Alma 20

After establishing a church in King Lamoni’s land, the king asked Ammon to go with him to the land of Nephi to meet his father. But Ammon received a message from God, saying, “Do not to go to the land of Nephi because the king there will try to kill you. Your brother Aaron and his companions are imprisoned in the land of Middoni. Go there, instead.”

When Ammon told King Lamoni that he wanted to go to Middoni to free his imprisoned brother, the king offered to help. “I know that God gives you strength to do all things, ” he said, “but let me go with you because the king of Middoni is a friend of mine. If I flatter and plead with him, he will release your companions. Who told you that your brother was imprisoned?”

“God has told me,” Ammon answered. “I am to go there and deliver them.”

When King Lamoni heard this, he ordered his servants to prepare his horses and chariots for immediate departure. On their way to Middoni, Ammon and Lamoni met Lamoni’s father, the king of all the Lamanite lands.

“Why didn’t you come to the great feast in honor of my sons and my people?” Lamoni’s father asked. “And where are you going off with this lying Nephite?”

King Lamoni told his father where they were going, and why, because he was afraid of offending his father. He also explained why he’d had to stay in his own kingdom and miss the great feast.

Lamoni’s father was angry. “These Nephites are the descendants of liars,” he said. “Their ancestors have robbed us, and now their descendants come to deceive and steal from us again. Why would you want to help deliver them from prison?” Lamoni’s father ordered his son to kill Ammon, abandon his journey to Middoni, and return to the land of Ishmael.

“I will not kill Ammon,” Lamoni stated, “nor will I return with you to the land of Ishmael. I am going with Ammon to Middoni to help release his companions because I know that they are holy prophets of the true God.”

Lamoni’s father drew his sword to strike his son. But Ammon stepped in, saying, “Do not kill your son — even though it would be better that he die than you. He has repented his sins, and can be saved. If you were to die, on the other hand, nothing could save you. If you kill your innocent son, his blood will cry from the ground to God for vengeance and you will lose your soul.”

“I know that my son is innocent,” said the father. “It is you who have sought to destroy him.” And he turned on Ammon, intending to kill him instead. Ammon not only withstood the blows directed at him, but disarmed and wounded Lamoni’s father. When it became obvious that Ammon could kill him, Lamoni’s father begged for mercy.

“If you free my companions from prison, I will not kill you,” said Ammon.

“Spare me and I will give whatever you ask,” replied Lamoni’s father. “I will even give you half of my kingdom.”

“Give my companions their freedom; let Lamoni retain his kingdom, and do what he wants; and I will not kill you,” said Ammon. “Otherwise, I will kill you.”

The old king rejoiced when he saw that his life would be spared. He was also astonished to realize that Ammon’s love for his son Lamoni was genuine. “I will grant your requests,” he said. Because he was interested in hearing more, he said, “I would also like to have you and your companions come visit me in my kingdom so that I might learn more about you.”

Ammon and Lamoni continued their journey to Middoni, and Lamoni was able to persuade his friend to release Ammon’s companions from prison. When Ammon saw his brother and his companions, he was filled with sadness to see what poor treatment they had endured. They were naked. Their skin was raw from the ropes that had bound them. And they had patiently endured hunger, thirst, and other abuses. It was their misfortune to have fallen into the hands of hardened and stubborn people who wouldn’t listen to their words. [90 BC]