In the course of this study, I discovered some interesting things. For one thing, the Sons of Mosiah seemed a lot younger this time around. I mean, here they are in one chapter, acting like rebellious teenagers, and here they are in the next one (so to speak), acting like-- well, maybe not teenagers, but still young men, and ones who don't necessarily have a plan beforehand about what they are going to do, but who are good at following the Holy Ghost. I do think that this makes sense; the Holy Ghost is not going to tell you something that you could have/should have already known, but when you are young, there isn't that much stuff you should/could already know.
(By the way, the case for the sons of Mosiah being at least a couple of years younger than their friend Alma the Younger is as follows: Alma the Elder was approximately twenty years older than Mosiah, which we learn in Mosiah 29, which gives their death dates and ages (Alma was 82, Mosiah was 63). Also, Alma (the younger) gets tapped for the chief-judgeship within a couple of years of his dramatic turnaround-- and not only that, but he is made high priest over the whole church. It isn't that the Lord NEVER calls a younger man to fill such positions, but in my opinion, historically the odds are that he would have been at least in his thirties. Also, you will notice that the angel visited all of the sons of Mosiah and Alma the Younger, but it was only Alma who got chewed out personally, which indicates that maybe he was considered to be more responsible, which in turn seems to indicate that maybe he was older than them.)
Anyway, I began wondering: how did they do it? How did Ammon manage to follow the Holy Ghost and figure out what to do and when to do it? How did Aaron manage to answer so humbly to the the apostate Nephites who were trying at every turn to bait him? How did Muloki and Ammah, and Aaron (yes, I had to look those names up) suffer their non-Amnesty-International-approved prison conditions so patiently?
At a separate time, I noticed this verse in Alma 26:
21 And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent.
which reminded me of this verse, which is one of my favorites from Alma 27:
18 Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.
and then, I started wondering about penitence, and when I did a word search on it, I discovered that it is mostly found in the Book of Alma, with one reference in 3 Nephi.
But it got me to thinking. I think that Ammon and Aaron and the other guys managed to do what they did because they were truly penitent. You get a much better sense of their penitence when you are reading straight from their conversion stories to their mission stories-- maybe because you vicariously feel the scariness of the angel and the relief of repentance as you read about it happening to them.
And then I started wondering: what is the difference between humility and penitence? I think that penitence must be an acute awareness that you have wronged someone (in this case, the Lord), which is coupled with doing your utmost to show how sorry you feel. Humility, on the other hand, seems to be a more generalized sense of your proper place in the universe. Both of them seem to do a very good job of clearing the way for the Holy Ghost, who whispers joy and salvation to our souls.
Remaining Penitence Scriptures:
Alma 29: 10
10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.
Alma 32: 7
7 Therefore he did say no more to the other multitude; but he stretched forth his hand, and cried unto those whom he beheld, who were truly penitent, and said unto them:
Alma 42: 23-24
23 But God ceaseth not to be God, andamercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.
24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.
3 Ne. 6: 13
13 Some were lifted up in pride, and others were exceedingly humble; some did return railing for railing, while others would receive railing and persecution and all manner of afflictions, and would not turn and revile again, but were humble and penitent before God.
