifted to slay them. 24.25 

And it came to pass that the people of God were joined that day by more than the number who had been slain; and those who had been slain were righteous people, therefore we have no reason to doubt but what they were saved. 24.26 

And there was not a wicked man slain among them; but there were more than a thousand brought to the knowledge of the truth; thus we see that the Lord worketh in many ways to the salvation of his people. 24.27

But they didn’t manage to convert any Amalekites or Amulonites, or any of the people of the order of Nehor. Those guys were just way too wicked. In fact, most of the 1,005 dead Anti-Nephi-Lehis were killed by those guys. All of the people who converted were Lamanites--direct decsendants of Laman and Lemuel.

Now the greatest number of those of the Lamanites who slew so many of their brethren were Amalekites and Amulonites, the greatest number of whom were after the order of the Nehors. 24.28

Now, among those who joined the people of the Lord, there were none who were Amalekites or Amulonites, or who were of the order of Nehor, but they were actual descendants of Laman and Lemuel. 24.29

Because, as we can plainly see, if someone is good and then becomes bad, they are worse than people who are just bad from the start. Why? Because...you know... they just are.

And thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known these things. 24.30

Alma 23: The Anti-Nephi-Lehies

Remember king Lamoni's proclamation from the last chapter? We never heard exactly what it was, but it's all explained in the first few verses of Chapter 23. The proclamation was to protect Mosiah's sons. The Lamanites were prohibited from doing the following things to Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni (or any other of their preachers):

1. Lay their hands on them
2. Bind them
3. Cast them into prison
4. Spit on them
5. Smite them
6. Cast them out of their synagogues
7. Scourge them
8. Cast stones at them
9. Prevent them from going to their homes, temples, or sanctuaries

Behold, now it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation among all his people, that they should not lay their hands on Ammon, or Aaron, or Omner, or Himni, nor either of their brethren who should go forth preaching the word of God, in whatsoever place they should be, in any part of their land. 23.1 

Yea, he sent a decree among them, that they should not lay their hands on them to bind them, or to cast them into prison; neither should they spit upon them, nor smite them, nor cast them out of their synagogues, nor scourge them; neither should they cast stones at them, but that they should have free access to their houses, and also their temples, and their sanctuaries. 23.2

This proclamation made it much easier for Aaron and his brothers to do their job. They went freely from city to city, and they started converting thousands of Lamanites. They also established churches and consecrated priests in all the places they visited, so they wouldn't lose members when they went somewhere else to preach. And it worked. They retained every single member that they converted.

And now it came to pass that when the king had sent forth this proclamation, that Aaron and his brethren went forth from city to city, and from one house of worship to another, establishing churches, and consecrating priests and teachers throughout the land among the Lamanites, to preach and to teach the word of God among them; and thus they began to have great success.  23.4 

And thousands were brought to the knowledge of the Lord, yea, thousands were brought to believe in the traditions of the Nephites; and they were taught the records and prophecies which were handed down even to the present time. 23.5 

And as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them -- yea, I say unto you, as the Lord liveth, as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away. 23.6

Here's the list of people they converted:

1. The people in the land of Ishmael
2. The people in the land of Middoni
3. The people in the city of Nephi
4. The people in the land of Shilom
5. The people in the land of Shemlon
6. The people in the city of Lemuel
7. The people in the city of Shimnilom

Now, these are they who were converted unto the Lord: 23.8 

The people of the Lamanites who were in the land of Ishmael; 23.9  

And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the land of Middoni; 23.10 

And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the city of Nephi; 23.11  

And also of the people of the Lamanites who were in the land of Shilom, and who were in the land of Shemlon, and in the city of Lemuel, and in the city of Shimnilom. 23.12

That's a pretty good haul! But not everyone was converted. They had a tough time with the Amalekites--they only converted a single one. But Amalekites are notoriously hard to deal with. 

And the Amalekites were not converted, save only one; neither were any of the Amulonites; but they did harden their hearts, and also the hearts of the Lamanites in that part of the land wheresoever they dwelt, yea, and all their villages and all their cities. 23.14

The Lamanites who had converted had a problem, though. They didn't want to be associated with the other, wicked Lamanites.  They needed a new name... something fresh... snappy... descriptive... something that just rolls of the tongue. The king consulted Aaron and his priests, and they thought long and hard about it. Then they came up with the perfect name: The Anti-Nephi-Lehies! (Luckily for them, the URL Anti-Nephi-Lehies.com is still available!)

And now it came to pass that the king and those who were converted were desirous that they might have a name, that thereby they might be distinguished from their brethren; therefore the king consulted with Aaron and many of their priests, concerning the name that they should take upon them, that they might be distinguished. 23.16  

And it came to pass that they called their names Anti-Nephi-Lehies; and they were called by this name and were no more called Lamanites. 23.17

 They worked hard, and became a successful, industrious people. Because of their conversion and name change, God's curse didn't follow them any longer. It's unclear whether or not their skin became lighter after the curse was lifted. We'll get back to that later.

And they began to be a very industrious people; yea, and they were friendly with the Nephites; therefore, they did open a correspondence with them, and the curse of God did no more follow them. 23.18

Alma 22: Aaron and the King

After Aaron and his brethren were released from prison, they decided to pay a thank-you visit to Lamoni's father, who was king of all the land. 

