20:1 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. |
|
20:2 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. |
|
20:3 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. |
|
20:4 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?
|
|
20:5 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. |
|
20:6 Now when Lamoni had heard this he caused that
his servants should make ready his horses and his chariots. |
|
20:7 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. |
|
20:8 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. |
|
20:9 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? |
|
20:10 And he also said: Whither art thou going with
this Nephite, who is one of the children of a liar? |
|
20:11 And it came to pass that Lamoni rehearsed unto
him whither he was going, for he feared to offend him. |
|
20:12 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. |
|
20:13 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. |
|
20:14 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 Ishmael. |
|
20:15 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. |
|
20:16 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. |
|
20:17 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. |
|
20:18 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. |
|
20:19 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; for it is thou
that hast sought to destroy him. |
|
20:20 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. |
|
20:21 Now when the king saw that Ammon could slay
him, he began to plead with Ammon that he would spare his
life. |
|
20:22 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
cast out of prison. |
|
20:23 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. |
|
20:24 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 whatsoever thing he
thinketh, then will I spare thee; otherwise I will smite
thee to the earth. |
|
20:25 Now when Ammon had said these words, the king
began to rejoice because of his life. |
|
20:26 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-- |
|
20:27 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 which he had spoken, and also at
the words which had been spoken by his son Lamoni,
therefore he was desirous to learn them. |
|
20:28 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. |
|
20:29 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 suffered hunger, thirst, and all
kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in
all their sufferings. |
|
20:30 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. |
|