Alma 17

Alma was traveling southward from Gideon to Manti when he unexpectedly met Mosiah’s four sons returning to Zarahemla from their travels in the land of Nephi. These were the same companions who had been with Alma when the angel appeared, that had changed all of their lives. Alma was pleased to learn that they were still his brothers in God. Their faith had grown stronger through prayer and fasting. Because they possessed the spirit of prophecy and revelation, they had taught with the power and authority of God. For 14 years they preached the word of God among the Lamanites. They had great successes and made many converts through the power of their words. They had also met with great troubles, and had suffered physically and mentally in their labors.

After declining King Mosiah’s offer to rule, the four brothers had traveled into the Lamanite lands with the intent to be instruments of God’s hand in bringing the Lamanites to a correct understanding of the truth, and the incorrectness of their ancestors’ traditions. God answered their prayers and fasting with a personal visit, in which he said, “Be comforted. Go among the Lamanites to establish my word. Your mission will require patience in suffering. If you act as good examples to them, your efforts will be the salvation of many.” Hearing this, Mosiah’s sons and their party were encouraged.

When they reached the borders of the Lamanite lands the brothers disbanded and went their separate ways. They trusted in God to bring them together again at the end of their mission. They had chosen to do the work of bringing the word of God to the wild, hardened, and ferocious Lamanites. These were people who took pleasure in killing Nephites. They robbed and plundered them for their coveted riches of gold, silver, and precious stones. The Lamanites were lazy people who worshipped idols and didn’t want to bother producing riches for themselves. Since they followed the sinful tradition of their ancestors God’s curse had fallen upon them, until such time as they repented. Mosiah’s sons brought them word of God’s plan, the opportunity for repentance, and redemption.

Ammon2 was the leader among Mosiah’s sons. He blessed his brothers on their missions and went alone into the land of Ishmael, named after the sons of Ishmael from Jerusalem who had also become Lamanites. He was soon discovered, tied up, and brought before King Lamoni, who would decide whether he would be killed, enslaved, freed, or imprisoned.

The king asked whether Ammon wished to live in the Ishmaelites’ lands or the Lamanite lands. Ammon replied that he wanted to live among the Ishmaelites, maybe even for the rest of his life. King Lamoni accepted Ammon, released him, and asked him to marry one of his daughters. Ammon declined the offer of marriage but volunteered to become King Lamoni’s servant.

Ammon was assigned the task of herding sheep along with some of the king’s other servants. Several days after his assignment, King Lamoni’s servants and some Lamanite shepherds all were driving their flocks to water at the same time and place. The Lamanites scattered King Lamoni’s flocks, so that the sheep took off in all directions. King Lamoni’s servants were horrified and wept in fear of losing their lives. “The king will kill us,” they said, “as he killed others who allowed his flocks to be scattered and lost.”

When Ammon saw this he was filled with joy. He knew that this apparent tragedy gave him an opportunity to show his power by restoring the king’s flocks, and winning the trust of his fellow servants. He said to them, “My brothers, be cheerful and let’s go look for the flocks, gather them up, and bring them back to the water. If we do this, the king will not kill us.”

Following Ammon, they quickly gathered the flocks together and returned them to the water to drink. When the Lamanite herders tried to scatter their flocks again, Ammon directed his fellow shepherds, saying, “Encircle our flocks to ensure that they do not get away, and I will go contend with these men who attempt to scatter them.”

The Lamanite herders were numerous and had no fear of Ammon. They thought they could kill him any time they wanted to. They didn’t know that God had promised Mosiah that he would deliver his sons from harm. They didn’t know anything about the ways of God. They took delight in scattering King Lamoni’s flocks and got ready to do it again. But Ammon stood his ground and used his sling to cast stones at them with great power and accuracy, killing six of the Lamanite herders. The Lamanites were astonished with his power, and angry because of their dead brothers. The Lamanites tried to cast stones at Ammon and kill him, but failed. Then they came at him with clubs; but Ammon cut the arm off every man who lifted his club against him. When the leader was killed by Ammon’s sword, the attackers fled in fear of his strength.

Ammon returned to water the flocks and bring them to pasture again.

His fellow herders collected the severed arms and later presented them to the king, and bore testimony as to what they’d seen. [90 BC]