When they arrived at his palace, they went right up to him, bowed, and offered to become his servants.

Now, as Ammon was thus teaching the people of Lamoni continually, we will return to the account of Aaron and his brethren; for after he departed from the land of Middoni he was led by the Spirit to the land of Nephi, even to the house of the king which was over all the land save it were the land of Ishmael; and he was the father of Lamoni. 22.1 

And it came to pass that he went in unto him into the king's palace, with his brethren, and bowed himself before the king, and said unto him: Behold, O king, we are the brethren of Ammon, whom thou hast delivered out of prison. 22.2 

And now, O king, if thou wilt spare our lives, we will be thy servants. 22.3a

He didn't accept their offer. Instead, he asked why Ammon wasn't with them, and Aaron told him that Ammon was in the land of Ishmael, preaching, and he was too busy to make the trip.

And the king said unto them: Arise, for I will grant unto you your lives, and I will not suffer that ye shall be my servants; but I will insist that ye shall administer unto me; for I have been somewhat troubled in mind because of the generosity and the greatness of the words of thy brother Ammon; and I desire to know the cause why he has not come up out of Middoni with thee. 22.3 

And Aaron said unto the king: Behold, the Spirit of the Lord has called him another way; he has gone to the land of Ishmael, to teach the people of Lamoni. 22.4

The king had a few questions for Ammon. What was the whole "Spirit of the Lord" thing again? And do I have to repent or not? It's all very confusing.

Now the king said unto them: What is this that ye have said concerning the Spirit of the Lord? Behold, this is the thing which doth trouble me. 22.5 

And also, what is this that Ammon said -- If ye will repent ye shall be saved, and if ye will not repent, ye shall be cast off at the last day? 22.6

Aaron answered him, and then asked him if he believed in God. The king gave a real wishy-washy answer, but ended by saying that he would believe if Aaron said that there was a God (and if Aaron pinky-swore).

And Aaron answered him and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God? And the king said: I know that the Amalekites say that there is a God, and I have granted unto them that they should build sanctuaries, that they may assemble themselves together to worship him. And if now thou sayest there is a God, behold I will believe. 22.7

Aaron told him that God did indeed exist, and then he went on to tell him all about God and the scriptures, going all the way back to the creation of Adam.

And it came to pass that when Aaron saw that the king would believe his words, he began from the creation of Adam, reading the scriptures unto the king -- how God created man after his own image, and that God gave him commandments, and that because of transgression, man had fallen. 22.12 

And Aaron did expound unto him the scriptures from the creation of Adam, laying the fall of man before him, and their carnal state and also the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world, through Christ, for all whosoever would believe on his name. 22.13  

And since man had fallen he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atone for their sins, through faith and repentance, and so forth; and that he breaketh the bands of death, that the grave shall have no victory, and that the sting of death should be swallowed up in the hopes of glory; and Aaron did expound all these things unto the king. 22.14

Then the king asked Aaron about the whole eternal life thing. What would it take for him to join that club? He said that he'd give up his whole kingdom if Aaron could get him into heaven. But Aaron gave him the good news: all he had to do was to bow down before God and repent.

And it came to pass that after Aaron had expounded these things unto him, the king said: What shall I do that I may have this eternal life of which thou hast spoken? Yea, what shall I do that I may be born of God, having this wicked spirit rooted out of my breast, and receive his Spirit, that I may be filled with joy, that I may not be cast off at the last day? Behold, said he, I will give up all that I possess, yea, I will forsake my kingdom, that I may receive this great joy. 22.15
But Aaron said unto him: If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest. 22.16

So that's what he did. He lay prostrate upon the floor and made a little speech to God, and then was suddenly struck as though he was dead.

And it came to pass that when Aaron had said these words, the king did bow down before the Lord, upon his knees; yea, even he did prostrate himself upon the earth, and cried mightily, saying: 22.17 

O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day. And now when the king had said these words, he was struck as if he were dead. 22.18

All of the kings servants saw this, and they ran to tell the queen what had happened. She was angry with Aaron--she thought he killed her husband. She ordered her servants to kill Aaron and his friends. None of them were willing, because they knew how powerful Aaron was.

Now the servants had seen the cause of the king's fall, therefore they durst not lay their hands on Aaron and his brethren; and they pled with the queen saying: Why commandest thou that we should slay these men, when behold one of them is mightier than us all? Therefore we shall fall before them. 22.20 

Then the queen told her chicken-shit servants to round up a mob who would do the job. But before she could get her lynch-mob together, Aaron decided to just wake the king up.

Now when the queen saw the fear of the servants she also began to fear exceedingly, lest there should some evil come upon her. And she commanded her servants that they should go and call the people, that they might slay Aaron and his brethren. 22.21 

Now when Aaron saw the determination of the queen, he, also knowing the hardness of the hearts of the people, feared lest that a multitude should assemble themselves together, and there should be a great contention and a disturbance among them; therefore he put forth his hand and raised the king from the earth, and said unto him: Stand. And he stood upon his feet, receiving his strength. 22.22

Everyone was pretty amazed, and they became a little afraid of Alma. But the king calmed them down, and even managed to convert everyone in his household. Quick work!

