Now we return to the story of Mosiah II's four sons who left Zarahemla 14 years earlier to preach to the Lamanites because it pained them to think that any soul would have to endure endless torture in hell. The four sons were named Aaron, Ammon, Omner, and Himni. When they reached borders of the Lamanite lands, they each went off to different cities.
Sources:
• Alma 17:4-17
• Mosiah 27:34
• Mosiah 28:3
The wicked priests of King Noah who had abducted the young Lamanite women had fathered a people who were known as the Amulonites. There was also a people known as the Amalekites who were a Nephite people who were of the church of Nehor and now lived among the Lamanites. These two groups had built a great city called Jerusalem, named after the Israelite city. It was to this city that Aaron went to preach.
Those of the religion of Nehor worshipped in synagogues, so Aaron entered a synagogue and began to preach, saying, "Do you believe that the Son of God will come to save mankind from their sins? Unless you repent you will perish!" But an Amalekite argued with him, saying, "We believe God will save all people. We do not believe your foolish traditions." The people began to mock Aaron and would not listen to him.
Sources:
• Alma 21:4-10
The Lamanites were stubborn enough, but the Amalekites and Amulonites were more stubborn still, and they caused the Lamanites to commit worse abominations and wickedness. Aaron left Jerusalem and went to preach in Ani-Anti and Middoni and a few people believed his teachings, but nevertheless he was thrown in prison, kept tied up with ropes, and suffered hunger, thirst and all kinds of adversity.
Sources:
• Alma 21:3, 11-13
• Alma 20:29
Aaron's brother Ammon had gone to preach in the land of Ishmael. The Lamanites seized him, tied him up, and brought him before their ruler, King Lamoni. Ammon told the king that he desired to live among his people, and the king was much pleased with Ammon. He had him untied and asked if Ammon would like to marry one of his daughters. Ammon replied, "No, but I will become your servant."
Sources:
• Alma 17:19-25
Ammon was assigned to help watch over the king's flocks. One day while he and some other servants were watering the flocks, some Lamanite robbers scattered the animals and tried to steal them. Ammon was filled with joy, for he saw that this was a chance to demonstrate to his fellow servants the power of God. He told them to collect the scattered sheep while he dealt with the robbers.
The robbers were not afraid of Ammon, for there were many of them. But Ammon cast stones at them with his sling, killing a number of them, while they were unable to hit him with any stones. So they brandished their clubs and tried to kill him, but when each robber attacked Ammon with his club, Ammon cut off his arm with his sword.
Sources:
• Alma 17:35-38
After the frightened robbers fled, the servants collected all the severed arms and showed them to King Lamoni, telling him what Ammon had done. The king was astonished and asked Ammon, "By what power did you do this? Are you the Great Spirit?" Ammon told the king that he would tell him by what power he did these things if he would agree to believe what Ammon told him. The king readily agreed.
Ammon explained that he was only a man, and that the Great Spirit and God are the same. He told him the history of his people since the time of Adam and Eve, and also told him about the coming of Christ. And the king believed everything he said, and then prayed that his sins might be forgiven, begging Jesus for mercy.
King Lamoni then fell to the ground as though dead. His servants laid him on a bed. After two days, his family mourned over him, and decided to bury his body. But the queen came to Ammon and said, "The others believe the king is dead and that he is already beginning to stink, but I don't think he stinks." She knew Ammon had great powers and she asked him to help her husband.
Ammon went to see the king and knew he was not dead, but was sleeping in God. He told the queen not to bury him, for he would awaken the next day. He asked the queen if she believed this, and when she told him that she did, and Ammon told her, "because of your extreme faith, woman, I say to you that there has not been such great faith among all the Nephite people."
Sources:
• Alma 19:6-10
The next day the king got up, stretched out his hand toward the queen and said, "I have seen Jesus Christ. He will come forth and be born of a woman, and he will redeem everyone who believes on his name!" Then the king and queen were overpowered by the Spirit and collapsed to the ground.
Sources:
• Alma 19:12-13
A crowd of people assembled in the king's house, astonished that the king and queen appeared to be dead. Some began to say that a great evil had come upon the king's family for allowing a Nephite to live among them. One man whose brother was one of the robbers killed by Ammon was extremely angry at Ammon. He drew his sword, but when he raised it against Ammon, he fell dead.
Sources:
• Alma 19:18-22
The crowd marveled and a fear came over them. Some said that Ammon was the Great Spirit. Others said he was a monster sent by the Nephites to torture them. As they argued amongst themselves, the queen awoke, stood up and said, "Oh, blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell!" Then the king awoke and stood up, and he began to teach his people about God and Jesus Christ.
Many of King Lahoni's people became believers. They repented of their sins and were baptized by Ammon, and a church was established among the Lamanites. Thus we see that Jesus denies no one who repents and believes on his name, black and white, slave or free, Jew, Gentile, or heathen.
Sources:
• Alma 19:34-36
• 2 Nephi 26:33
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