Chapter 20
The Lord sends Ammon to Middoni to deliver his imprisoned brethren—Ammon and Lamoni meet Lamoni’s father, who is king over all the land—Ammon compels the old king to approve the release of his brethren. About 90 B.C.
1 And it came to pass that when they had established a church in that aland, how long did this take? I always pictured what follows as happening shortly after the conversion experience...that king Lamoni desired that Ammon should go with him to the land of Nephi, that he might show him unto his father. This is a brave move. Surely, Lamoni knows the hardness of heart of his own father....
2 And
the voice of the Lord came to Ammon, personal revelation saying: Thou shalt not go up to
the land of Nephi, for behold, the king will seek thy life; This is such a great example of the omniscience of God. He protects Ammon by telling him what would happen if he went. He could have let him go and somehow protected him, but without intervening he “directs” the affairs of His children. but thou
shalt go to the land of aMiddoni; for behold, thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in prison. Interesting that he is told not to go to the King, but ends up meeting the king anyway. At least he was told he would seek his life... Perhaps it was important that Ammon knew the heart of the king when they did meet. It also keeps the King free of any justification for his evil choices, since they had no “intention” of meeting them. That might be an important piece. But...for us...not knowing all things, we can use this story to learn to trust God in ALL THINGS!
3 Now
it came to pass that when Ammon had heard this, he said unto Lamoni:
Behold, my brother and brethren are in prison at Middoni, and I go that I
may deliver them. No mention of being told Lamoni's father would want to kill him. This shows that we are not always to disclose the revelation we receive to others.
4 Now Lamoni said unto Ammon: I know, in the astrength
of the Lord thou canst do all things. Lamoni wouldn’t have been afraid for Ammon even if he had told him his father would want to kill him...But behold, I will go with thee
to the land of Middoni; for the king 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 king of the land, and he will cast thy brethren
out of bprison. I love that he's kind of saying, "I know you don't really need my help, but I'm willing to help..." Now Lamoni said unto him: Who told thee that thy brethren were in prison?
5 And
Ammon said unto him: No one hath told me, save it be God; God can tell you anything/all things and he said
unto me—Go and deliver thy brethren, for they are in prison in the land
of Middoni. I think if we had faith enough and had been Born Again we would ALL experience the promise “the words of Christ (literally Christ-notice he said God told him) will tell you all things what you should do!” Notice he didn't say, "I felt impressed"; or "the Spirit told me". This is Christ speaking to him directly and he knows it and isn't afraid to say it.
6 Now when Lamoni had heard this he caused that his servants should make ready his ahorses and his chariots. Ammon used to be the servant who would do this chore.
7 And
he said unto Ammon: Come, I will go with thee down to the land of
Middoni, and there I will plead with the king that he will cast thy
brethren out of prison.
8 And it came to pass that as Ammon and Lamoni were journeying thither, they met the father of Lamoni, who was king aover all the land.
9 And behold, the father of Lamoni said unto him: Why did ye anot come to the bfeast on that great day when I made a feast unto my sons, and unto my people? I wonder what the occasion was...
10 And he also said: Whither art thou going with this Nephite, who is one of the children of a aliar? This seems to be an evidence that the skin of the Nephites was white, or how else would he be so easily distinguished? Ammon had been living with the Lamanites and would likely be dressed as they are. Also the pot calling the kettle black...
11 And it came to pass that Lamoni rehearsed unto him whither he was going, for he feared to offend him.
12 And
he also told him all the cause of his tarrying in his own kingdom, that
he did not go unto his father to the feast which he had prepared.
13 And
now when Lamoni had rehearsed unto him all these things, likely there was more detail behold, to his
astonishment, Why was he astonished? Did he think his father would understand? his father was angry with him, maybe he was astonished because he himself was quick to be softened and perhaps thought his father would be the same. and said: Lamoni, thou art
going to deliver these Nephites, who are sons of a liar. Behold, he
robbed our fathers; and now his 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. Stories are so powerful! When did the Nephites ever trick them into giving them their property? The irony is that the sin that is being passed on generationally is from Lamanite father to son - they are the robbers; they are the ones after the property of the Nephites; they are the real “sons of a liar”.
14 Now
the father of Lamoni commanded him that he should slay Ammon with the
sword. And he also commanded him that he should not go to the land of
Middoni, but that he should return with him to the land of aIshmael. Saying he would take him back to his home. Seems Lamoni had learned the disregard for life that he would previously so easily kill his own servants was learned from his father.
15 But
Lamoni said unto him: I will not slay Ammon, neither will I return to
the land of Ishmael, but I go to the land of Middoni that I may release
the brethren of Ammon, for I know that they are just men and holy
prophets of the true God. Lamoni is not afraid to testify to his father, even though he’s angry at the moment.
16 Now when his father had heard these words, he was angry with him, and he drew his sword that he might smite him to the earth. Here we go....true to evil’s pattern. “I don’t like what you are saying, so I’m going to silence you forever!” Is this a kind of twisted satanic type of a father sacrificing his son in sin instead of for sin (like the Father offering His Only Begotten Son as a sacrifice for sin?)
