Ammon Visits King Lamoni’S Father

Event 87

Reference: Alma 20:1-27

AND it came to pass that when they had established achurch in that land, that king Lamoni desired that Ammonshould go with him to the land of Nephi, that he mightshow him unto his father. 2 And the voice of the Lord cameto Ammon, saying:MormonLand of Ishmael91 to 77 B.C.Thou shalt not go up to the land of Nephi, for behold, the king willseek thy life; but thou shalt go to the land of Middoni; for behold,thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in prison.The Lord3 Now it came to pass that when Ammon had heard this, hesaid unto Lamoni:MormonBehold, my brother and brethren are in prison at Middoni, and I gothat I may deliver them.Ammon4 Now Lamoni said unto Ammon:MormonI know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things. Butbehold, I will go with thee to the land of Middoni; for the king ofthe land of Middoni, whose name is Antiomno, is a friend untome; therefore I go to the land of Middoni, that I may flatter theking of the land, and he will cast thy brethren out of prison.King LamoniNow Lamoni said unto him:MormonWho told thee that thy brethren were in prison?King Lamoni5 And Ammon said unto him:MormonNo one hath told me, save it be God; and he said unto me—AmmonGo and deliver thy brethren, for they are in prison in the land ofMiddoni.God6 Now when Lamoni had heard this he caused that hisservants should make ready his horses and his chariots. 7And he said unto Ammon:MormonCome, I will go with thee down to the land of Middoni, and there Iwill plead with the king that he will cast thy brethren out of prison.King Lamoni8 And it came to pass that as Ammon and Lamoni werejourneying thither, they met the father of Lamoni, who wasking over all the land. 9 And behold, the father of Lamonisaid unto him:MormonBetween land ofIshmael and landof MiddoniWhy did ye not come to the feast on that great day when I made afeast unto my sons, and unto my people?Lamoni’s Father 10 And he also said:MormonBetween land ofIshmael and landof Middoni91 to 77 B.C.Whither art thou going with this Nephite, who is one of thechildren of a liar?Lamoni’s Father11 And it came to pass that Lamoni rehearsed unto himwhither he was going, for he feared to offend him. 12 Andhe also told him all the cause of his tarrying in his ownkingdom, that he did not go unto his father to the feastwhich he had prepared. 13 And now when Lamoni hadrehearsed unto him all these things, behold, to hisastonishment, his father was angry with him, and said:MormonLamoni, thou art going to deliver these Nephites, who are sons ofa liar. Behold, he robbed our fathers; and now his children are alsocome amongst us that they may, by their cunning and their lyings,deceive us, that they again may rob us of our property.Lamoni’s Father14 Now the father of Lamoni commanded him that heshould slay Ammon with the sword. And he alsocommanded him that he should not go to the land ofMiddoni, but that he should return with him to the land ofIshmael. 15 But Lamoni said unto him:MormonI will not slay Ammon, neither will I return to the land of Ishmael,but I go to the land of Middoni that I may release the brethren ofAmmon, for I know that they are just men and holy prophets of thetrue God.King Lamoni16 Now when his father had heard these words, he wasangry with him, and he drew his sword that he might smitehim to the earth. 17 But Ammon stood forth and said untohim:MormonBehold, thou shalt not slay thy son; nevertheless, it were better thathe should fall than thee, for behold, he has repented of his sins; butif thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could notbe saved. 18 And again, it is expedient that thou shouldst forbear;for if thou shouldst slay thy son, he being an innocent man, hisblood would cry from the ground to the Lord his God, forvengeance to come upon thee; and perhaps thou wouldst lose thysoul.Ammon19 Now when Ammon had said these words unto him, heanswered him, saying:MormonI know that if I should slay my son, that I should shed innocentblood; for it is thou that hast sought to destroy him.Lamoni’s Father20 And he stretched forth his hand to slay Ammon. ButAmmon withstood his blows, and also smote his arm thathe could not use it. 21 Now when the king saw that AmmonMormon could slay him, he began to plead with Ammon that hewould spare his life. 22 But Ammon raised his sword, andsaid unto him:MormonBetween land ofIshmael and landof Middoni91 to 77 B.C.Behold, I will smite thee except thou wilt grant unto me that mybrethren may be cast out of prison.Ammon23 Now the king, fearing he should lose his life, said:MormonIf thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wiltask, even to half of the kingdom.Lamoni’s Father24 Now when Ammon saw that he had wrought upon the oldking according to his desire, he said unto him:MormonIf thou wilt grant that my brethren may be cast out of prison, andalso that Lamoni may retain his kingdom, and that ye be notdispleased with him, but grant that he may do according to his owndesires in whatsoever thing he thinketh, then will I spare thee;otherwise I will smite thee to the earth.Ammon25 Now when Ammon had said these words, the king beganto rejoice because of his life. 26 And when he saw thatAmmon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also sawthe great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonishedexceedingly, and said:MormonBecause this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release thybrethren, and suffer that my son Lamoni should retain hiskingdom, behold, I will grant unto you that my son may retain hiskingdom from this time and forever; and I will govern him nomore— 27 And I will also grant unto thee that thy brethren may becast out of prison, and thou and thy brethren may come unto me, inmy kingdom; for I shall greatly desire to see thee.Lamoni’s FatherFor the king was greatly astonished at the words which hehad spoken, and also at the words which had been spokenby his son Lamoni, therefore he was desirous to learn them.Mormon