Alma
43 verses
King Lamoni had his servants come forward and testify about everything they had seen regarding the situation.
And it came to pass that king Lamoni caused that his servants should stand forth and testify to all the things which they had seen concerning the matter.
After everyone had testified about what they had seen, and he learned about Ammon’s faithfulness in protecting his flocks, as well as his great power in defending himself against those who tried to kill him, he was extremely astonished and said, “Surely, this is more than a man. Isn’t this the Great Spirit who sends such great punishments on this people because of their murders? ”
And when they had all testified to the things which they had seen, and he had learned of the faithfulness of Ammon in preserving his flocks, and also of his great power in contending against those who sought to slay him, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Surely, this is more than a man. Behold, is not this the Great Spirit who doth send such great punishments upon this people, because of their murders?
They answered the king and said, “We don’t know whether he is the Great Spirit or a man, but we do know that he can’t be killed by the king’s enemies, and they can’t scatter the king’s flocks when he is with us because of his skill and great strength. So we know he is a friend to the king. And now, king, we don’t believe that a man could have such great power, because we know he can’t be killed. ”
And they answered the king, and said: Whether he be the Great Spirit or a man, we know not; but this much we do know, that he cannot be slain by the enemies of the king; neither can they scatter the king’s flocks when he is with us, because of his expertness and great strength; therefore, we know that he is a friend to the king. And now, O king, we do not believe that a man has such great power, for we know he cannot be slain.
When the king heard this, he said to them, "Now I know that it is the Great Spirit, and he has come down at this time to save your lives so that I would not kill you as I did your brothers. This is the Great Spirit our fathers have spoken about.
And now, when the king heard these words, he said unto them: Now I know that it is the Great Spirit; and he has come down at this time to preserve your lives, that I might not slay you as I did your brethren. Now this is the Great Spirit of whom our fathers have spoken.
This was Lamoni’s tradition, which he had learned from his father: that there was a Great Spirit. Even though they believed in a Great Spirit, they thought that whatever they did was right. However, Lamoni started to be very afraid, worried that he had done something wrong by killing his servants.
Now this was the tradition of Lamoni, which he had received from his father, that there was a Great Spirit. Notwithstanding they believed in a Great Spirit they supposed that whatsoever they did was right; nevertheless, Lamoni began to fear exceedingly, with fear lest he had done wrong in slaying his servants;
He had killed many of them because their brothers had scattered their flocks at the watering place; and so, because their flocks had been scattered, they were killed.
For he had slain many of them because their brethren had scattered their flocks at the place of water; and thus, because they had had their flocks scattered they were slain.
The Lamanites would stand by the waters of Sebus to scatter the people's flocks, so they could drive away many of the scattered animals to their own land. This was a common way for them to steal.
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.
King Lamoni asked his servants, “Where is this man who has such great power? ”
And it came to pass that king Lamoni inquired of his servants, saying: Where is this man that has such great power?
They said to him, "He is feeding your horses. " Earlier, the king had commanded his servants to prepare his horses and chariots before the flocks were watered, and to take him to the land of Nephi, because Lamoni’s father, who was king over all the land, had appointed a great feast there.
And they said unto him: Behold, he is feeding thy horses. Now the king had commanded his servants, previous to the time of the watering of their flocks, that they should prepare his horses and chariots, and conduct him forth to the land of Nephi; for there had been a great feast appointed at the land of Nephi, by the father of Lamoni, who was king over all the land.
When King Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and chariots, he was even more amazed because of Ammon’s faithfulness. He said, “There has never been any servant among all my servants who has been as faithful as this man; he even remembers all my commands and carries them out. ”
Now when king Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots he was more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon, saying: Surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man; for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute them.
Now I truly know that this is the Great Spirit, and I want him to come in to see me, but I don't dare ask.
Now I surely know that this is the Great Spirit, and I would desire him that he come in unto me, but I durst not.
When Ammon had prepared the horses and chariots for the king and his servants, he went in to the king and saw that the king’s expression had changed, so he was about to leave his presence.
And it came to pass that when Ammon had made ready the horses and the chariots for the king and his servants, he went in unto the king, and he saw that the countenance of the king was changed; therefore he was about to return out of his presence.
One of the king’s servants said to him, “Rabbanah, ” which means powerful or great king, since they consider their kings to be powerful. He said to him, “Rabbanah, the king wants you to stay. ”
And one of the king’s servants said unto him, Rabbanah, which is, being interpreted, powerful or great king, considering their kings to be powerful; and thus he said unto him: Rabbanah, the king desireth thee to stay.
So Ammon turned to the king and asked, “What do you want me to do for you, O king? ” The king didn’t answer him for about an hour, according to their time, because he didn’t know what to say.
Therefore Ammon turned himself unto the king, and said unto him: What wilt thou that I should do for thee, O king? And the king answered him not for the space of an hour, according to their time, for he knew not what he should say unto him.
Ammon asked him again, "What do you want from me? " But the king did not answer him.
And it came to pass that Ammon said unto him again: What desirest thou of me? But the king answered him not.
