It is clear from his responses to Aaron that the father of Lamoni has been thinking about his encounter with Ammon and Lamoni and preparing himself (possibly not even consciously) to receive this gospel message. I suspect his willingness to believe Aaron was because he was considering what Lamoni had told him as well as reckoning with the actions of Ammon.
If thou desirest this thing, if thou wilt bow down before God, yea, if thou wilt repent of all thy sins, and will bow down before God, and call on his name in faith, believing that ye shall receive, then shalt thou receive the hope which thou desirest.
Alma 22:16
This may be the most guaranteed example of the invitation “ask and ye shall receive.” That is, if anyone chooses to repent and asks for a hope of salvation as they do so they WILL receive a hope of salvation. The king provides a perfect example of the correct attitude and the approved request:
O God, Aaron hath told me that there is a God; and if there is a God, and if thou art God, wilt thou make thyself known unto me, and I will give away all my sins to know thee, and that I may be raised from the dead, and be saved at the last day.
Alma 22:18
“I will give away all my sins to know Thee and I ask in recompense for that to be raised from the dead and saved at the last day.”
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