Ammon, a Great Servant

The four sons of Mosiah left Zarahemla to teach the Lamanites the word of God. They each went to a different city. Alma 17:12–13

Ammon went to the land of Ishmael. As he entered it, the Lamanites tied him up and took him to their king, Lamoni. Alma 17:20–21

Ammon told King Lamoni that he wanted to live among the Lamanites. Lamoni was pleased and had his men untie Ammon. Alma 17:22–24

After he said that he would be a servant to the king, Ammon was sent to help watch the king’s flocks. Alma 17:25

One day, as Ammon and other servants took the flocks to the watering place, some Lamanite robbers scattered the animals in order to steal them. Alma 17:26–27; Alma 18:7

Ammon’s fellow servants were afraid. King Lamoni had killed his other servants who had lost animals to these robbers. Alma 17:28

Ammon knew that this was his chance to use the Lord’s power to win the hearts of the Lamanites. Then they would listen to his teachings. Alma 17:29

Ammon told the other servants that if they regathered the animals, the king would not kill them. Alma 17:31

Ammon and the other servants swiftly found and drove the animals back to the watering place. Alma 17:32

When the Lamanite robbers came again, Ammon told the other servants to guard the flocks while he went to fight the robbers. Alma 17:33

The Lamanite robbers were not afraid of Ammon. They thought that it would be easy to kill him. Alma 17:34–35

The power of God was with Ammon. He slung stones at the robbers and killed some of them. This made the rest of them very angry. Alma 17:36

When they tried to kill Ammon, he cut off the arm of everyone who raised a club to hit him. Frightened, the robbers ran away. Alma 17:37–38

The other servants took the cut-off arms to King Lamoni and told him about Ammon’s great power and what he had done. Alma 17:39; Alma 18:1

Lamoni was astonished. He wanted to see Ammon, but he was afraid. He thought that Ammon was the Great Spirit. Alma 18:2–4, 11

When Ammon came in to see him, King Lamoni did not know what to say. He did not speak for an hour. Alma 18:14

The Holy Ghost helped Ammon know what Lamoni was thinking. Ammon explained that he was not the Great Spirit. He was a man. Alma 18:16–19

The king offered Ammon anything he wanted if he would explain where he got the power to defeat the robbers and to know his (Lamoni’s) thoughts. Alma 18:20–21

Ammon said that he only wanted Lamoni to believe his words. The king said that he would believe all that Ammon told him. Alma 18:22–23

Ammon asked the king if he believed in God. Lamoni said that he believed in a Great Spirit. Alma 18:24–27

Ammon explained that the Great Spirit is God, that God created all things on the earth, and that He knows our thoughts. Alma 18:28–32

Man was created in God’s image, Ammon continued. He said that God’s Holy Spirit called him to teach the gospel to Lamoni and his people. Alma 18:34–35

Ammon used the scriptures to teach Lamoni about the creation of the earth, about Adam, and about Jesus Christ. Alma 18:36, 39

Lamoni believed Ammon and began to pray for forgiveness of his sins. Then he fell to the ground as if he were dead. Alma 18:40–42

Lamoni’s servants carried him to his wife and laid him on a bed. After two days, they thought that he was dead and decided to bury him. Alma 18:43; Alma 19:1

Lamoni’s wife did not believe that he was dead. Having heard of Ammon’s great power, she asked him to help Lamoni. Alma 19:2–5

Knowing that the power of God was with the king, Ammon told her that Lamoni was not dead but would arise the next day. Alma 19:6–8

She stayed by Lamoni’s bed all night. The next day Lamoni got up and said that he had seen Jesus Christ. The king and queen were filled with the Holy Ghost. Alma 19:11–13

Lamoni taught his people about God and Jesus Christ. Those who believed repented of their sins and were baptized. Alma 19:31–36

Illustrated by Jerry Thompson