Ammon Speaks to People in Temple

Event 53

Reference: Mosiah 8:1-21

AND it came to pass that after king Limhi had made an endof speaking to his people, for he spake many things untothem and only a few of them have I written in this book, hetold his people all the things concerning their brethren whowere in the land of Zarahemla. 2 And he caused thatAmmon should stand up before the multitude, and rehearseunto them all that had happened unto their brethren fromthe time that Zeniff went up out of the land even until thetime that he himself came up out of the land. 3 And he alsorehearsed unto them the last words which king Benjaminhad taught them, and explained them to the people of kingLimhi, so that they might understand all the words which hespake.MormonTemple in land ofNephi121 B.C.4 And it came to pass that after he had done all this, thatking Limhi dismissed the multitude, and caused that theyshould return every one unto his own house.Land of Nephi5 And it came to pass that he caused that the plates whichcontained the record of his people from the time that theyleft the land of Zarahemla, should be brought beforeAmmon, that he might read them. 6 Now, as soon asAmmon had read the record, the king inquired of him toknow if he could interpret languages, and Ammon told himthat he could not. 7 And the king said unto him:Being grieved for the afflictions of my people, I caused that fortyand three of my people should take a journey into the wilderness,that thereby they might find the land of Zarahemla, that we mightappeal unto our brethren to deliver us out of bondage. 8 And theywere lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet theywere diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned tothis land, having traveled in a land among many waters, havingdiscovered a land which was covered with bones of men, and ofbeasts, and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind,having discovered a land which had been peopled with a peoplewho were as numerous as the hosts of Israel.King Limhi9 And for a testimony that the things that they had said are truethey have brought twenty-four plates which are filled withengravings, and they are of pure gold. 10 And behold, also, theyhave brought breastplates, which are large, and they are of brassand of copper, and are perfectly sound. 11 And again, they havebrought swords, the hilts thereof have perished, and the bladesthereof were cankered with rust; and there is no one in the land that is able to interpret the language or the engravings that are onthe plates. Therefore I said unto thee: Canst thou translate? 12 AndI say unto thee again: Knowest thou of any one that can translate?For I am desirous that these records should be translated into ourlanguage; for, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of a remnantof the people who have been destroyed, from whence these recordscame; or, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of this verypeople who have been destroyed; and I am desirous to know thecause of their destruction.King LimhiLand of Nephi121 B.C.13 Now Ammon said unto him:MormonI can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate therecords; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate allrecords that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from God. And thethings are called interpreters, and no man can look in them excepthe be commanded, lest he should look for that he ought not and heshould perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, thesame is called seer. 14 And behold, the king of the people who arein the land of Zarahemla is the man that is commanded to do thesethings, and who has this high gift from God.Ammon15 And the king said that a seer is greater than a prophet. 16And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophetalso; and a gift which is greater can no man have, except heshould possess the power of God, which no man can; yet aman may have great power given him from God. 17 But aseer can know of things which are past, and also of thingswhich are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed,or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hiddenthings shall come to light, and things which are not knownshall be made known by them, and also things shall bemade known by them which otherwise could not be known.18 Thus God has provided a means that man, through faith,might work mighty miracles; therefore he becometh a greatbenefit to his fellow beings. 19 And now, when Ammon hadmade an end of speaking these words the king rejoicedexceedingly, and gave thanks to God, saying:MormonDoubtless a great mystery is contained within these plates, andthese interpreters were doubtless prepared for the purpose ofunfolding all such mysteries to the children of men. 20 O howmarvelous are the works of the Lord, and how long doth he sufferwith his people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are theunderstandings of the children of men; for they will not seekwisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them! 21Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, andscattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of theforest.King Limhi