Family Home Evening missionary farewell

The Book of Mormon

Another Testament of Jesus Christ

Albert and Nada Dyer, senior missionaries for the Church of Jesus Christ of latter Day Saints, hold a framed original page, pages 271 and 272, owned Gary Hyde and taken from an 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon owned by Helen Spencer Schlie.  Sister Schlie has shown this book at firesides, in her bookstore, and has used it as a powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon.  The book is old and worn now, but has been instrumental in the conversion and strengthening of testimonies in hundreds of individuals.

Rather than let this old and worn book sit in some musty old museum to viewed by a handful of curious visitors, Sister Schlie has chosen to dismantle the book page by page for those who desire to have  their favorite scripture framed and displayed on an authentic page from this original 1830 printing of the Book of Mormon.

I had such a desire, to have my favorite scripture, Alma 17:18-38, which can be found on the page 271-272 of this original 1830 printing of The Book of Mormon, framed so that I could demonstrate to others the truth and power which can be gleaned from the scriptures found in The Book of Mormon.

Page 271-272 from Helen Spencer Schlie’s original 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon

These pages contain the text from Alma 17:18-38, the story of Ammon and King Lamoni.  There is a power of scripture, and a power of conversion in this page, as it is read, handled and contemplated.  This page has the power to build testimonies and change lives, just as “the shadow of Peter” could heal the sick as told in Acts  5:15; “they brought forth the sick into the streets, and laid them on beds and couches, that at the least the shadow of Peter passing by might overshadow some of them”.

Why this page?  Why this particular part of scripture?   As we read in Alma 17, we learn of how the sons of Mosiah “had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God”. (Alma  17:2), “they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God” (Alma  17:3).  “They fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his Spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the truth, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct” (Alma  17:9).

Now, Ammon went to the land of Ishmael (Alma  17:19), but as he “entered the land of Ishmael, the Lamanites took him and bound him, as was their custom to bind all the Nephites who fell into their hands, and carry them before the king; and thus it was left to the pleasure of the king to slay them, or to retain them in captivity, or to cast them into prison, or to cast them out of his land, according to his will and pleasure” (Alma  17:20).  After interviewing with the king, ”king Lamoni was much pleased with Ammon, and caused that his bands should be loosed” (Alma  17:24).  Ammon told the king that he would like to be his servant, and” was set among other servants to watch the flocks of Lamoni”  (Alma  17:25). 

“And after he had been in the service of the king three days, as he was with the Lamanitish servants going forth with their flocks to the place of water, which was called the water of Sebus, and all the Lamanites drive their flocks hither, that they may have water—“ (Alma  17:26), when “behold, a certain number of the Lamanites, who had been with their flocks to water, stood and scattered the flocks of Ammon and the servants of the king, and they scattered them insomuch that they fled many ways” (Alma  17:27).

“Now the servants of the king began to murmur, saying: Now the king will slay us, as he has our brethren because their flocks were scattered by the wickedness of these men. And they began to weep exceedingly, saying: Behold, our flocks are scattered already. Now they wept because of the fear of being slain. Now when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, or the power which is in me, in restoring these flocks unto the king, that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words” (Alma  17:28-29).

This single sentence of scripture; “that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words”, is the reason that I desired to have this particular page from the original 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon.  In this sentence, Ammon declares the very essence of missionary work, “that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words”. 

We have been admonished by latter-day prophets to:

President David O. McKay advised, “Every member a missionary”;
President Kimball: “Lengthen your stride” and “Do it now”;
President Benson: “Flood … the earth with the Book of Mormon”;
President Hinckley: Increase the number of converts and retain them.
President Monson: Restore the gospel to the inactive members of the church.

Through this scripture Ammon has shown us the way; he has given us the means of declaring the gospel to those who will “believe in my words”.

The story goes on to show how Ammon restores the flocks to the king, and does indeed find favor with king Lamoni such that the king says “whatsoever thou desirest I will give unto thee; and if it were needed, I would guard thee with my armies” (Alma 18:21).  Ammon “said unto Lamoni: Wilt thou hearken unto my words” (Alma 18:22)?  “And the king answered him, and said: Yea, I will believe all thy words” (Alma 18:23).

“And it came to pass that there were many that did believe in their words; and as many as did believe were baptized; and they became a righteous people, and they did establish a church among them.  And thus the work of the Lord did commence among the Lamanites; thus the Lord did begin to pour out his Spirit upon them; and we see that his arm is extended to all people who will repent and believe on his name” (Alma 19:35-36)

After the servants of the king returned and relate the story of how Ammon had rescued the kings flocks from the Lamanites, the king can but wonder who this man is. “Behold, is not this the Great Spirit who doth send such great punishments upon this people, because of their murders?” (Alma 18:2).

When Alma is brought before king Lamoni, the king ponders him in his mind; it is a full hour before the king can even speak to Ammon (Alma 18:14). When Ammon perceives the thoughts of the king he says: “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, in order to defend thy flocks and thy servants; behold, is it this that causeth thy marveling”?  (Alma 18:16).

“Now when the king had heard these words, he marveled again, for he beheld that Ammon could discern his thoughts; but notwithstanding this, king Lamoni did open his mouth, and said unto him: Who art thou? Art thou that Great Spirit, who knows all things”? (Alma 18:18).

“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. And the king answered him, and said: Yea, I will believe all thy words. And thus he was caught with guile”. (Alma 18:22-23), thus fulfilling Ammons desires expressed in Alma 17:29.

Ammon’s desire to have his fellow servants “believe in my words” has been met. Now, the Lord would desire the same thing from king Lamoni; that the king would believe with a surety that He is the One True God, and believe in Him that he might believe in His Words, for when Ammon asks the king “Believest thou that there is a God”? the king answers him “I do not know what that meaneth”. (Alma 18:24-25).

Ammon rehearses to king Lamoni who God is, and tells him of His wondrous works from the beginning of the creation down to the present day. When Ammon had finished these things the king “ began to cry unto the Lord, saying: 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).

For the space of three days “king Lamoni was under the power of God; … the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind, and the light which did light up his mind, which was the light of the glory of God, which was a marvelous light of his goodness--yea, this light had infused such joy into his soul, the cloud of darkness having been dispelled, and that the light of everlasting life was lit up in his soul, yea, he knew that this had overcome his natural frame, and he was carried away in God—“ (Alma 19:6).

When, by the power of God, king Lamoni is raised from his sleep, he begins to “to teach them” (his people) ”the words which he had heard from the mouth of Ammon; and as many as heard his words believed, and were converted unto the Lord”. (Alma 19:31).

And now, through His power, God has taught king Lamoni that He is the One True God, and now King Lamoni is ready to believe all his words.  And thus a great work was done in the land.  This was a pivotal point in the teachings of God unto the Lamanites.

It is my testimony that through this scripture, Alma 17:28-29, and through many other scriptures in the gospel works, we can teach those true gospel principals which can indeed change people’s lives. We can restore those deep and tender feelings to the hearts of those who may have fallen into inactivity that they might once again partake of the fullness of the gospel.  Through our actions we can win the hearts of those we come into contact with. Through our testimonies we can invite the spirit of God into their hearts such that God can proceed to do a marvelous work and a wonder in their lives.

Gary Hyde