Now this was done in the presence of the queen and many of the servants. And when they saw it they greatly marveled, and began to fear. And the king stood forth, and began to minister unto them. And he did minister unto them, insomuch that his whole household were converted unto the Lord. 22.23

Around that time, the crowd was starting to gather. The king spoke to them and calmed them down, and then told Alma to start preaching.

Now there was a multitude gathered together because of the commandment of the queen, and there began to be great murmurings among them because of Aaron and his brethren. 22.24 

But the king stood forth among them and administered unto them. And they were pacified towards Aaron and those who were with him. 22.25 

And it came to pass that when the king saw that the people were pacified, he caused that Aaron and his brethren should stand forth in the midst of the multitude, and that they should preach the word unto them. 22.26

Then the king made a proclamation throughout all the land. We never get to hear what exactly the proclamation is, because the author gets sidetracked with a long geography lesson, but that's okay.
The rest of the chapter is pretty dull, unless you are really into speculative Book of Mormon cartography, in which case you can piece together something like this:

Since the journey between the "East Sea" and "West Sea" was only a day and a half journey, it pretty much had to be in Central America. (Unless, you know, this stuff is all just made up.)

And now, it was only the distance of a day and a half’s journey for a Nephite, on the line Bountiful and the land Desolation, from the east to the west sea; and thus the land of Nephi and the land of Zarahemla were nearly surrounded by water, there being a small neck of land between the land northward and the land southward. 22.32

EJ&T: Leviticus 24: Baking cakes, stoning blasphemers, eye for eye and tooth for tooth

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are 613. See here for a list of those that I've found so far.

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Bake twelve cakes using two kilograms of flour. Put them in two rows on a table with frankincense on them. Each Sabbath set them before the Lord, where Aaron and his sons (and their descendants) will eat them.

Thou shalt take fine flour, and bake twelve cakes thereof: two tenth deals shall be in one cake. And thou shalt set them in two rows, six on a row, upon the pure table before the LORD. And thou shalt put pure frankincense upon each row, that it may be on the bread for a memorial, even an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Every sabbath he shall set it in order before the LORD continually, being taken from the children of Israel by an everlasting covenant. And it shall be Aaron's and his sons'; and they shall eat it in the holy place: for it is most holy unto him of the offerings of the LORD made by fire by a perpetual statute. Leviticus 24:5-9

Blasphemers shall be stoned to death.

He that blasphemeth the name of the LORD, he shall surely be put to death, and all the congregation shall certainly stone him: as well the stranger, as he that is born in the land, when he blasphemeth the name of the Lord, shall be put to death. Leviticus 24:16

If you kill someone else's animal, you must replace it.

He that killeth a beast shall make it good; beast for beast. Leviticus 24:17

He that killeth a beast, he shall restore it. Leviticus 24:21a

If you damage another person, you will be damaged in the same way. Eye for eye, tooth for tooth, blemish for blemish.

If a man cause a blemish in his neighbour; as he hath done, so shall it be done to him; Breach for breach, eye for eye, tooth for tooth: as he hath caused a blemish in a man, so shall it be done to him again. Leviticus 24:19-20

The same laws shall apply to foreigners as to those who live in the country.

Ye shall have one manner of law, as well for the stranger, as for one of your own country Leviticus 24:22

EJ&T: Leviticus 23: Don't make any plans during the seventh month of the year

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are 613. See here for a list of those that I've found so far.

Make a burnt offering every day during the seven-day feast of unleavened bread.

Ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days. Leviticus 23:8

Offer the first fruits of your harvest to God as a wave offering, with an unblemished one-year old lamb as a burnt offering. Include a meat offering and a liter of wine.

Speak unto the children of Israel, and say unto them, When ye be come into the land which I give unto you, and shall reap the harvest thereof, then ye shall bring a sheaf of the firstfruits of your harvest unto the priest: And he shall wave the sheaf before the LORD, to be accepted for you: on the morrow after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. Ye shall offer that day when ye wave the sheaf an he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering unto the LORD. And the meat offering thereof shall be two tenth deals of fine flour mingled with oil, an offering made by fire unto the LORD for a sweet savour : and the drink offering thereof shall be of wine, the fourth part of an hin. Leviticus 23:10-13

The same commandment is given in Numbers 28. Except Numbers 28 says you can't do any work on the first fruits day.

Also in the day of the firstfruits, when ye bring a new meat offering unto the Lord, after your weeks be out, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work. Numbers 28:26

But the rest of it is the same.

But ye shall offer the burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the Lord; two young bullocks, one ram, seven lambs of the first year; And their meat offering of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto one bullock, two tenth deals unto one ram, A several tenth deal unto one lamb, throughout the seven lambs; And one kid of the goats, to make an atonement for you. Ye shall offer them beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, (they shall be unto you without blemish) and their drink offerings. Numbers 28:27-31

Don't eat any bread or grain until you offer God the harvest sacrifice.

Ye shall eat neither bread, nor parched corn, nor green ears, until the selfsame day that ye have brought an offering unto your God: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. Leviticus 23:14

Fifty days after the harvest sacrifice, offer God another meat offering, two loaves of leavened bread, seven unblemished year-old lambs, one young bullock, two rams, one young goat, and two more year-old lambs. These will be for burnt, meat, peace, wave, drink, and sin offerings. They will smell good to God and be holy for the priest. Don't do any work on this day.

