The Lamanite Conversion Prototype
Following the cataclysmic destructions on the ancient American continent, the Lord's
voice from heaven invited the surviving remnants, saying, "And whoso cometh unto me
with a broken heart and a contrite spirit, him will I baptize with fire and with the
Holy Ghost, even as the Lamanites, because of their faith
in me at the time of their conversion, were baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost,
and they knew it not." (3 Ne. 9:20.) The highlighted words, "even as,"
according to the English language, portray the meaning "in a manner comparable
to." So we might restate this, saying that all who come to Christ, offering the
sacrifice of a broken heart and a contrite spirit will be baptized with fire and with the
Holy in a manner comparable to the experience of the Lamanites at the time of their
conversion. It should be noted that this verse 20 comes in a context in which the voice of
Christ out of the heavens is setting forth the doctrine, starting in verse twelve and
ending in 22, and reads very similar to Christ's declaration in person of his doctrine in
chapter eleven.
In reading the closing phrase in verse twenty in reference to the Lamanites' baptism of
fire and of the Holy Ghost at the time of their conversion, which says, "and they
knew it not," one might erroneously concluded that a person could have this important
experience of being baptized with fire and with the Holy Ghost and not know it --
as if this phenomenon can be imperceptible. To promulgate this mistaken interpretation,
teaching this fundamental component of the doctrine of Christ to be so much less than what
it is, is to build upon a sandy foundation. (3 Ne. 11:40.) The conversion spoken of is
that which is told in Helaman chapter five. No other event in Lamanite history prior to
the Savior's visit was more pronounced, and no other event so completely fits the
description of their being baptized as an assembly with fire and with the Holy Ghost.
Also, the account itself refers to this as "the conversion of the Lamanites."
(Hel. 6:3.) Furthermore, Ether 12:14 says that "it was the faith of Nephi
and Lehi," who were the key figures present in the prison experience, "that
wrought the change upon the Lamanites, that they were baptized with fire and with the
Holy Ghost." That the Lamanites "knew it not" refers merely to the
fact that the Lamanites did not know, doctrinally, what was happening to them.
Yet they were not completely ignorant, for the record mentions that Alma, and Amulek, and
Zeezrom prior to this time had been among them and taught of Christ. (Hel. 5:41.) Still,
while they did not fully comprehend the doctrinal significance of what was
happening to them, the 300 Lamanites in prison were very aware that something
wonderful was happening to them.
How could they not have been deeply effected by the earthquake in prison and its
accompanying mist of darkness, the voice from heaven, their crying unto the voice and
exercising faith in Christ, followed by pillars of heavenly fire encircling them about?
Resembling the experience of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace who were
joined by one "like unto the Son of God" (Dan. 3:25), the Lamanite prisoners
were astonished to beheld Nephi and Lehi, sons of Helaman, "in the attitude as if
talking or lifting up their voices to some being whom they beheld" (Hel. 5:36). The
trembling Lamanites were instructed to cry unto the voice of him who had shaken the earth,
until they had faith in Christ. (Hel. 5:41,42) When they did so, "the cloud of
darkness was dispersed," and they "were as if in the midst of a flaming fire,
yet it did harm them not...; and they were filled with that joy which is
unspeakable and full of glory. And behold, the Holy Spirit of God
did come down from heaven, and did enter into their hearts, and they were filled
as if with fire, and they could speak forth marvelous
words." (Hel. 5:43-45.) They heard the voice of the Father, saying, "Peace,
peace be unto you, because of your faith in my Well Beloved, who was from the foundation
of the world." (Hel. 5:47.) Then the heavens opened "and angels came down out of
heaven and ministered unto them." (Hel. 5:48.) This whole experience was so profound
that as these converted Lamanites subsequently went forth as commanded, "declaring
throughout all the regions round about all the things which they had heard and seen...,
the more part of the Lamanites were convinced." (Hel. 5:50.) Many of these Lamanites
came among the Nephites to declare "the manner of their conversion," preaching
"with exceedingly great power and authority, unto the bringing down many of them into
the depths of humility, to be the humble followers of God and the Lamb." (Hel.
6:4,5.)
