Our last encounter with Ammon left him tending the flocks and feeding the horses of the King after his amazing first three days in Lamanite land.When the King found out that Ammon was back caring for the animals after such an eventful day he could not believe it. The King was astonished because of the faithfulness of this new stranger in town. "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. 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 18:10-11
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Lamoni wanted to speak with Ammon but he was fearful of the power that Ammon possessed. I'm sure that this is a situation that Lamoni had rarely found himself in. He's the one who was usually all powerful! After Ammon finished his chores with the animals, he came in unto the King.
One of the King's servants called Ammon "Rabbanah" which means powerful or great king.
For just a moment, let's get a little perspective on this situation. Remember a few days prior, Ammon was this young Nephite with a dream to preach the gospel to the wicked Lamanites. There is NO way these circumstances could have ever turned around this completely without the Lord's intervention! The Lamanites were calling this young Nephite, powerful and great! I am thankful for the power and greatness of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ!
Ammon inquired of the King what he desired of him. The King was speechless and didn't say anything. Ammon, being filled with the Spirit of God, knew the thoughts of the King. Ammon asked the King if he was speechless because he had defended the servants and the flocks, killed 7 of the robbers with a sling and sword and cut off the arms of others.
I love the next part. Ammon could really have been on a power trip at this point. He could have had anything in Lamoni's kingdom that he wanted. But what he says next is classic righteousness! "Behold, I am a man, and am thy servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do." Alma 18:17. Bravo, Ammon!
The King continued his speechlessness. He realized that Ammon could read his thoughts. When he was finally able to muster some words he said what I believe any one of us would be wondering, "Who art thou? " Lamoni then asked the question he had been thinking for a while now. "Are thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things?"Alma 18:18
I love Ammon's complete honesty here. He answered "I am not."
The King was full of questions. He wanted to know how Ammon knew the deep thoughts of his heart. He wondered what power Ammon used to smite the arms of the Lamanites who scattered the flocks.
The King decided to make a big promise. If Ammon would tell how him how he did all these things, Lamoni would give him whatever he desired! I'm sure Ammon had been waiting for just this right moment to introduce the teachings of the gospel! Can you imagine his joy?
"Now Ammon being wise, yet harmless, he said unto Lamoni; Wilt thou hearken unto my words, if I tell thee by what power I do these things?" Alma 18:22
Of course the King agreed.
Ammon was in the right place at the right time with the right people. He would now be able to share and teach the gospel to not just some Lamanites in a field somewhere, but to the mighty King of Ishmael! The spirit is one incredible teacher when we get out of the way and allow it to do it's work through a faithful servant!
Ammon began to teach the gospel to Lamoni basically from start to finish. We must remember that the Lamanites had not had the privilege of having the plates in their possession with all the genealogy of their forefathers. They didn't know anything that the Nephites had been privy too. Ammon started at the beginning and taught of God. He taught of heaven, a place being where God and his angels dwell. Lamoni didn't even know where heaven was when he asked the simple question, "Is heaven above the earth?"
I picture Ammon, such a patient and kind missionary, teaching line upon line, precept upon precept. Ammon's response to the question about heaven is beautiful. "He [God] looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning. Alma 18:32
Ammon continued his missionary lessons. He taught that we are created in the image of our Heavenly Father. He spoke of the Holy Spirit and the gifts it brings. He spoke of the creation of Adam and the fall. He spoke of the holy scriptures which had been taught by the prophets down to the time of their common father, Lehi. Ammon rehearsed to the King and the servants some genealogy stories. He spoke of the journeys that their fathers had in the wilderness, their sufferings and travail. He spoke of the rebellions of Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael, he taught of the records and scriptures from that time long ago to their present day. He spoke of the plan of redemption, of the future coming of Jesus Christ and all of the works that the Lord had made known to him.
Don't you think this would have been hard for the King to swallow? He had been steeped in the traditions of his Lamanite fathers. They believed that they had been 'robbed' in the wilderness by their brother Nephi. They believed that they had been wronged and had carried this hatred and revenge of their fathers through the generations. I think for Lamoni to have believed all these words of a Nephite was rather incredible, if not unprecedented.
In this scriptural college course that Ammon was teaching to Lamoni, the miracle was that Lamoni believed ALL of Ammon's words. He believed and was filled with the spirit so much that he began to cry to the Lord for mercy. He said "O Lord, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephi, have upon me, and my people." Alma 18:41
After these last words, "he fell to the earth, as is he were dead." Alma 18:42
Uh, oh....
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The servants carried their King to his wife, the queen. Lamoni laid there not just for a few moments, but for two days and two nights! His wife, his sons and daughters mourned over him, greatly lamenting and grieving for their father and husband.....
I would imagine that many eyes turned to Ammon, not in kindness but in anger...
What had this Nephite done to their King?