Ye shall count unto you from the morrow after the sabbath, from the day that ye brought the sheaf of the wave offering; seven sabbaths shall be complete: Even unto the morrow after the seventh sabbath shall ye number fifty days; and ye shall offer a new meat offering unto the LORD. Ye shall bring out of your habitations two wave loaves of two tenth deals; they shall be of fine flour; they shall be baken with leaven; they are the firstfruits unto the LORD. And ye shall offer with the bread seven lambs without blemish of the first year, and one young bullock, and two rams: they shall be for a burnt offering unto the LORD, with their meat offering, and their drink offerings, even an offering made by fire, of sweet savour unto the LORD. Then ye shall sacrifice one kid of the goats for a sin offering, and two lambs of the first year for a sacrifice of peace offerings. And the priest shall wave them with the bread of the firstfruits for a wave offering before the LORD, with the two lambs: they shall be holy to the LORD for the priest. And ye shall proclaim on the selfsame day, that it may be an holy convocation unto you: ye shall do no servile work therein: it shall be a statute for ever in all your dwellings throughout your generations. Leviticus 23:15-21

Seven weeks shalt thou number unto thee: begin to number the seven weeks from such time as thou beginnest to put the sickle to the corn. nd thou shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God with a tribute of a freewill offering of thine hand, which thou shalt give unto the LORD thy God, according as the LORD thy God hath blessed thee. And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are among you, in the place which the LORD thy God hath chosen to place his name there. And thou shalt remember that thou wast a bondman in Egypt: and thou shalt observe and do these statutes. Deuteronomy 16:9-12

Don't do any work on the first day of the seventh month. Offer God a burnt offering instead. It is a sabbath, a trumpet-blowing memorial, a holy convocation.

In the seventh month, in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, an holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Leviticus 23:24-25

And in the seventh month, on the first day of the month, ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work: it is a day of blowing the trumpets unto you. And ye shall offer a burnt offering for a sweet savour unto the LORD; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year without blemish: And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals for a bullock, and two tenth deals for a ram, And one tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering, to make an atonement for you: Beside the burnt offering of the month, and his meat offering, and the daily burnt offering, and his meat offering, and their drink offerings, according unto their manner, for a sweet savour, a sacrifice made by fire unto the LORD. Numbers 29:1-6

On the tenth day of the seventh month there shall be a day of atonement, a holy convocation. Don't do any work on this day. Afflict your soul and offer God a burnt offering. If you don't afflict your soul on this day, you will be exiled. God will kill you if you do any work on this day.

On the tenth day of this seventh month there shall be a day of atonement: it shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall afflict your souls, and offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD. And ye shall do no work in that same day: for it is a day of atonement, to make an atonement for you before the LORD your God. For whatsoever soul it be that shall not be afflicted in that same day, he shall be cut off from among his people. And whatsoever soul it be that doeth any work in that same day, the same soul will I destroy from among his people. Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings. It shall be unto you a sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth day of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your sabbath. Leviticus 23:27-32

And ye shall have on the tenth day of this seventh month an holy convocation; and ye shall afflict your souls: ye shall not do any work therein: But ye shall offer a burnt offering unto the Lord for a sweet savour; one young bullock, one ram, and seven lambs of the first year; they shall be unto you without blemish: And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals to a bullock, and two tenth deals to one ram, A several tenth deal for one lamb, throughout the seven lambs: One kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the sin offering of atonement, and the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering of it, and their drink offerings. Numbers 29:7-11

The fifteenth day of the seventh month is the seven-day feast of tabernacles. Don't do any work on the first day or the eighth day. For seven days rejoice with tree and palm branches while offering God burnt offerings. Then on the eighth day have a holy convocation and offer God another burnt offering.

The fifteenth day of this seventh month shall be the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. On the first day shall be an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein. Seven days ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: on the eighth day shall be an holy convocation unto you; and ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD: it is a solemn assembly; and ye shall do no servile work therein. ... Also in the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when ye have gathered in the fruit of the land, ye shall keep a feast unto the LORD seven days: on the first day shall be a sabbath, and on the eighth day shall be a sabbath. And ye shall take you on the first day the boughs of goodly trees, branches of palm trees, and the boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook; and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year. It shall be a statute for ever in your generations: ye shall celebrate it in the seventh month.Leviticus 23:34-41

And on the fifteenth day of the seventh month ye shall have an holy convocation; ye shall do no servile work, and ye shall keep a feast unto the Lord seven days: And ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord; thirteen young bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year; they shall be without blemish: And their meat offering shall be of flour mingled with oil, three tenth deals unto every bullock of the thirteen bullocks, two tenth deals to each ram of the two rams, And a several tenth deal to each lamb of the fourteen lambs: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. And on the second day ye shall offer twelve young bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and the meat offering thereof, and their drink offerings. And on the third day eleven bullocks, two rams, fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish; And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. And on the fourth day ten bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one kid of the goats for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. And on the fifth day nine bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without spot: And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. And on the sixth day eight bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. And on the seventh day seven bullocks, two rams, and fourteen lambs of the first year without blemish: And their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullocks, for the rams, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, his meat offering, and his drink offering. On the eighth day ye shall have a solemn assembly: ye shall do no servile work therein: But ye shall offer a burnt offering, a sacrifice made by fire, of a sweet savour unto the Lord: one bullock, one ram, seven lambs of the first year without blemish: Their meat offering and their drink offerings for the bullock, for the ram, and for the lambs, shall be according to their number, after the manner: And one goat for a sin offering; beside the continual burnt offering, and his meat offering, and his drink offering. These things ye shall do unto the Lord in your set feasts, beside your vows, and your freewill offerings, for your burnt offerings, and for your meat offerings, and for your drink offerings, and for your peace offerings. Numbers 29:12-39

