AlmaChapter18

And it came to pass that king Lamoni caused that his servants should stand forth and testify to all the things which they had seen concerning the matter.

King Lamoni had his servants stand and testify to everything they had seen concerning the matter.

And when they had all testified to the things which they had seen, and he had learned of the faithfulness of Ammon in preserving his flocks, and also of his great power in contending against those who sought to slay him, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Surely, this is more than a man. Behold, is not this the Great Spirit who doth send such great punishments upon this people, because of their murders?

And when they had all testified to what they had seen, and he had learned of Ammon's faithfulness in protecting his flocks, and of his great power in fighting the men who tried to kill him, he was utterly astonished, and he said, "Surely this is more than a man. Isn't this the Great Spirit, who sends such terrible punishments on this people because of their murders?"

And they answered the king, and said: Whether he be the Great Spirit or a man, we know not; but this much we do know, that he cannot be slain by the enemies of the king; neither can they scatter the king’s flocks when he is with us, because of his expertness and great strength; therefore, we know that he is a friend to the king. And now, O king, we do not believe that a man has such great power, for we know he cannot be slain.

They answered the king, "Whether he is the Great Spirit or a man, we don't know. But this much we do know: he cannot be killed by the king's enemies, and they cannot scatter the king's flocks when he is with us, because of his skill and great strength. So we know he is a friend to the king. And now, O king, we do not believe that a man has such great power, for we know he cannot be killed."

And now, when the king heard these words, he said unto them: Now I know that it is the Great Spirit; and he has come down at this time to preserve your lives, that I might not slay you as I did your brethren. Now this is the Great Spirit of whom our fathers have spoken.

When the king heard these words, he said to them, "Now I know that it is the Great Spirit. He has come down at this time to preserve your lives, so that I would not kill you as I killed your fellow servants. This is the Great Spirit our fathers have spoken of."

Now this was the tradition of Lamoni, which he had received from his father, that there was a Great Spirit. Notwithstanding they believed in a Great Spirit they supposed that whatsoever they did was right; nevertheless, Lamoni began to fear exceedingly, with fear lest he had done wrong in slaying his servants;

Now this was the tradition of Lamoni, which he had received from his father: that there was a Great Spirit. But although they believed in a Great Spirit, they thought that whatever they did was right. Even so, Lamoni began to be terribly afraid, fearing that he had done wrong in killing his servants,

For he had slain many of them because their brethren had scattered their flocks at the place of water; and thus, because they had had their flocks scattered they were slain.

for he had killed many of them because their fellow Lamanites had scattered their flocks at the watering place; and so, because the flocks in their care had been scattered, they were killed.

Now it was the practice of these Lamanites to stand by the waters of Sebus to scatter the flocks of the people, that thereby they might drive away many that were scattered unto their own land, it being a practice of plunder among them.

Now it was the practice of these Lamanites to stand by the waters of Sebus and scatter the people's flocks, driving many of the scattered animals away to their own land; it was a practice of plunder among them.

And it came to pass that king Lamoni inquired of his servants, saying: Where is this man that has such great power?

King Lamoni asked his servants, "Where is this man who has such great power?"

And they said unto him: Behold, he is feeding thy horses. Now the king had commanded his servants, previous to the time of the watering of their flocks, that they should prepare his horses and chariots, and conduct him forth to the land of Nephi; for there had been a great feast appointed at the land of Nephi, by the father of Lamoni, who was king over all the land.

They said to him, "He is feeding your horses." Now the king had commanded his servants, before the time for watering the flocks, to prepare his horses and chariots and escort him to the land of Nephi, because Lamoni's father, who was king over all the land, had appointed a great feast there.

Now when king Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots he was more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon, saying: Surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man; for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute them.

When King Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots, he was even more astonished at Ammon's faithfulness, and he said, "Surely there has never been a servant among all my servants as faithful as this man. He remembers every one of my commands, and he carries them out.

Now I surely know that this is the Great Spirit, and I would desire him that he come in unto me, but I durst not.

Now I know for certain that this is the Great Spirit, and I want to ask him to come in and see me, but I don't dare."

And it came to pass that when Ammon had made ready the horses and the chariots for the king and his servants, he went in unto the king, and he saw that the countenance of the king was changed; therefore he was about to return out of his presence.

When Ammon had made the horses and the chariots ready for the king and his servants, he went in to the king, and he saw that the look on the king's face had changed; so he turned to go.

And one of the king’s servants said unto him, Rabbanah, which is, being interpreted, powerful or great king, considering their kings to be powerful; and thus he said unto him: Rabbanah, the king desireth thee to stay.

And one of the king's servants said to him, "Rabbanah," which means "powerful or great king" (they considered their kings powerful), and so he said to him, "Rabbanah, the king wants you to stay."

Therefore Ammon turned himself unto the king, and said unto him: What wilt thou that I should do for thee, O king? And the king answered him not for the space of an hour, according to their time, for he knew not what he should say unto him.

So Ammon turned to the king and said, "What do you want me to do for you, O king?" But the king did not answer him for a full hour, by their reckoning of time, because he did not know what to say to him.

And it came to pass that Ammon said unto him again: What desirest thou of me? But the king answered him not.

Ammon said to him again, "What do you want from me?" But the king did not answer.

And it came to pass that Ammon, being filled with the Spirit of God, therefore he perceived the thoughts of the king. And he said unto him: 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 marvelings?

Then Ammon, filled with the Spirit of God, perceived the king's thoughts. And he said, "Is it because you have heard that I defended your servants and your flocks, and killed seven of the men who attacked them with the sling and with the sword, and cut off the arms of others to defend your flocks and your servants? Is that what amazes you?

