The Faith of Ammon

My wife noticed an interesting detail in the Book of Mormon video that portrays Ammon and King Lamoni. In the first encounter between the two, Ammon was bound and taken before the king and suggested that he desired to dwell among the people for a time. Lamoni was apparently impressed by this, so much that “he would that Ammon should take one of his daughters to wife.” To this incredible offer, made in front of many people, Ammon said, “Nay, but I will be thy servant.” What faith on the part of Ammon—here he was, trying to make friends with this people, and he was offered a wife. He knew that couldn’t accept the offer, for the Lord had forbidden the Nephites to marry with the unbelieving Lamanites: “And cursed shall be the seed of him that mixeth with their seed; for they shall be cursed even with the same cursing” (2 Nephi 5:23). And yet he also knew that refusing the king was likely a death sentence for himself. And yet, he boldly responded in the negative, trusting in the Lord to work it out for him.  Surely all of those present were shocked that the Nephite dared to refuse such an invitation, and the film displays that Lamoni was angry with the response. Undoubtedly he really was upset, and his assignment of Ammon to go and take care of his flocks may have been in his mind essentially a death sentence. He may have sent Ammon there believing that he would eventually get the flocks scattered and then he could slay him for it like he had so many other servants. 

               The rest of the story with Ammon shows us a powerful example of how we can take difficult experiences and turn them to our good. Ammon could have been discouraged, he could have given up knowing that he was being sent to one of the most dangerous jobs, but instead he rejoiced in his opportunity to show forth the Lord’s power and for the challenge the difficulties provided him. Mormon recorded, “Now they wept because of the fear of being slain. Now when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, or the power which is in me” (Alma 17:29). What faith again he had! His trust that the Lord would help him no matter what the situation was unshakeable. Ultimately being among the flocks where he could exhibit the Lord’s power was exactly where he needed to be in order to help win the hearts of the people. As we have experiences in our lives that put us in situations that we don’t want to be in, it just may be that the Lord needs us there for a cause bigger than we can see.