Post by King Lamoni’s Father –
I ponder on my reactions to two recent events in my life. Both have eternal ramifications but mostly they demonstrate my own fallen state. I am considered the great king over the Lamanites. When I held a great feast for all the lower kings, my own son King Lamoni offended me by his absence. In my anger I traveled to the land of Ishmael to learn why he would insult me by not honoring my command to attend my feast.
On the road I met Lamoni who was traveling with the son of a liar, a Nephite. What greater offense could my own son give than to defy me and align with a Nephite. In my anger I commanded him to slay the Nephite. In an even more offensive response, my son refused my command and defended the Nephite.
His refusal to obey me intensified my anger. I drew my sword to strike my son down for defying me and letting this Nephite hold such power over my own son. This Nephite then surprised me. He defended my son and commanded me, the great king over many Lamanite kingdoms not to slay my son for his rebellion against me. He said that my son was innocent, yet it would be better for him to die than me because he had repented of his sins.
This angered me more. I knew this Nephite child of a liar had deceived my son and was the cause of my son’s rebellion. I turned my sword on him desiring to strike him dead. I know I am no longer a young man, but I am a strong Lamanite and felt justified in my desire to destroy this enemy. He however, withstood my blows and smote my arm that I could not use it. I was now in his power. I realized he could easily smite me to the earth.
This may have been the first time I experienced true fear for my life. My son was under this man’s spell, and I realized I was unprepared to die. I begged for mercy and promised him that if he would spare my life, I would grant unto him anything he wanted even up to half of my kingdom. This is what I am currently pondering. This Nephite requested freedom for my son and freedom for his brethren who were suffering in prison in Midoni.
He asked nothing for himself. Nothing.
His love for my son overwhelmed me. It was a love I never knew. In my anger just minutes before I would have slayed my own son. What kind of power did the Nephite now have over me?
I granted the Nephite, who I now know as Ammon, all of his demands. I however added one condition to my acceptance, that condition being that he come to me and teach me what he taught my son.
Now, for the second event. I ponder the contrast of my pleading for my life at the hand of Ammon, to the pleading for my soul at the hand of Ammon’s brother Aaron, when Aaron came to teach me of God.
Once Aaron expounded the Creation, the Fall, and the Redemption, I begged to know what I might do to have this eternal life which he taught me about. I wanted to know what I should do to be born of God, to have the wicked spirit rooted out of my breast and to receive the Spirit, that I might be filled with joy, that I might not be cast off at the last day.
Here is what I am pondering. I offered Ammon half my kingdom if he would spare my life. I offered Aaron all that I possess. I offered to forsake my kingdom for this great joy. Is my joy and hope of eternal life more valuable to me than my kingdom, than my very life? Yes. It very much is.
Alma 20-22 – About 90-70 BC.
