| 18:1 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. |
|
| 18:2 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? |
|
| 18:3 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. |
|
| 18:4 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.
|
|
| 18:5 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; |
|
| 18:6 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. |
|
| 18:7 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. |
|
| 18:8 And it came to pass that king Lamoni inquired
of his servants, saying: Where is this man that has such
great power? |
|
| 18:9 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. |
Topic: Anachronistic
Artifacts Apart from a few
wheeled toys, the native Americans apparently never made
use of wheeled vehicles. 
|
| 18:10 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. |
|
| 18:11 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. |
|
| 18:12 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. |
|
| 18:13 And one of the king's servants said unto him, 1Rabbanah,
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. |
[1] John 1:38: ...They said unto him, Rabbi,
(which is to say, being interpreted, Master,)... |
| 18:14 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. |
|
| 18:15 And it came to pass that Ammon said unto him
again: What desirest thou of me? But the king answered
him not. |
|
| 18:16 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?
|
|
| 18:17 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. |
|
| 18:18 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? |
|
| 18:19 Ammon answered and said unto him: I am not. |
|
| 18:20 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-- |
|
| 18:21 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. |
|
| 18:22 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. |
|
| 18:23 And the king answered him, and said: Yea, I
will believe all thy words. And thus he was caught with
guile. |
|
| 18:24 And Ammon began to speak unto him with
boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is
a God? |
|
| 18:25 And he answered, and said unto him: I do not
know what that meaneth. |
|
| 18:26 And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there
is a Great Spirit? |
|
| 18:27 And he said, Yea. |
|
| 18:28 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? |
|
| 18:29 And he said: Yea, I believe that he created all
things which are in the earth; but I do not know the
heavens. |
|
| 18:30 And Ammon said unto him: The heavens is a place
where God dwells and all his holy angels. |
|
| 18:31 And king Lamoni said: Is it above the earth? |
|
| 18:32 And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon
all the children of men; and he knows all the 1thoughts
and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all
created from the beginning. |
[1] Hebrews 4:12: ...the thoughts and intents of
the heart. |
| 18:33 And king Lamoni said: I believe all these
things which thou hast spoken. Art thou sent from God? |
|
| 18:34 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; |
|
| 18:35 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. |
|
| 18:36 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. |
|
| 18:37 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. |
|
| 18:38 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. |
|
| 18:39 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. |
|
| 18:40 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. |
|
| 18:41 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. |
|
| 18:42 And now, when he had said this, he fell unto
the earth, as if he were dead. |
|
| 18:43 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. |
|
