Alma
30 verses
After they established a church in that land, King Lamoni wanted Ammon to go with him to the land of Nephi so he could introduce him to his father.
And it came to pass that when they had established a church in that land, that king Lamoni desired that Ammon should go with him to the land of Nephi, that he might show him unto his father.
The voice of the Lord came to Ammon, saying: Do not go to the land of Nephi, because the king will try to kill you; instead, go to the land of Middoni, because your brother Aaron, along with Muloki and Ammah, are in prison there.
And the voice of the Lord came to Ammon saying: Thou shalt not go up to the land of Nephi, for behold, the king will seek thy life; but thou shalt go to the land of Middoni; for behold, thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in prison.
When Ammon heard this, he said to Lamoni, "My brother and my companions are in prison at Middoni, and I am going to rescue them.
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.
Lamoni said to Ammon, “I know that with the Lord’s help you can do all things. I will go with you to the land of Middoni, because the king of Middoni, whose name is Antiomno, is my friend. I will go to Middoni so I can persuade the king, and he will release your brothers from prison. ” Then Lamoni asked him, “Who told you that your brothers are in prison? ”
Now Lamoni said unto Ammon: I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things. 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 prison. Now Lamoni said unto him: Who told thee that thy brethren were in prison?
Ammon said to him, "No one has told me except God; and He said to me, 'Go and rescue your brothers, for they are in prison in the land of Middoni. '
And Ammon said unto him: No one hath told me, save it be God; and he said unto me—Go and deliver thy brethren, for they are in prison in the land of Middoni.
When Lamoni heard this, he ordered his servants to prepare his horses and chariots.
Now when Lamoni had heard this he caused that his servants should make ready his horses and his chariots.
He said to Ammon, "Come, I will go with you down to the land of Middoni, and there I will plead with the king to release your brothers from prison.
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.
As Ammon and Lamoni were traveling there, they met Lamoni’s father, who was king over all the land.
And it came to pass that as Ammon and Lamoni were journeying thither, they met the father of Lamoni, who was king over all the land.
Lamoni’s father said to him, “Why didn’t you come to the feast on that important day when I made a feast for my sons and my people? ”
And behold, the father of Lamoni said unto him: Why did ye not come to the feast on that great day when I made a feast unto my sons, and unto my people?
He also said, "Where are you going with this Nephite, who is one of the children of a liar?
And he also said: Whither art thou going with this Nephite, who is one of the children of a liar?
Lamoni explained to him where he was going, because he was afraid of offending him.
And it came to pass that Lamoni rehearsed unto him whither he was going, for he feared to offend him.
He also explained all the reasons he stayed in his own kingdom and didn’t go to his father for the feast he had prepared.
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.
When Lamoni told his father everything that had happened, his father was astonished and became angry with him. He said, "Lamoni, you are going to help these Nephites, who are sons of a liar. He robbed our ancestors, and now his children have come among us so they can use their tricks and lies to deceive us and rob us of our property again.
And now when Lamoni had rehearsed unto him all these things, behold, to his astonishment, his father was angry with him, 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.
Lamoni’s father ordered him to kill Ammon with a sword. He also told him not to go to the land of Middoni, but to return with him to the land of Ishmael.
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 Ishmael.
But Lamoni said to him, "I will not kill Ammon, and I will not return to the land of Ishmael. I am going to the land of Middoni to free Ammon's brothers, because I know they are righteous men and holy prophets of the true God.
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.
When his father heard these words, he became angry with him and drew his sword to strike him down.
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.
But Ammon stepped forward and said to him, "You will not kill your son. Still, it would be better for him to die than for you, because he has repented of his sins. But if you were to die right now, in your anger, your soul could not be saved.
But Ammon stood forth and said unto him: Behold, thou shalt not slay thy son; nevertheless, it were better that he should fall than thee, for behold, he has repented of his sins; but if thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could not be saved.
Also, you need to stop, because if you kill your son—who is an innocent man—his blood will cry out from the ground to the Lord his God, calling for vengeance on you; and you might lose your soul.
And again, it is expedient that thou shouldst forbear; for if thou shouldst slay thy son, he being an innocent man, his blood would cry from the ground to the Lord his God, for vengeance to come upon thee; and perhaps thou wouldst lose thy soul.
When Ammon said this to him, he replied, “I know that if I kill my son, I would be shedding innocent blood, because you are the one who tried to destroy him. ”
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; for it is thou that hast sought to destroy him.
He reached out his hand to kill Ammon, but Ammon blocked his attacks and struck his arm so that he couldn’t use it.
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.
When the king saw that Ammon could kill him, he began to beg Ammon to spare his life.
Now when the king saw that Ammon could slay him, he began to plead with Ammon that he would spare his life.
But Ammon raised his sword and said to him, I will strike you unless you let my brothers out of prison.
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 cast out of prison.
The king, afraid for his life, said, “If you spare me, I will give you whatever you ask, even up to half of the kingdom. ”
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.
When Ammon saw that he had influenced the old king as he wanted, he said to him, "If you will let my brothers out of prison, allow Lamoni to keep his kingdom, and not be angry with him but let him do what he wants, then I will spare you; otherwise, I will strike you down.
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 whatsoever thing he thinketh, then will I spare thee; otherwise I will smite thee to the earth.
When Ammon said this, the king started to rejoice because his life had been spared.
Now when Ammon had said these words, the king began to rejoice because of his life.
When he saw that Ammon had no desire to kill him, and also saw the great love Ammon had for his son Lamoni, he was extremely astonished and said, “Because all you have asked is that I release your brothers and allow my son Lamoni to keep his kingdom, I will grant that Lamoni may keep his kingdom from now on and forever, and I will no longer rule over him. ”
And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release 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—
I will also allow your brothers to be released from prison, and you and your brothers can come to me in my kingdom, because I really want to see you. The king was amazed by what he had said, and also by what his son Lamoni had said, so he wanted to learn from them.
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 which he had spoken, and also at the words which had been spoken by his son Lamoni, therefore he was desirous to learn them.
Ammon and Lamoni continued their journey toward the land of Middoni. Lamoni found favor with the king of the land, so Ammon’s brothers were released from prison.
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.
When Ammon met them, he was extremely sorrowful because they were naked and their skin was badly worn from being tied with strong cords. They had also suffered from hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions, but they were patient through all their suffering.
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 suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings.
They ended up falling into the hands of a more hardened and stubborn people, so these people wouldn’t listen to them. They were cast out, beaten, and driven from house to house and from place to place until they arrived in the land of Middoni. There they were taken, thrown into prison, bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days until Lamoni and Ammon delivered them.
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 Lamoni and Ammon.