Thou shalt observe the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered in thy corn and thy wine: And thou shalt rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy manservant, and thy maidservant, and the Levite, the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within thy gates. Seven days shalt thou keep a solemn feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose: because the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the works of thine hands, therefore thou shalt surely rejoice. Deuteronomy 16:13-15

Dwell in booths for seven days so everyone will know you're a child of Israel.

Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are Israelites born shall dwell in booths: That your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God. Leviticus 23:42-43

They found written in the law which the LORD had commanded by Moses, that the children of Israel should dwell in booths in the feast of the seventh month. Nehemiah 8:14

Alma 21: All The Things Concerning Things Pertaining To Righteousness

Remember back in chapter 17, when Alma ran across the four sons of Mosiah (Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni)? They all split up and went preaching to different groups, and chapters 18-20 followed Ammon's progress. Chapter 21 backs up a bit and follows Aaron's preaching to the Lamanites and the Amalekites in Jerusalem. 

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When Ammon and his brothers decided to split up, Aaron decided to head to a place near the border of the Land of Mormon that the Lamanites called "Jerusalem" (they named it after the other Jerusalem, apparently). The Lamanites, the Amalekites, and the people of Ammon had built a big city there, and they really needed some guidance, because they were starting to get really hard hearts and doing all kinds of wickedness. Aaron had his work cut out for him.

Now when Ammon and his brethren separated themselves in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, behold Aaron took his journey towards the land which was called by the Lamanites, Jerusalem, calling it after the land of their fathers' nativity; and it was away joining the borders of Mormon. 21.1 

Now the Lamanites and the Amalekites and the people of Amulon had built a great city, which was called Jerusalem. 21.2 

Now the Lamanites of themselves were sufficiently hardened, but the Amalekites and the Amulonites were still harder; therefore they did cause the Lamanites that they should harden their hearts, that they should wax strong in wickedness and their abominations. 21.3

Once Aaron got to Jerusalem, he started working on the Amalekites first. He started preaching at their synagogues, where they followed the Nehor doctrine. (Remember Nehor, the guy who killed Gideon in Alma 1?) The sons of Mosiah had a bit of a feud going on with the order of the Nehors. You see, the Nehor folks believed that priests should be paid for their services, and that they should be highly respected. They also disagreed about universal salvation, and whether or not a person needs to repent. (See more about Nehor here).

So when Aaron went into their synagogues, they weren't exactly receptive. They basically said: "What, have you seen an angel or something? Aren't we as good as you? Why do we have to repent? What makes you so high and mighty? We worship God, and built temples and stuff, so why can't you just leave us alone? We don't think that you actually know the things you claim to. Please leave our church."

Therefore, as Aaron entered into one of their synagogues to preach unto the people, and as he was speaking unto them, behold arose an Amalekite and began to contend with him, saying: What is that thou hast testified? Hast thou seen an angel? Why do not angels appear unto us? Behold are not this people as good as thy people? 21.5 

Thou also sayest, except we repent we shall perish. How knowest thou the thought and intent of our hearts? How knowest thou that we have cause to repent? How knowest thou that we are not a righteous people? Behold, we have built sanctuaries, and we do assemble ourselves together to worship God. We do believe that God will save all men. 21.6 

Now Aaron said unto him: Believest thou that the Son of God shall come to redeem mankind from their sins? 21.7 

And the man said unto him: We do not believe that thou knowest any such thing. We do not believe in these foolish traditions. We do not believe that thou knowest of things to come, neither do we believe that thy fathers and also that our fathers did know concerning the things which they spake, of that which is to come. 21.8

But, like a good Mormon, he didn't. He started preaching to them, in their own church, until some of the people got really angry with him, and the rest made fun of him. After a while, he realized that they weren't listening, so he decided to leave. He went to the village of Ani-Anti, and found some new people to argue with.

Now Aaron began to open the scriptures unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and also concerning the resurrection of the dead, and that there could be no redemption for mankind save it were through the death and sufferings of Christ, and the atonement of his blood. 21.9 

And it came to pass as he began to expound these things unto them they were angry with him, and began to mock him; and they would not hear the words which he spake. 21.10 

Therefore, when he saw that they would not hear his words, he departed out of their synagogue, and came over to a village which was called Ani-Anti, and there he found Muloki preaching the word unto them; and also Ammah and his brethren. And they contended with many about the word. 21.11

But the people preaching in Ani-Anti (Muloki and Ammah) had already hardened the people's hearts, so it was useless. Aaron continued on to the land of Middoni and started preaching there. He didn't convert many people, but he was still thrown in jail, along with some of his brethren.

