Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 12
"Is it because thou hast heard that I defended thy servants and thy flocks, and slew seven of their
brethren with the sling, and with the sword, and smote off the arms of others?" (89). (See D. and
C. 6:7b)
Alma 12:91 Behold, I am a man, and am thy servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest which is right,
that will I do.
Not until this was said did the king regain his power of speech. His first words were, "Who art
thou?" It was hard to believe that a man could and would do what Ammon had done, and yet be so
humble about it. “How knowest thou the thoughts of my heart?" (95). "Thou mayest speak boldly.
...Whatsoever thou desirest, I will give unto thee" (96,97).
Alma 12:99 Now Ammon being wise, yet harmless, he said unto Lamoni, Wilt thou hearken unto my
words, if I tell thee by what power I do these things? And this is the thing that I desire of thee.
The king assured him he would believe all his words, but in this promise he "was caught with
guile" (l00). In his confusion and desire to find the source of Ammon's power he did not weigh his
words.
“Believest thou that there is a God?" (101). When the king said he didn't understand, Ammon
rephrased the question, "Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit?" He answered, "Yea"
(103,104). Ammon told him, "This is God." With this start Ammon told him of the creation of the
world, of Adam, of the fall, the prophets, the journey of Lehi in the wilderness, the rebellion of
Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael, and of the plan of redemption from the foundation of
the world, "the coming of Christ; and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them"
(120). "The king believed all his words. And he began to cry unto the Lord, saying: O Lord have
mercy" (121,122).
THE KING AND QUEEN OVERCOME BY GOD'S POWER, VER. 123- 180
Alma 12:123 And now when he had said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead.
The servants carried him to his wife and laid him upon a bed. The family and the people mourned
over him for two days and nights, then prepared the sepulcher to bury him. However, the queen
sent for Ammon and said, "The servants of my husband have made it known unto me, that thou art
a prophet of a holy God" (129). "Some say that he is not dead, but others say that he is" (131).
This was what Ammon had hoped would happen, for he knew that it was the power of God which
"had overcome his [the king's] natural frame" {135). Ammon went in to see the king, then told the
queen, "He is not dead, but he sleepeth in God, and on the morrow he shall rise again. .. Believest
thou this?" (137,13.8). She said she had no witness save his word and that of the servants, but she
believed.
Alma 12:140 And Ammon said unto her, Blessed art thou, because of thy exceeding faith; I say unto
thee, woman, there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites.