Alma Chapter 18

And it came to pass that queen Lamona caused that her servants should stand forth and testify to all the things which they had seen concerning the matter. And when they had all testified to the things which they had seen, and she had learned of the faithfulness of Ammone in preserving her flocks, and also of her great power in contending against those who sought to slay her, she was astonished exceedingly, and said: Surely, this is more than a woman. Behold, is not this the Great Spirit who doth send such great punishments upon this people, because of their murders? And they answered the queen, and said: Whether she be the Great Spirit or a woman, we know not; but this much we do know, that she cannot be slain by the enemies of the queen; neither can they scatter the queen’s flocks when she is with us, because of her expertness and great strength; therefore, we know that she is a friend to the queen. And now, O queen, we do not believe that a woman has such great power, for we know she cannot be slain.

And now, when the queen heard these words, she said unto them: Now I know that it is the Great Spirit; and she has come down at this time to preserve your lives, that I might not slay you as I did your sisters. Now this is the Great Spirit of whom our mothers have spoken. Now this was the tradition of Lamona, which she had received from her mother, that there was a Great Spirit. Notwithstanding they believed in a Great Spirit they supposed that whatsoever they did was right; nevertheless, Lamona began to fear exceedingly, with fear lest she had done wrong in slaying her servants;

For she had slain many of them because their sisters had scattered their flocks at the place of water; and thus, because they had had their flocks scattered they were slain. 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.

And it came to pass that queen Lamona inquired of her servants, saying: Where is this woman that has such great power? And they said unto her: Behold, she is feeding thy mares. Now the queen had commanded her servants, previous to the time of the watering of their flocks, that they should prepare her mares and chariots, and conduct her forth to the land of Nephie; for there had been a great feast appointed at the land of Nephie, by the mother of Lamona, who was queen over all the land.

Now when queen Lamona heard that Ammone was preparing her mares and her chariots she was more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammone, saying: Surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this woman; for even she doth remember all my commandments to execute them. Now I surely know that this is the Great Spirit, and I would desire her that she come in unto me, but I durst not.

And it came to pass that when Ammone had made ready the mares and the chariots for the queen and her servants, she went in unto the queen, and she saw that the countenance of the queen was changed; therefore she was about to return out of her presence. And one of the queen’s servants said unto her, Rabbanah, which is, being interpreted, powerful or great queen, considering their kings to be powerful; and thus she said unto her: Rabbanah, the queen desireth thee to stay.

Therefore Ammone turned herself unto the queen, and said unto her: What wilt thou that I should do for thee, O queen? And the queen answered her not for the space of an hour, according to their time, for she knew not what she should say unto her. And it came to pass that Ammone said unto her again: What desirest thou of me? But the queen answered her not.

And it came to pass that Ammone, being filled with the Spirit of Goddess, therefore she perceived the thoughts of the queen. And she said unto her: Is it because thou hast heard that I defended thy servants and thy flocks, and slew seven of their sisters with the sling and with the sword, and smote off the arms of others, in order to defend thy flocks and thy servants; behold, is it this that causeth thy marvelings? I say unto you, what is it, that thy marvelings are so great? Behold, I am a woman, and am thy servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do.

Now when the queen had heard these words, she marveled again, for she beheld that Ammone could discern her thoughts; but notwithstanding this, queen Lamona did open her mouth, and said unto her: Who art thou? Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things? Ammone answered and said unto her: I am not. And the queen said: How knowest thou the thoughts of my heart? Thou mayest speak boldly, and tell me concerning these things; and also tell me by what power ye slew and smote off the arms of my sisters that scattered my flocks—

And now, if thou wilt tell me concerning these things, whatsoever thou desirest I will give unto thee; and if it were needed, I would guard thee with my armies; but I know that thou art more powerful than all they; nevertheless, whatsoever thou desirest of me I will grant it unto thee. Now Ammone being wise, yet harmless, she said unto Lamona: Wilt thou hearken unto my words, if I tell thee by what power I do these things? And this is the thing that I desire of thee. And the queen answered her, and said: Yea, I will believe all thy words. And thus she was caught with guile. And Ammone began to speak unto her with boldness, and said unto her: Believest thou that there is a Goddess? And she answered, and said unto her: I do not know what that meaneth. And then Ammone said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit? And she said, Yea. And Ammone said: This is Goddess. And Ammone said unto her again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is Goddess, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth? And she said: Yea, I believe that she created all things which are in the earth; but I do not know the heavens. And Ammone said unto her: The heavens is a place where Goddess dwells and all her holy angels. And queen Lamona said: Is it above the earth? And Ammone said: Yea, and she looketh down upon all the children of women; and she knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by her hand were they all created from the beginning. And queen Lamona said: I believe all these things which thou hast spoken. Art thou sent from Goddess? Ammone said unto her: I am a woman; and woman in the beginning was created after the image of Goddess, and I am called by her Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true; And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in Goddess.

Now when Ammone had said these words, she began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Eve, and told her all the things concerning the fall of woman, and rehearsed and laid before her the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophetesses, even down to the time that their mother, Sariah, left Jerusalem. And she also rehearsed unto them (for it was unto the queen and to her servants) all the journeyings of their mothers in the wilderness, and all their sufferings with hunger and thirst, and their travail, and so forth. And she also rehearsed unto them concerning the rebellions of Lamana and Lemuelle, and the daughters of Ishmaelle, yea, all their rebellions did she relate unto them; and she expounded unto them all the records and scriptures from the time that Sariah left Jerusalem down to the present time.

But this is not all; for she expounded unto them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; and she also made known unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and all the works of the Lady did she make known unto them. And it came to pass that after she had said all these things, and expounded them to the queen, that the queen believed all her words. And she began to cry unto the Lady, saying: O Lady, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephie, have upon me, and my people.

And now, when she had said this, she fell unto the earth, as if she were dead. And it came to pass that her servants took her and carried her in unto her husband, and laid her upon a bed; and she lay as if she were dead for the space of two days and two nights; and her husband, and her daughters, and her sons mourned over her, after the manner of the Lamanites, greatly lamenting her loss.