And it came to pass that they saw that the people would harden their hearts, therefore they departed and came over into the land of Middoni. And they did preach the word unto many, and few believed on the words which they taught. 21.12 

Nevertheless, Aaron and a certain number of his brethren were taken and cast into prison. 21.13

At this point, the stories merge. Ammon and Lamoni rescue Aaron and his brethren from prison, and then they split up again: Ammon and Lamoni return to the land of Ishmael, and Aaron and his posse "went forth again to declare the word". They preached to Amalekites and Lamanites all throughout the land, and they had better luck this time. They "brought many to the knowledge of the truth" and "convinced many of their sins". Nice work, Aaron!

And those who were cast into prison suffered many things, and they were delivered by the hand of Lamoni and Ammon, and they were fed and clothed. 21.14 

And they went forth again to declare the word, and thus they were delivered for the first time out of prison; 21.15 

And they went forth whithersoever they were led by the Spirit of the Lord, preaching the word of God in every synagogue of the Amalekites, or in every assembly of the Lamanites where they could be admitted. 21.16 

And it came to pass that the Lord began to bless them, insomuch that they brought many to the knowledge of the truth; yea, they did convince many of their sins, and of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct. 21.17

And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni returned from the land of Middoni to the land of Ishmael, which was the land of their inheritance. 21.18

Meanwhile, Ammon and Lamoni were also making progress back in the land of Ishmael. Lamoni's father stayed true to his word, by granting Lamoni full control of his people. Lamoni rounded everyone up decreed that they could worship God in any way they wanted.

But he caused that there should be synagogues built in the land of Ishmael; and he caused that his people, or the people who were under his reign, should assemble themselves together. 21.20  And he did rejoice over them, and he did teach them many things. And he did also declare unto them that they were a people who were under him, and that they were a free people, that they were free from the oppressions of the king, his father; for that his father had granted unto him that he might reign over the people who were in the land of Ishmael, and in all the land round about. 21.21    

And he also declared unto them that they might have the liberty of worshiping the Lord their God according to their desires, in whatsoever place they were in, if it were in the land which was under the reign of king Lamoni. 21.22

Ammon started preaching in the synagogues there, and he taught them "all of the things concerning things pertaining to righteousness".

(This is perhaps my favorite line in the whole Book of Mormon. "And it came to pass that on Tuesday my boss taught me all of the the things concerning things pertaining to customer service...")

And Ammon did preach unto the people of king Lamoni; And it came to pass that he did teach them all things concerning things pertaining to righteousness. And he did exhort them daily, with all diligence; and they gave heed unto his word, and they were zealous for keeping the commandments of God. 21.23

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That's it for Chapter 21. The next few chapters will continue to follow Aaron, Muloki, and their band of merry men as they preach to the Lamanites.

EJ&T: Leviticus 22: Eating holy things and killing animals for God

In the Every Jot and Tittle project, I am listing all of the Bible's commandments from Genesis to Revelation, in accordance with Jesus's words in Matthew 5:18-19. I have no idea how many commandments I'll find, but Jewish tradition claims there are 613. See here for a list of those that I've found so far.

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Priests must stay away from holy things when they are unclean.

This one is a bit obscure, but it seems to be saying that a priest shouldn't touch holy things if he has an infected penis, or has recently ejaculated, or touched a bug or a dead person or a menstruating women, or whatnot. After the sun goes down and he is clean, he can eat the holy things.

And the LORD spake unto Moses, Speak unto Aaron and to his sons, that they separate themselves from the holy things of the children of Israel, and that they profane not my holy name in those things which they hallow unto me. ... What man soever of the seed of Aaron is a leper, or hath a running issue; he shall not eat of the holy things, until he be clean. And whoso toucheth any thing that is unclean by the dead, or a man whose seed goeth from him; Or whosoever toucheth any creeping thing, whereby he may be made unclean, or a man of whom he may take uncleanness, whatsoever uncleanness he hath; And when the sun is down, he shall be clean, and shall afterward eat of the holy things; because it is his food. Leviticus 22:1-7

If a priest approaches the holy things while his uncleanness is upon him will be cut off from God's presence.

Whosoever he be of all your seed among your generations, that goeth unto the holy things, which the children of Israel hallow unto the LORD, having his uncleanness upon him, that soul shall be cut off from my presence. Leviticus 22:3

No stranger, visitor, or hired servant shall eat of the holy thing.

There shall no stranger eat of the holy thing: a sojourner of the priest, or an hired servant, shall not eat of the holy thing. Leviticus 22:10

There shall be no stranger eat thereof. Leviticus 22:13b

If a priest buys a slave, the slave and his family may eat the priest's meat.

If the priest buy any soul with his money, he shall eat of it, and he that is born in his house: they shall eat of his meat. Leviticus 22:11

If a priest's daughter marries a stranger, she may not eat holy things.

If the priest's daughter also be married unto a stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things. Leviticus 22:12

If a priest's daughter returns to her father's house after she is divorced or widowed, she can eat of her father's meat, as long as she didn't have any children while she was married.

