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Abandoning all for the Lord

King Laman, the father of Lamoni, encountered Ammon on the road to Middoni. After a brief altercation, Ammon only desired that King Laman would release his brethren from prison and grant Lamoni that he could be a free king over his own land, even though King Laman had offered Ammon 1/2 of his kingdom in an attempt to save his own life. This demonstrates the love of Ammon for his brethren and Lamoni, as well as his faithfulness and selflessness.

King Laman, however, desired to know more about the things Ammon spoke about. Aaron went and taught the King about the plan of salvation (or plan of redemption) and how it brought such incredible joy to people. King Laman said he would give up everything he had for the Lord - even his entire kingdom - if he could come to know of the attendant peace and joy that the plan promised to bring.

Aaron taught him that ultimately four things are required - humility, desire, faith, and repentance - to bring him this peace and joy. So in one of the most miraculous happenings in the Book of Mormon, King Laman kneels down and offers one of the most simple and powerful prayers ever given. He says - I will give up all of my sins to know thee, my God.

Joseph Smith taught that only those religions which require the sacrifice of all things - ALL things - have the power sufficient for salvation. Think about what that means. If all things are required to be sacrificed, we must be prepared to give up our own lives for the pure knowledge of Him. But in a larger and more spiritual sense, death is easy. It's a one time event. Living each day closer to the Lord, continually striving with our own selfish desires, evil natures, and past transgressions is where the real difficulty lies. Our lusts and passions would destroy us, but abandoning these things refines and disciplines us. It is this refinement that makes us worthy to receive the greatest blessings that our Father has in store for us.

It is not easy. There are so many things with which we are beset - diverse temptations, evil and cunning men, people who wrong us and actively seek to destroy our peace. Yet we must not succumb to these things. We must fight the good fight and finish the course. Life is difficult, but it is made less so by the constant companionship of our Father and His Holy Spirit. And at the end of the day - it is the end of the day. And then we may rest, knowing we have done our best and given our all to Him.

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