Ammon, filled with the Spirit of God, understood the king’s thoughts. He said to him, “Is it because you heard that I defended your servants and your flocks, killed seven of their attackers with a sling and a sword, and cut off the arms of others to protect your flocks and servants—is this what’s making you so amazed? ”
And it came to pass that Ammon, being filled with the Spirit of God, therefore he perceived the thoughts of the king. And he said unto him: Is it because thou hast heard that I defended thy servants and thy flocks, and slew seven of their brethren 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 ask you, why are you so amazed? I am a man and your servant, so whatever you ask that is right, I will do.
I say unto you, what is it, that thy marvelings are so great? Behold, I am a man, and am thy servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do.
When the king heard these words, he was amazed again, because he saw that Ammon could understand his thoughts. Still, King Lamoni spoke and asked him, “Who are you? Are you that Great Spirit who knows everything? ”
Now when the king had heard these words, he marveled again, for he beheld that Ammon could discern his thoughts; but notwithstanding this, king Lamoni did open his mouth, and said unto him: Who art thou? Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things?
Ammon answered and said to him, "I am not.
Ammon answered and said unto him: I am not.
The king said, “How do you know the thoughts of my heart? You may speak openly and tell me about these things, and also tell me by what power you killed and cut off the arms of my servants who scattered my flocks. ”
And the king 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 brethren that scattered my flocks—
Now, if you will tell me about these things, I will give you whatever you want; and if it were necessary, I would protect you with my armies. But I know that you are more powerful than all of them. Still, whatever you want from me, I will give it to you.
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.
Ammon, being wise but harmless, said to Lamoni, "Will you listen to my words if I tell you by what power I do these things? This is what I ask of you.
Now Ammon being wise, yet harmless, he said unto Lamoni: 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.
The king answered him and said, "I will believe all your words. " In this way, he was deceived.
And the king answered him, and said: Yea, I will believe all thy words. And thus he was caught with guile.
Ammon began to speak to him confidently and asked, “Do you believe that there is a God? ”
And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
He answered and said to him, "I don’t know what that means.
And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth.
Then Ammon said, "Do you believe that there is a Great Spirit?
And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit?
And he said, Yes.
And he said, Yea.
Ammon said, "This is God. " Then Ammon asked him again, "Do you believe that this Great Spirit, who is God, created everything in heaven and on earth?
And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth?
He said, "I believe that he created everything on the earth, but I don't know about the heavens.
And he said: Yea, I believe that he created all things which are in the earth; but I do not know the heavens.
Ammon said to him, “The heavens are where God lives with all his holy angels. ”
And Ammon said unto him: The heavens is a place where God dwells and all his holy angels.
King Lamoni asked, “Is it above the earth? ”
And king Lamoni said: Is it above the earth?
Ammon said: He looks down on all the children of men, and he knows all the thoughts and intentions of the heart, because he created them all from the beginning.
And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning.
King Lamoni said, "I believe everything you have said. Are you sent from God?
And king Lamoni said: I believe all these things which thou hast spoken. Art thou sent from God?
Ammon said to him, “I am a man, and in the beginning, man was created in the image of God. I have been called by His Holy Spirit to teach these things to this people so they can come to know what is right and true. ”
Ammon said unto him: I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by his 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 lives in me, which gives me knowledge and also power according to my faith and desires in God.
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 God.
After Ammon said this, he started with the creation of the world and the creation of Adam, and explained everything about the fall of man. He shared and explained the records and holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets, all the way up to when their father Lehi left Jerusalem.
Now when Ammon had said these words, he began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam, and told him all the things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets, even down to the time that their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem.
He also told them—all the details to the king and his servants—about their fathers’ journeys in the wilderness, all their suffering from hunger and thirst, their hardships, and more.
And he also rehearsed unto them (for it was unto the king and to his servants) all the journeyings of their fathers in the wilderness, and all their sufferings with hunger and thirst, and their travail, and so forth.
He also told them about the rebellions of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, explaining all their rebellions. He explained to them all the records and scriptures from the time Lehi left Jerusalem up to the present time.
And he also rehearsed unto them concerning the rebellions of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, yea, all their rebellions did he relate unto them; and he expounded unto them all the records and scriptures from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem down to the present time.
But that's not all; he explained to them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world. He also told them about the coming of Christ and made known to them all the works of the Lord.
But this is not all; for he expounded unto them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; and he also made known unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them.
After he said all these things and explained them to the king, the king believed everything he said.
And it came to pass that after he had said all these things, and expounded them to the king, that the king believed all his words.
He began to pray to the Lord, saying, "O Lord, have mercy; according to your great mercy that you have shown to the people of Nephi, have mercy on me and my people.
And he began to cry unto the Lord, saying: O Lord, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephi, have upon me, and my people.
After he said this, he collapsed to the ground as if he were dead.
And now, when he had said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead.
His servants took him and carried him to his wife, and laid him on a bed. He lay as if he were dead for two days and two nights. His wife, sons, and daughters mourned over him in the way of the Lamanites, deeply grieving his loss.
And it came to pass that his servants took him and carried him in unto his wife, and laid him upon a bed; and he lay as if he were dead for the space of two days and two nights; and his wife, and his sons, and his daughters mourned over him, after the manner of the Lamanites, greatly lamenting his loss.