I say unto you, what is it, that thy marvelings are so great? Behold, I am a man, and am thy servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest which is right, that will I do.

I ask you, why is your amazement so great? I am a man, and I am your servant. So whatever you want that is right, I will do."

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?

When the king heard these words, he marveled again, for he saw that Ammon could discern his thoughts. But in spite of all this, King Lamoni found his voice and said to him, "Who are you? Are you that Great Spirit who knows all things?"

Ammon answered and said unto him: I am not.

Ammon answered him, "I am not."

And the king said: How knowest thou the thoughts of my heart? Thou mayest speak boldly, and tell me concerning these things; and also tell me by what power ye slew and smote off the arms of my brethren that scattered my flocks—

And the king said, "How do you know the thoughts of my heart? You may speak boldly and tell me about these things. And tell me also by what power you killed some of my kinsmen who scattered my flocks, and cut off the arms of others.

And now, if thou wilt tell me concerning these things, whatsoever thou desirest I will give unto thee; and if it were needed, I would guard thee with my armies; but I know that thou art more powerful than all they; nevertheless, whatsoever thou desirest of me I will grant it unto thee.

If you tell me about these things, I will give you whatever you want; and if it were needed, I would guard you with my armies, though I know you are more powerful than all of them. But whatever you ask of me, I will grant it."

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.

Now Ammon, being wise yet harmless, said to Lamoni, "Will you listen to my words, if I tell you by what power I do these things? That is the one thing I ask of you."

And the king answered him, and said: Yea, I will believe all thy words. And thus he was caught with guile.

And the king answered, "Yes, I will believe all your words." And so the king was caught by Ammon's shrewdness.

And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?

Then Ammon began to speak to him boldly, and he asked, "Do you believe there is a God?"

And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth.

And he answered, "I don't know what that means."

And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit?

And then Ammon said, "Do you believe there is a Great Spirit?"

And he said, Yea.

And he said, "Yes."

And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in heaven and in the earth?

And Ammon said, "This is God." And again Ammon asked him, "Do you believe that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things in heaven and on earth?"

And he said: Yea, I believe that he created all things which are in the earth; but I do not know the heavens.

And he said, "Yes, I believe that he created all things on the earth, but I don't know about the heavens."

And Ammon said unto him: The heavens is a place where God dwells and all his holy angels.

And Ammon said, "The heavens are a place where God lives, with all his holy angels."

And king Lamoni said: Is it above the earth?

And King Lamoni said, "Is it above the earth?"

And Ammon said: Yea, and he looketh down upon all the children of men; and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart; for by his hand were they all created from the beginning.

And Ammon said, "Yes, and he looks down on all humankind, and he knows all the thoughts and intents of the heart, for they were all created by his hand from the beginning."

And king Lamoni said: I believe all these things which thou hast spoken. Art thou sent from God?

And King Lamoni said, "I believe all these things you have spoken. Are you sent from God?"

Ammon said unto him: I am a man; and man in the beginning was created after the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things unto this people, that they may be brought to a knowledge of that which is just and true;

Ammon said to him, "I am a man; and in the beginning, humankind was created in the image of God, and I am called by his Holy Spirit to teach these things to this people, so that they may be brought to a knowledge of what is just and true.

And a portion of that Spirit dwelleth in me, which giveth me knowledge, and also power according to my faith and desires which are in God.

And a portion of that Spirit lives in me, giving me knowledge and also power, according to my faith and my desires that are in God."

Now when Ammon had said these words, he began at the creation of the world, and also the creation of Adam, and told him all the things concerning the fall of man, and rehearsed and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which had been spoken by the prophets, even down to the time that their father, Lehi, left Jerusalem.

When Ammon had said these words, he began at the creation of the world and the creation of Adam, and he told him everything about the fall of man; and he recounted and laid before him the records and the holy scriptures of the people, which the prophets had spoken, all the way down to the time their father Lehi left Jerusalem.

And he also rehearsed unto them (for it was unto the king and to his servants) all the journeyings of their fathers in the wilderness, and all their sufferings with hunger and thirst, and their travail, and so forth.

He also recounted to them (for it was to the king and to his servants) all the journeys of their fathers in the wilderness, and all their sufferings from hunger and thirst, and their hardship, and so on.

And he also rehearsed unto them concerning the rebellions of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, yea, all their rebellions did he relate unto them; and he expounded unto them all the records and scriptures from the time that Lehi left Jerusalem down to the present time.

He also told them all about the rebellions of Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael, relating every one of their rebellions to them; and he explained to them all the records and scriptures from the time Lehi left Jerusalem down to the present time.

But this is not all; for he expounded unto them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; and he also made known unto them concerning the coming of Christ, and all the works of the Lord did he make known unto them.

But that is not all: he explained to them the plan of redemption, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; and he also told them about the coming of Christ, and he made known to them all the works of the Lord.

And it came to pass that after he had said all these things, and expounded them to the king, that the king believed all his words.

After he had said all these things and explained them to the king, the king believed all his words.

And he 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 he began to cry out to the Lord, saying, "O Lord, have mercy! According to your abundant mercy, which you have shown to the people of Nephi, have mercy on me and on my people."

And now, when he had said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead.

And when he had said this, he fell to the earth as if he were dead.

And it came to pass that his servants took him and carried him in unto his wife, and laid him upon a bed; and he lay as if he were dead for the space of two days and two nights; and his wife, and his sons, and his daughters mourned over him, after the manner of the Lamanites, greatly lamenting his loss.

His servants took him and carried him to his wife and laid him on a bed. He lay as if he were dead for two days and two nights, and his wife and his sons and his daughters mourned over him, as was the custom of the Lamanites, grieving deeply at his loss.