1996
Book of Mormon Story: For the Love of God
July 1996


“Book of Mormon Story: For the Love of God,” Friend, July 1996, 48

Book of Mormon Story:
For the Love of God

(See Mosiah 27:32–28:9; Alma 17:19–19:36.)

When ye are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God (Mosiah 2:17).

Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni, the sons of King Mosiah, loved Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and knew that They loved all Their children, even the wicked Lamanites. Mosiah’s sons wanted to take the gospel to the Lamanites so that they could also know God’s love.

With their father’s permission, the four young men went to preach the gospel to the Lamanites. Ammon went to Ishmael, the land ruled by King Lamoni. The king liked Ammon and offered him marriage to one of his (the king’s) daughters, but Ammon chose to be Lamoni’s servant, instead.

With God’s help, Ammon served the king so well that Lamoni wondered if his servant was really the “Great Spirit” (see Alma 18:10–19). Ammon told him no, then preached the gospel to him. The king believed what Ammon told him and cried, “O Lord, have mercy; according to thy abundant mercy which thou hast had upon the people of Nephi, have upon me, and my people.

“And now, when he had said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead.” (Alma 18:41–42.)

His body was carried to his wife and placed upon a bed. She called for Ammon and said that she had been told by King Lamoni’s servants that Ammon was a “prophet of a holy God, and that [he had] power to do many mighty works in his name” (Alma 19:4). She asked Ammon to help her husband. When he told her that Lamoni was not dead but would rise the next day, she believed him. Ammon then said, “Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith” (Alma 19:10).

King Lamoni did arise the next day, and he told his wife, “Blessed be the name of God, and blessed art thou.

“For as sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name.” (Alma 19:12–13.)

Overcome with joy and the Spirit, Lamoni, the queen, and Ammon fell to the ground. When they rose, the king began to preach the gospel to his people, and “as many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord” (Alma 19:31).

Because Ammon and his brothers loved Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and were obedient, Ammon was kind and helped King Lamoni and taught him the gospel. He, in turn, showed his love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by being kind to his people and by teaching them the gospel.

Although you may not go to other lands or to kings to preach the gospel, as Ammon did, you can show your love for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ by being kind and helpful to others.

Illustrated by Jerry Harston