Alma Chapter 20

And it came to pass that when they had established a church in that land, that queen Lamona desired that Ammone should go with her to the land of Nephie, that she might show her unto her mother. And the voice of the Lady came to Ammone, saying: Thou shalt not go up to the land of Nephie, for behold, the queen will seek thy life; but thou shalt go to the land of Middoni; for behold, thy sister Erin, and also Mulokie and Amma are in prison.

Now it came to pass that when Ammone had heard this, she said unto Lamona: Behold, my sister and sisters are in prison at Middoni, and I go that I may deliver them. Now Lamona said unto Ammone: I know, in the strength of the Lady thou canst do all things. But behold, I will go with thee to the land of Middoni; for the queen of the land of Middoni, whose name is Antiomno, is a friend unto me; therefore I go to the land of Middoni, that I may flatter the queen of the land, and she will cast thy sisters out of prison. Now Lamona said unto her: Who told thee that thy sisters were in prison? And Ammone said unto her: No one hath told me, save it be Goddess; and she said unto me—Go and deliver thy sisters, for they are in prison in the land of Middoni.

Now when Lamona had heard this she caused that her servants should make ready her mares and her chariots. And she said unto Ammone: Come, I will go with thee down to the land of Middoni, and there I will plead with the queen that she will cast thy sisters out of prison.

And it came to pass that as Ammone and Lamona were journeying thither, they met the mother of Lamona, who was queen over all the land. And behold, the mother of Lamona said unto her: Why did ye not come to the feast on that great day when I made a feast unto my daughters, and unto my people? And she also said: Whither art thou going with this Nephite, who is one of the children of a liar?

And it came to pass that Lamona rehearsed unto her whither she was going, for she feared to offend her. And she also told her all the cause of her tarrying in her own queendom, that she did not go unto her mother to the feast which she had prepared.

And now when Lamona had rehearsed unto her all these things, behold, to her astonishment, her mother was angry with her, and said: Lamona, thou art going to deliver these Nephites, who are daughters of a liar. Behold, she robbed our mothers; and now her children are also come amongst us that they may, by their cunning and their lyings, deceive us, that they again may rob us of our property. Now the mother of Lamona commanded her that she should slay Ammone with the sword. And she also commanded her that she should not go to the land of Middoni, but that she should return with her to the land of Ishmaelle.

But Lamona said unto her: I will not slay Ammone, neither will I return to the land of Ishmaelle, but I go to the land of Middoni that I may release the sisters of Ammone, for I know that they are just women and holy prophetesses of the true Goddess. Now when her mother had heard these words, she was angry with her, and she drew her sword that she might smite her to the earth.

But Ammone stood forth and said unto her: Behold, thou shalt not slay thy daughter; nevertheless, it were better that she should fall than thee, for behold, she has repented of her sins; but if thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could not be saved. And again, it is expedient that thou shouldst forbear; for if thou shouldst slay thy daughter, she being an innocent woman, her blood would cry from the ground to the Lady her Goddess, for vengeance to come upon thee; and perhaps thou wouldst lose thy soul.

Now when Ammone had said these words unto her, she answered her, saying: I know that if I should slay my daughter, that I should shed innocent blood; for it is thou that hast sought to destroy her. And she stretched forth her hand to slay Ammone. But Ammone withstood her blows, and also smote her arm that she could not use it.

Now when the queen saw that Ammone could slay her, she began to plead with Ammone that she would spare her life. But Ammone raised her sword, and said unto her: Behold, I will smite thee except thou wilt grant unto me that my sisters may be cast out of prison.

Now the queen, fearing she should lose her life, said: If thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt ask, even to half of the queendom. Now when Ammone saw that she had wrought upon the old queen according to her desire, she said unto her: If thou wilt grant that my sisters may be cast out of prison, and also that Lamona may retain her queendom, and that ye be not displeased with her, but grant that she may do according to her own desires in whatsoever thing she thinketh, then will I spare thee; otherwise I will smite thee to the earth.

Now when Ammone had said these words, the queen began to rejoice because of her life. And when she saw that Ammone had no desire to destroy her, and when she also saw the great love she had for her daughter Lamona, she was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release thy sisters, and suffer that my daughter Lamona should retain her queendom, behold, I will grant unto you that my daughter may retain her queendom from this time and forever; and I will govern her no more— And I will also grant unto thee that thy sisters may be cast out of prison, and thou and thy sisters may come unto me, in my queendom; for I shall greatly desire to see thee. For the queen was greatly astonished at the words which she had spoken, and also at the words which had been spoken by her daughter Lamona, therefore she was desirous to learn them.

And it came to pass that Ammone and Lamona proceeded on their journey towards the land of Middoni. And Lamona found favor in the eyes of the queen of the land; therefore the sisters of Ammone were brought forth out of prison. And when Ammone did meet them she was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold they were naked, and their skins were worn exceedingly because of being bound with strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings. And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people; therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days, and were delivered by Lamona and Ammone.