17 But Ammon stood forth between them? and said unto him: Behold, thou shalt not slay thy son; nevertheless, it were abetter that he should fall than thee, for behold, he has brepented of his sins; but if thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could not be saved. Here is the key to not fearing death (or fearing it). If you have repented and are prepared to meet God, it doesn't matter when you die. And if you haven’t repented, you need to stay in your body on this planet until you do. Is this saying that if you have murdered and don’t repent in this life that you can never be saved? But that if you do repent in this life, you can receive forgiveness?
18 And again, it is expedient that thou shouldst forbear; for if thou shouldst aslay
thy son, he being an innocent man, innocent in “this” situation? or innocent because he’s repented? his blood would cry from the ground
to the Lord his God, for vengeance to come upon thee; and perhaps thou
wouldst lose thy bsoul. It seems like there is some kind of law or power given to those who are killed innocently to bring or ask for "vengeance" upon others by God.
19 Now
when Ammon had said these words unto him, he answered him, saying: I
know that if I should slay my son, that I should shed innocent blood; truth for it is thou that hast sought to destroy him. lie
20 And he stretched forth his hand to slay Ammon. But Ammon withstood his blows, and also smote his arm that he could not use it. Not smote it off, but just disabled him. Ammon and arms...seems to be a theme.
21 Now when the king saw that Ammon could slay him, he began to plead with Ammon that he would spare his life. Power is so easily turned to submission when their own life is at stake, though they care nothing for the lives of others...
22 But Ammon raised his sword, and said unto him: Behold, I will smite thee except thou wilt grant unto me that my brethren may be acast out of prison. If he had said “no” would Ammon really have killed him? He had tried to kill them both so sounds like it would be justified...
23 Now
the king, fearing he should lose his life, said: If thou wilt spare me I
will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt ask, even to half of the
kingdom. Why didn't he just say, "okay! I'll free your brothers!" Why did he offer him half his kingdom? It might have to do something with his own paradigm. He values power and wealth over anything else, so he thinks that is what anyone else would want if they are in a position to obtain it. Or...he would only give him 1/2 his kingdom but retain "control". How great to have such a powerful man rule with and under him. Maybe there was still selfish desire in his deal.
24 Now
when Ammon saw that he had wrought upon the old king according to his
desire, he said unto him: If thou wilt grant that my brethren may be
cast out of prison, and also that Lamoni may retain his kingdom, and
that ye be not displeased with him, but grant that he may do according
to his own desires in awhatsoever thing he thinketh, then will I spare thee; otherwise I will smite thee to the earth. Instead of asking for any power himself, he asked for freedom and power to be given to Lamoni. Such love and charity! I also love that he asks him to genuinely not be angry with his son. He wants them to have a relationship:)
25 Now when Ammon had said these words, the king began to rejoice because of his life. Still only thinking of himself...
26 And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great alove he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly, because he is witnessing in a very dramatic way that the “generational lies” are NOT TRUE! and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would brelease
thy brethren, and suffer that my son Lamoni should retain his kingdom,
behold, I will grant unto you that my son may retain his kingdom from
this time and forever; and I will govern him no more—
27 And
I will also grant unto thee that thy brethren may be cast out of
prison, and thou and thy brethren may come unto me, in my kingdom; for I
shall greatly desire to see thee. For the king was greatly astonished
at the words now he’s astonished...which he had spoken, and also at the words which had been
spoken by his son Lamoni, therefore he was adesirous to learn them. Here's a "hardened and ferocious" king who has been used to unlimited power, who has been softened by the love and selflessness of someone else. Now that the long held beliefs have been proven to be a lie, the king needs to replace the lies with something else - the Truth! He is now ready to learn. Is there something to learn here about how to prepare hearts for the truth? Do we need to know what the “lies” are and somehow show through our righteous example that they are not true? Also curious that this story has no mention of the king being escorted by any guards. Was he really traveling all by himself? Maybe another reason they were not to go to the king. This exchange would never have happened if the king could have called on his guards. Also seems to be a fulfillment of the words of the Lord Alma 17:11 And the Lord said unto them also: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; yet ye shall be in long-suffering and afflictions, that ye may show forth good unto them in me, and I will make an instrument of thee in my hands unto the salvation of many souls. Ammon was a "good example" in this moment of affliction and it did bring salvation to many souls.
28 And
it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni proceeded on their journey
towards the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found favor in the eyes of the
king of the land; therefore the brethren of Ammon were brought forth out
of prison.
29 And
when Ammon did meet them he 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 asuffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were bpatient in all their sufferings. Seems like you could only have patience in such conditions if you had faith in a promise of deliverance. Such a different experience than Ammon’s. Why? How do you submit with the that kind of patience? Was this suffering a “type” of the Savior?
30 And, as it happened, it was their lot It is not given to us to know ahead of time if our labors will be in vain or fruitful. It doesn't matter. We go anyways...to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more astiffnecked
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 bstrong cords, and kept in prison for many days, at least it was not many months or years...and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon. God keeps His promises! Sometimes our “mission” takes us to a really hard-hearted people. That doesn’t mean we quit trying. Perhaps they would have stayed and kept trying where they were at if they hadn’t literally been “driven” out.
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