Ammon and King Lamoni Junior Meet King Lamoni Senior: Alma 20 - 22




King Lamoni wanted to bring Ammon to meet his father

 

Ammon




  1 And it came to pass that... king Lamoni desired that Ammon should go with him to the land of Nephi, that he might show him unto his father.

The Lord told Ammon not to go to the land of Nephi, but to go to Middoni, to save his friends in prison




 

Aaron was in prison with two other missionaries in Middoni.

 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 ^aMiddoni; for behold, thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in prison.

 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.

Ammon had to travel to Middoni to find Ammon's missionary brethren and save them.

 4 Now Lamoni said unto Ammon: I know, in the ^astrength of the Lord thou canst do all things. But behold, I will go with thee to the land of Middoni; 

King Lamoni wanted to come along with Ammon to 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,  

King Antiomno was a friend of King Lamoni Junior.

and he will cast thy brethren out of ^bprison. Now Lamoni said unto him: Who told thee that thy brethren were in prison?

 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.

 6 Now when Lamoni had heard this he caused that his servants should make ready his ^ahorses and his chariots.

 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.

 8 And it came to pass that as Ammon and Lamoni were journeying thither, they met the father of Lamoni, who was king ^aover all the land.

 9 And behold, the father of Lamoni said unto him: Why did ye ^anot come to the ^bfeast on that great day when I made a feast unto my sons, and unto my people?

 10 And he also said: Whither art thou going with this Nephite, who is one of the children of a ^aliar?

 11And it came to pass that Lamoni rehearsed unto him whither he was going, for he feared to offend him.



King Lamoni Senior commanded
his son to kill Ammon but he would not.

  12 And he also told him all the cause of his tarrying in his own kingdom.. 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.

 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 ^aIshmael.

 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.

 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.

King Lamoni was about to be killed by his own father



 17 But Ammon stood forth and said unto him: Behold, thou shalt not slay thy son; nevertheless, it were ^abetter that he should fall than thee, for behold, he has ^brepented of his sins; but if thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could not be saved...

  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.

Ammon could not be killed

 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.

 21 Now when the king saw that Ammon could slay him, he began to plead with Ammon that he would spare his life.

 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 ^acast out of prison.

 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.

 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 ^awhatsoever thing he thinketh, then will I spare thee; otherwise I will smite thee to the earth.

 25 Now when Ammon had said these words, the king began to rejoice because of his life.



King Lamoni Senior changed his heart



 26 And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great ^alove he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would ^brelease 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—

 

 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 ^adesirous to learn them.

 28And 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.

King Antiomno was a friend of King Lamoni Junior, so he let the missionaries out of prison.



Ammon was sad when he saw how much his missionary brethren had suffered in prison

 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 ^asuffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were ^bpatient in all their sufferings.