It's not often that women are the main focus of many events in The Book of Mormon or scripture in general but today in Alma 19 we have the privilege of not just meeting one but to very special women. The first is the queen and wife to King Lamoni and the second is a woman named Abish.
After King Lamoni heard Ammon preach about the creation, fall, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ he falls to the earth and remains in this state for 2 days and 2 nights (think Alma the Younger after his experience with an angel). Arguments began between if he was dead and need to be put in a sepluchre or if he was going to recover from whatever befell him. The queen had heard the talk and rumors about Ammon and his stregth defending the folks, she heard that the King's servants suspected he was a great spirit. So she calls for Ammon to get his thoughts on what she should do. Ammon goes in and sees the king and knows, like the queen suspected, that he is not dead but under the influence of God and having the darkness dispelled from his life. Ammon testifies that on the morrow the King will rise again he then asks the queen if she believes, she proclaims her belief and continues to sit and watch over her husband.
The following morning King Lamoni arises, as Ammon had prophesied, and testifies of seeing the Savior. The King and Queen sink again to the earth (Alma 19:13) and lay still. Ammon sees this entire thing and prays in gratitude to God for helping the Lamanites hear the sweet message of the Savior and His Gospel. Ammon then is overcome with joy and sinks to the earth. So then you have the servants all standing there looking at these three people lying on the ground. I don't know about you put if I was a person left standing I would be freaking out.
The servants of Lamoni start calling on the name of the Lord in all their might until they have all fallen to the earth now too, except for a special Lamanitish women named Abish (Alma 19:16). This servant of Lamoni was "converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father--" (Alma 19:16). Now from this account we could assume the Abish either had a vision of her father that cause a change within her self or her father had a vision which he told her about. The specifics aren't important, all that matters is this woman of faith new exactly what had happened. "She knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known until the people" (Alma 19:17). She was so excited for this moment that gave her friends and family an opportunity to know and believe what she knew.
As I pondered on these two experiences throughout the remainder of my study today and I continually found myself asking....do I have faith to believe when I hear truth? King Lamoni's wife believed in Ammon and his authority and power as a prophet, she believe her husbands testimony of the Savior even though up until that point she was probably so unfamiliar with any teachings of the Savior, and you have Abish who was converted by a dream (hers or her fathers). Both of these woman took courageous steps into the dark unknown.....the queen believed Ammon when everyone thought her husband was dead....Abish lived a faithful converted life even when everyone around her was not. I think the other question we have to ask ourselves is the same question Abinadi and Alma had to ask themselves, am I willing to stand alone for what is right?
Eventually all arise from the earth and testify of Christ and many are converted to the gospel. In the following chapter Ammon hears the voice of the Lord telling him that he needs to go to the land of Middoni and rescue his brothers that are in prison there (Alma 20:2). King Lamoni wants to go with Ammon to Middoni since the king there is a friend and he thinks he will be helpful in getting Ammon's brothers out. On the way the run into Lamoni's father where the converted Lamoni contends against his father. So don't forget to check out this chapter too.
After King Lamoni heard Ammon preach about the creation, fall, and the Atonement of Jesus Christ he falls to the earth and remains in this state for 2 days and 2 nights (think Alma the Younger after his experience with an angel). Arguments began between if he was dead and need to be put in a sepluchre or if he was going to recover from whatever befell him. The queen had heard the talk and rumors about Ammon and his stregth defending the folks, she heard that the King's servants suspected he was a great spirit. So she calls for Ammon to get his thoughts on what she should do. Ammon goes in and sees the king and knows, like the queen suspected, that he is not dead but under the influence of God and having the darkness dispelled from his life. Ammon testifies that on the morrow the King will rise again he then asks the queen if she believes, she proclaims her belief and continues to sit and watch over her husband.
The following morning King Lamoni arises, as Ammon had prophesied, and testifies of seeing the Savior. The King and Queen sink again to the earth (Alma 19:13) and lay still. Ammon sees this entire thing and prays in gratitude to God for helping the Lamanites hear the sweet message of the Savior and His Gospel. Ammon then is overcome with joy and sinks to the earth. So then you have the servants all standing there looking at these three people lying on the ground. I don't know about you put if I was a person left standing I would be freaking out.
The servants of Lamoni start calling on the name of the Lord in all their might until they have all fallen to the earth now too, except for a special Lamanitish women named Abish (Alma 19:16). This servant of Lamoni was "converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father--" (Alma 19:16). Now from this account we could assume the Abish either had a vision of her father that cause a change within her self or her father had a vision which he told her about. The specifics aren't important, all that matters is this woman of faith new exactly what had happened. "She knew that it was the power of God; and supposing that this opportunity, by making known unto the people what had happened among them, that by beholding this scene it would cause them to believe in the power of God, therefore she ran forth from house to house, making it known until the people" (Alma 19:17). She was so excited for this moment that gave her friends and family an opportunity to know and believe what she knew.
As I pondered on these two experiences throughout the remainder of my study today and I continually found myself asking....do I have faith to believe when I hear truth? King Lamoni's wife believed in Ammon and his authority and power as a prophet, she believe her husbands testimony of the Savior even though up until that point she was probably so unfamiliar with any teachings of the Savior, and you have Abish who was converted by a dream (hers or her fathers). Both of these woman took courageous steps into the dark unknown.....the queen believed Ammon when everyone thought her husband was dead....Abish lived a faithful converted life even when everyone around her was not. I think the other question we have to ask ourselves is the same question Abinadi and Alma had to ask themselves, am I willing to stand alone for what is right?
Eventually all arise from the earth and testify of Christ and many are converted to the gospel. In the following chapter Ammon hears the voice of the Lord telling him that he needs to go to the land of Middoni and rescue his brothers that are in prison there (Alma 20:2). King Lamoni wants to go with Ammon to Middoni since the king there is a friend and he thinks he will be helpful in getting Ammon's brothers out. On the way the run into Lamoni's father where the converted Lamoni contends against his father. So don't forget to check out this chapter too.
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