Alma 22 - Kingdoms

Dear Austin,

It's been a very busy week, and I anticipate that the next few weeks will also be busy.  I wanted to share with you something that's been on my mind though, so you may have to dig a little to get more out of this post.

We were reading Alma 22 together this week, and the idea of "kingdoms" came to my mind.  There's been much talk in the political realm, about how our current president is imitating some of the actions of a typical monarch.  In Alma 22, we learn about a king of the Lamanites, and how in previous chapters he commanded his son to kill Ammon.  Due to what happened there, this king had a change of heart, such that he invited Ammon and his brothers to come teach him.

It ended up that Aaron, Omner, and Himni went to teach him, and some very wonderful things happened.  The king wound up having some marvelous manifestations, although his body appeared "dead" to those witnessing what was going on.  I imagine that this is typical to some of these experiences, where the spirit witnesses something and the body rests.

This king had just been taught the whole of the gospel by Aaron and his brothers.  He heard about the foundations of the world, Adam and Eve, and likely learned of many prophecies that would follow his time.  And then he prostrated himself upon the earth, begging the Lord to manifest Himself to him, so he could "know Him".

Austin, try this.  Do you not want to "know Him" too?  I think we all should try this.

I'm also pondering the idea of kingdoms.  Maybe you can help me out on this one?

Love you.
~Mom<3

Book of Mormon Geography

What is this, you ask?  A sketch, or drawing of sorts? 

Why yes, yes it is.  I'm a nerd for Book of Mormon geography, and this is my map of where it all went down. 

While I won't say that it did or didn't happen in one region or another, I will say that this is my interpretation or layout of how it's described during the period from Alma-Helaman.  I appreciate having a layout, so I can envision the movements of all the armies.  Having it set out like this allows me to ponder some questions.  Like in Alma 51, it says that the city of Nephihah was so strongly fortified that Amalickiah refused to go against it.  Instead, he headed for the city of Moroni (bottom right), and then continued on to take Lehi, Morianton, Omner, and Mulek.  (It doesn't mention here anything about Jershon or Antionum.)  They were headed toward Bountiful, when they were repulsed by Teancum and his men, who were "great warriors".  I gather that Teancum and his men were likely the best of the Nephite forces; their elite.  So why were they kept up in the north-east corner, when the Lamanites would've likely come up from their lands, in the south (the land of Nephi)?  Having a good sense of the layout of the land helps bring up questions like these.  Good things worth pondering. 

Another interesting thing is that the "narrow neck of land" took one and a half days for a Nephite to cross, from the east to the west seas (Alma 22:32).  Was this on foot, or horseback?  Something I'd surely like to know.  (And now that I looked, I already need to make an adjustment to my map.  Bountiful goes all the way from the east sea to the west sea, not just the north-east corner.  Alma 22:33)

One can say that the geography got all messed up when Jesus was crucified.  Cities were sunken, burned, raised up and down... so it might all be entirely different from what it was.  But I really enjoy having something to imagine with.  Hopefully someday soon it'll all be revealed.  What a fun day for all that will be!

~Jen:)