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.
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, 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.
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 thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his
hand were they all created from the beginning.
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.