BOM Alma 18

Graceland University's administration building — Lamoni, Iowa, named after a Lamanite king in the Book of Mormon, was the headquarters of the Reorganized Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (now the Community of Christ) from 1880 to 1920, and continues to serve as the home of that denomination’s Graceland University, whose administration building is depicted above. (Wikimedia Commons)

Today’s reading, Alma 18, continues the dramatic story of Ammon among the Lamanites.

I will concentrate on one small passage:

24 And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?

25 And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth.

26 And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit?

27 And he said, Yea.

28 And Ammon said: This is God.

I like Ammon’s adaptability here. It seems to me an excellent trait for all teachers (including missionaries). We should be constantly alert to where people actually are, and where they’re coming from. We shouldn’t stick to a prepared script if it’s over the head of our audience, just as we shouldn’t do so if they’re already prepared to go beyond it. Teachers (including missionaries) should be nimble. They’re not just teaching subject matter; they’re teaching people.

In the same vein are Paul’s words from 1 Corinthians 9, which I cite here in the New International Version:

19 Though I am free and belong to no one, I have made myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20 To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21 To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some. 23 I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.