But if the priest's daughter be a widow, or divorced, and have no child, and is returned unto her father's house, as in her youth, she shall eat of her father's meat. Leviticus 22:13a

If you eat the holy thing by mistake, you must pay the priest for it, plus a 20% fine.

If a man eat of the holy thing unwittingly, then he shall put the fifth part thereof unto it, and shall give it unto the priest with the holy thing. Leviticus 22:14

Don't profane the holy things or trespass while eating them.

They shall not profane the holy things of the children of Israel, which they offer unto the LORD; 16 Or suffer them to bear the iniquity of trespass, when they eat their holy things. Leviticus 22:15-16

Don't offer God any blemished animals. All animals that you kill for God must be perfect. (With the few exceptions noted below)

This includes vow, peace, freewill, and burnt offerings. Here are the types of blemished, imperfect animals that God doesn't want killed for him (with the exceptions noted in #140, 143, and 291)

• Blind, broken, maimed animals
• Any animal with warts, scurvy, or scabs
• Animals with extra or missing body parts (but see the exception for freewill offerings in #291 below)
• Animals that are bruised, crushed, broken, or cut

Speak unto Aaron, and to his sons, and unto all the children of Israel, and say unto them, Whatsoever he be of the house of Israel, or of the strangers in Israel, that will offer his oblation for all his vows, and for all his freewill offerings, which they will offer unto the LORD for a burnt offering; Ye shall offer at your own will a male without blemish, of the beeves, of the sheep, or of the goats. But whatsoever hath a blemish, that shall ye not offer: for it shall not be acceptable for you. And whosoever offereth a sacrifice of peace offerings unto the LORD to accomplish his vow, or a freewill offering in beeves or sheep, it shall be perfect to be accepted; there shall be no blemish therein. Blind, or broken, or maimed, or having a wen, or scurvy, or scabbed, ye shall not offer these unto the LORD, nor make an offering by fire of them upon the altar unto the LORD. Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. Ye shall not offer unto the LORD that which is bruised, or crushed, or broken, or cut; neither shall ye make any offering thereof in your land. Leviticus 22:18-24

If there be any blemish therein, as if it be lame, or blind, or have any ill blemish, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 15:21

Thou shalt not sacrifice unto the LORD thy God any bullock, or sheep, wherein is blemish, or any evilfavouredness: for that is an abomination unto the LORD thy God. Deuteronomy 17:1

If you are making a freewill offering, you may kill a bullock or lamb that has extra or missing body parts. But not when you're making a vow.

Either a bullock or a lamb that hath any thing superfluous or lacking in his parts, that mayest thou offer for a freewill offering; but for a vow it shall not be accepted. Leviticus 22:23

Don't kill any animals for God that you get from strangers. Their animals are always blemished and corrupt, and God won't accept any of them.

Neither from a stranger's hand shall ye offer the bread of your God of any of these; because their corruption is in them, and blemishes be in them: they shall not be accepted for you. Leviticus 22:25

Wait until a bullock, sheep, or goat is eight days old before killing and burning its dead body for God.

When a bullock, or a sheep, or a goat, is brought forth, then it shall be seven days under the dam; and from the eighth day and thenceforth it shall be accepted for an offering made by fire unto the LORD. Leviticus 22:27

Don't kill a newborn animal and its mother on the same day.

And whether it be cow, or ewe, ye shall not kill it and her young both in one day. Leviticus 22:28

Alma 20: The Release of Ammon's Brethren

After Ammon and king Lamoni had established a church, Lamoni wanted to take Ammon to the land of Nephi and introduce him to his father. (Things were getting serious...)

And it came to pass that when they had established a church in that land, that king Lamoni desired that Ammon should go with him to the land of Nephi, that he might show him unto his father. Alma 20.1

God had other plans for Ammon, though. He told Ammon not to go visit the king, because he would try to kill him. Instead, he wanted Ammon to go rescue his brother Aaron and his two buddies Muloki and Ammah who were in prison in the land of Middoni.

And the voice of the Lord came to Ammon saying: Thou shalt not go up to the land of Nephi, for behold, the king will seek thy life; but thou shalt go to the land of Middoni; for behold, thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in prison. 20.2

King Lamoni asked to go with Ammon. He thought he might be of some help since he knew the Antiomno, the king of Middoni. Lamoni also asked how the heck he knew about this

Now Lamoni said unto Ammon: I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things. But behold, I will go with thee to the land of Middoni; for the king of the land of Middoni, whose name is Antiomno, is a friend unto me; therefore I go to the land of Middoni, that I may flatter the king of the land, and he will cast thy brethren out of prison. Now Lamoni said unto him: Who told thee that thy brethren were in prison? 20.4

Ammon told him that nobody told him, he just heard it from God. That was good enough for Lamoni to get his chariot ready.

And Ammon said unto him: No one hath told me, save it be God; and he said unto me -- Go and deliver thy brethren, for they are in prison in the land of Middoni. 20.5 

Now when Lamoni had heard this he caused that his servants should make ready his horses and his chariots. 20.6

So they left together for the land of Middoni. On the way, they ran across Lamoni's dad, who was the king of all the land. He was a little mad that they didn't come to the big feast that he had invited them to. He also asked them where they were going, after insulting Ammon a little bit.

