Chapter 18
King Lamoni supposes
that Ammon is the Great Spirit—Ammon teaches the king about the Creation, God’s
dealings with men, and the redemption that comes through Christ—Lamoni believes
and falls to the earth as if dead. About 90 B.C.
1 And it came to pass
that king Lamoni caused that his servants should stand forth and testify to all
the things which they had seen concerning the matter.
2 And when they had
all testified to the things which they had seen, and he had learned of the
faithfulness of Ammon in preserving his flocks, and also of his great power in
contending against those who sought to slay him, he was astonished exceedingly,
and said: Surely, this is more than a man. Behold, is not this the Great Spirit
who doth send such great punishments upon this people, because of their
murders?
3 And they answered
the king, and said: Whether he be the Great Spirit or a man, we know not; but
this much we do know, that he cannot be slain by the enemies of the king;
neither can they scatter the king’s flocks when he is with us, because of his
expertness and great strength; therefore, we know that he is a friend to the
king. And now, O king, we do not believe that a man has such great power, for
we know he cannot be slain.
4 And now, when the
king heard these words, he said unto them: Now I know that it is the Great
Spirit; and he has come down at this time to preserve your lives, that I might
not slay you as I did your brethren. Now this is the Great Spirit of whom our
fathers have spoken.
5 Now this was the
tradition of Lamoni, which he had received from his father, that there was a
Great Spirit. Notwithstanding they believed in a Great Spirit, they supposed
that whatsoever they did was right; nevertheless, Lamoni began to fear
exceedingly, with fear lest he had done wrong in slaying his servants;
6 For he had slain
many of them because their brethren had scattered their flocks at the place of
water; and thus, because they had had their flocks scattered they were slain.
7 Now it was the
practice of these Lamanites to stand by the waters of Sebus to scatter the
flocks of the people, that thereby they might drive away many that were
scattered unto their own land, it being a practice of plunder among them.
8 And it came to pass that
king Lamoni inquired of his servants, saying: Where is this man that has such
great power?
9 And they said unto
him: Behold, he is feeding thy horses. Now the king had commanded his servants,
previous to the time of the watering of their flocks, that they should prepare
his horses and chariots, and conduct him forth to the land of Nephi; for there
had been a great feast appointed at the land of Nephi, by the father of Lamoni,
who was king over all the land.
10 Now when king
Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots he was more
astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon, saying: Surely there has not
been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man;
for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute them.
11 Now I surely know
that this is the Great Spirit, and I would desire him that he come in unto me,
but I durst not. (Alma 18:1-11)
After returning with the flocks, king Lamoni had his
servants tell him what had happened at the waters of Sebus. He learned of Ammon’s
efforts to preserve his flocks as well as how he was able to defeat those who
wanted to kill him.
King Lamoni feared Ammon was the Great Spirit sent to punish
his people because of their murders.
The servants responded by telling him they have no way of
knowing if he is a man or the Great Spirit. What they know is what they saw.
Ammon cold not be killed by his enemies. They cannot scatter the flocks when
Ammon is with them. What they do know is he is a friend to the king. They added,
“we do not believe that a man has such great power, for we know he cannot be
slain” (Alma 18:3).
Hearing these things, Lamoni believed Ammon was the Great Spirit.
He had been sent to save the lives of the other servants. “Now this is the Great
Spirit of whom our fathers have spoken” (Alma 18:4).
It was the tradition there was a Great Spirit. He received
this from his father. Even though they believed in this Great Spirit, they
believed what they did was right. Still, Lamoni began to fear he had done wrong
when he killed his servants.
“Those without an eternal perspective, or those who lose
sight of it, make their own standards to benefit themselves and their own
selfish interests. Their mortal perspective becomes their standard and for some
their god.
“Ammon taught King Lamoni, who had always lived by the light
of his mortality, about God, a divine power higher than the king. The king ‘supposed
that whatsoever [he] did was right” (Alma 18:5). But Ammon’s example and
message touched his heart, and he ‘began to fear exceedingly, with fear lest he
had done wrong’ (Alma 18:5). Ammon then ‘expounded unto them the plan of
redemption’ (Alma 18:39).”[1]
The Lamanites who scattered the flocks did so in order to
have them scattered into their own land.
Hearing the account of what happened, Lamoni wanted to know
where Ammon was. “Where is this man that has such great power?” (Alma 18:8).
They told him he was feeding his horses. Lamoni had
commanded the servants to prepare his horse and chariots. He was planning on
attending a feast in the land of Nephi. His father, the king over all the land,
was holding the feast.
Lamoni was astonished Ammon was taking care of his needs. He
never had a servant who was as faithful as Ammon. He remembered all he was told
to do and made sure they were done.
Lamoni decided Ammon was the Great Spirit. He wanted him to
come to him, but he did not dare to ask him to come before him.
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