Conversion Opportunities Come in Different Ways

There are many ways for people to be introduced to the Gospel, and spiritual experiences can happen in many ways. These people, who called themselves the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, had been a wicked and bloodthirsty people, but they heard the Gospel through the preaching of the sons of Mosiah. They felt the Spirit testify of the truthfulness of those words, and they were converted. Their conversion was so strong, and their repentance so complete, that they buried their weapons and changed their name.

Other Lamanites came upon them, egged on by some Nephite people who had dissented from the Church, to come to battle. The Anti-Nephi-Lehis simply fell down and started praying. The Lamanites started to slay them.

"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." (Alma 24:22)

This is tragic! People who had just converted and found the Gospel were slain! As it says in the verse, however, they were known to have been living their life right at the point of their death, so they definitely could have been slain at a worse time.

But an interesting thing starts to happen. The Lamanites don't want to just kill these people who are making it all too easy. They see that the people are worshiping and praying right up to the end of their lives. There were many who were converted through that experience. They felt their "hearts swollen in them" (v. 24) and they "repented of the things which they had done." (v. 24) They followed the Anti-Nephi-Lehis' example and dropped their weapons and started worshiping God.

"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." (Alma 24:26)

More people were converted through this experience than were killed. I think this is interesting because I wonder how many of these Lamanites would have been open to listening to the missionaries. Maybe some of them, had they had the opportunity. However, this was a unique opportunity for them to have a spiritual experience in an unlikely place, during a battle. They were overcome by the spirit and were converted. 

Another interesting thing is that we often think of God as "punishing" the wicked and "protecting" the righteous. Well, in this case, God was watching out for both the righteous and the wicked.

"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." (Alma 24:27)

This indeed showcases that there are many ways for people to become converted. It's interesting to me that it specifically says that there was not a wicked man slain among them. I feel as though God protected the wicked here but allowed the righteous to be slain. It is sad when a righteous person leaves this life, but at the same time, it is comforting for those left behind to know that they are saved (as mentioned in the end of v. 26). I think if the wicked people had been slain too in this particular battle, they would have been so much worse off than if they had the chance to repent and accept the Gospel into their lives.

What are other "interesting" ways that people become converted? How can I turn situations that are not great into missionary or teaching opportunities? This is something that I need to do better about, especially in my family with my own children.