And it came to pass that as Ammon and Lamoni were journeying thither, they met the father of Lamoni, who was king over all the land. 20.8 

And behold, the father of Lamoni said unto him: Why did ye not come to the feast on that great day when I made a feast unto my sons, and unto my people? 20.9 

And he also said: Whither art thou going with this Nephite, who is one of the children of a liar? 20.10

Lamoni told him the truth, that they were going to rescue Ammon's brethren in the land of Middoni. The king wasn't too pleased with this, and he ordered Lamoni to run Ammon through with his sword.

And it came to pass that Lamoni rehearsed unto him whither he was going, for he feared to offend him. 20.11 

And he also told him all the cause of his tarrying in his own kingdom, that he did not go unto his father to the feast which he had prepared. 20.12 

And now when Lamoni had rehearsed unto him all these things, behold, to his astonishment, his father was angry with him, and said: Lamoni, thou art going to deliver these Nephites, who are sons of a liar. Behold, he robbed our fathers; and now his children are also come amongst us that they may, by their cunning and their lyings, deceive us, that they again may rob us of our property. 20.13 

Now the father of Lamoni commanded him that he should slay Ammon with the sword. And he also commanded him that he should not go to the land of Middoni, but that he should return with him to the land of Ishmael. 20.14

Lamoni told his father that he wouldn't kill Ammon, and so his father pulled out his own sword to kill Lamoni. Ammon told him that he probably shouldn't kill his own son (it's bad politics).

But Lamoni said unto him: I will not slay Ammon, neither will I return to the land of Ishmael, but I go to the land of Middoni that I may release the brethren of Ammon, for I know that they are just men and holy prophets of the true God. 20.15 

Now when his father had heard these words, he was angry with him, and he drew his sword that he might smite him to the earth. 20.16

 But Ammon stood forth and said unto him: Behold, thou shalt not slay thy son. 20.17

And again, it is expedient that thou shouldst forbear; for if thou shouldst slay thy son, he being an innocent man, his blood would cry from the ground to the Lord his God, for vengeance to come upon thee; and perhaps thou wouldst lose thy soul. 20.18

Lamoni's father thought about it for a bit, and then decided that he shouldn't kill his son after all. He should kill Ammon, since Ammon had been the one that was responsible for his son turning wicked. He started hitting Ammon with his sword, but Ammon "withstood his blows", and then hit his arm so hard that he couldn't use it anymore.

Now when Ammon had said these words unto him, he answered him, saying: I know that if I should slay my son, that I should shed innocent blood; for it is thou that hast sought to destroy him. 20.19 

And he stretched forth his hand to slay Ammon. But Ammon withstood his blows, and also smote his arm that he could not use it. 20.20

Once he was sure he was beat, Lamoni's dad started begging for his life. Ammon used this opportunity to demand that his brethren be freed from prison, and that Lamoni could continue to rule however he pleased.

Now when the king saw that Ammon could slay him, he began to plead with Ammon that he would spare his life. 20.21 

But Ammon raised his sword, and said unto him: Behold, I will smite thee except thou wilt grant unto me that my brethren may be cast out of prison. 20.22 

Now the king, fearing he should lose his life, said: If thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt ask, even to half of the kingdom. 20.23 

Now when Ammon saw that he had wrought upon the old king according to his desire, he said unto him: If thou wilt grant that my brethren may be cast out of prison, and also that Lamoni may retain his kingdom, and that ye be not displeased with him, but grant that he may do according to his own desires in whatsoever thing he thinketh, then will I spare thee; otherwise I will smite thee to the earth. 20.24

The king happily agreed. He was willing to offer up to half of his kingdom to Ammon in exchange for his life, but Ammon was a stand up guy and didn't take it. Then the king had a bit of a change of heart about Ammon. After all, he did spare his life, so maybe there was something to his teachings after all. He invited Ammon to bring his brethren up to the palace sometime for a chat, once they were released.

Now when Ammon had said these words, the king began to rejoice because of his life. 20.25And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release thy brethren, and suffer that my son Lamoni should retain his kingdom, behold, I will grant unto you that my son may retain his kingdom from this time and forever; and I will govern him no more. 20.26
And I will also grant unto thee that thy brethren may be cast out of prison, and thou and thy brethren may come unto me, in my kingdom; for I shall greatly desire to see thee. For the king was greatly astonished at the words which he had spoken, and also at the words which had been spoken by his son Lamoni, therefore he was desirous to learn them. 20.27

And just like that, Ammon's brethren were freed. They were in pretty rough shape: they were naked, and had rashes from being tied up in thick rope, and they were very hungry, thirsty and had other medical problems. They didn't complain, though. I guess they knew that their suffering must have all been part of God's plan. Or something like that.

And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni proceeded on their journey towards the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found favor in the eyes of the king of the land; therefore the brethren of Ammon were brought forth out of prison. 20.28 

And when Ammon did meet them he was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold they were naked, and their skins were worn exceedingly because of being bound with strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings. 20.29

Ammon's brethren told him the short version of the story of how they ended up in prison: people didn't believe their preaching, they were cast out of each town they came to, and then eventually they were thrown in prison for "many days" until he came to let them out.

And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people; therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days, and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon. 20.30

The next chapter covers Aaron's trip to Jerusalem. It will be nice to get away from Ammon for a little while.