AlmaChapter20

And it came to pass that when they had established a church in that land, that king Lamoni desired that Ammon should go with him to the land of Nephi, that he might show him unto his father.

After they had established a church in that land, King Lamoni wanted Ammon to go with him to the land of Nephi, to introduce him to his father.

And the voice of the Lord came to Ammon saying: Thou shalt not go up to the land of Nephi, for behold, the king will seek thy life; but thou shalt go to the land of Middoni; for behold, thy brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah are in prison.

But the voice of the Lord came to Ammon, saying, "Do not go up to the land of Nephi, for the king will try to kill you. Go instead to the land of Middoni, for your brother Aaron, and also Muloki and Ammah, are in prison."

Now it came to pass that when Ammon had heard this, he said unto Lamoni: Behold, my brother and brethren are in prison at Middoni, and I go that I may deliver them.

When Ammon heard this, he said to Lamoni, "My brother and my companions are in prison at Middoni, and I'm going there to free them."

Now Lamoni said unto Ammon: I know, in the strength of the Lord thou canst do all things. But behold, I will go with thee to the land of Middoni; for the king of the land of Middoni, whose name is Antiomno, is a friend unto me; therefore I go to the land of Middoni, that I may flatter the king of the land, and he will cast thy brethren out of prison. Now Lamoni said unto him: Who told thee that thy brethren were in prison?

Lamoni said to Ammon, "I know that in the Lord's strength you can do all things. But I will go with you to the land of Middoni, for the king of that land, whose name is Antiomno, is a friend of mine. I'll flatter him, and he'll release your brothers from prison." Then Lamoni asked him, "Who told you that your brothers were in prison?"

And Ammon said unto him: No one hath told me, save it be God; and he said unto me—Go and deliver thy brethren, for they are in prison in the land of Middoni.

And Ammon said to him, "No one told me except God. He said to me, 'Go and free your brothers, for they are in prison in the land of Middoni.'"

Now when Lamoni had heard this he caused that his servants should make ready his horses and his chariots.

When Lamoni heard this, he had his servants prepare his horses and his chariots.

And he said unto Ammon: Come, I will go with thee down to the land of Middoni, and there I will plead with the king that he will cast thy brethren out of prison.

And he said to Ammon, "Come, I'll go with you down to the land of Middoni, and I'll plead with the king there to release your brothers from prison."

And it came to pass that as Ammon and Lamoni were journeying thither, they met the father of Lamoni, who was king over all the land.

As Ammon and Lamoni were traveling there, they met Lamoni's father, who was king over all the land.

And behold, the father of Lamoni said unto him: Why did ye not come to the feast on that great day when I made a feast unto my sons, and unto my people?

And Lamoni's father said to him, "Why didn't you come to the feast on that great day when I held a feast for my sons and for my people?"

And he also said: Whither art thou going with this Nephite, who is one of the children of a liar?

And he also said, "Where are you going with this Nephite, who is one of the children of a liar?"

And it came to pass that Lamoni rehearsed unto him whither he was going, for he feared to offend him.

Lamoni told him where he was going, because he was afraid to offend him.

And he also told him all the cause of his tarrying in his own kingdom, that he did not go unto his father to the feast which he had prepared.

He also explained the whole reason he had stayed in his own kingdom and had not come to the feast his father had prepared.

And now when Lamoni had rehearsed unto him all these things, behold, to his astonishment, his father was angry with him, and said: Lamoni, thou art going to deliver these Nephites, who are sons of a liar. Behold, he robbed our fathers; and now his children are also come amongst us that they may, by their cunning and their lyings, deceive us, that they again may rob us of our property.

When Lamoni had told him all these things, to his astonishment his father was angry with him and said, "Lamoni, you are going to rescue these Nephites, who are sons of a liar. He robbed our fathers, and now his children have come among us to deceive us with their cunning and their lies, so that they can rob us of our property again."

Now the father of Lamoni commanded him that he should slay Ammon with the sword. And he also commanded him that he should not go to the land of Middoni, but that he should return with him to the land of Ishmael.

Then Lamoni's father ordered him to kill Ammon with his sword. He also ordered him not to go to the land of Middoni, but to return with him to the land of Ishmael.

But Lamoni said unto him: I will not slay Ammon, neither will I return to the land of Ishmael, but I go to the land of Middoni that I may release the brethren of Ammon, for I know that they are just men and holy prophets of the true God.

But Lamoni said to him, "I will not kill Ammon, and I will not return to the land of Ishmael. I am going to the land of Middoni to release Ammon's brothers, for I know that they are just men and holy prophets of the true God."

Now when his father had heard these words, he was angry with him, and he drew his sword that he might smite him to the earth.

When his father heard these words, he was furious with him, and he drew his sword to strike him down.

But Ammon stood forth and said unto him: Behold, thou shalt not slay thy son; nevertheless, it were better that he should fall than thee, for behold, he has repented of his sins; but if thou shouldst fall at this time, in thine anger, thy soul could not be saved.

But Ammon stepped forward and said to him, "You will not kill your son. Even so, it would be better for him to fall than for you, for he has repented of his sins. But if you were to fall at this time, in your anger, your soul could not be saved.

And again, it is expedient that thou shouldst forbear; for if thou shouldst slay thy son, he being an innocent man, his blood would cry from the ground to the Lord his God, for vengeance to come upon thee; and perhaps thou wouldst lose thy soul.

And again, you must hold back. For if you were to kill your son, an innocent man, his blood would cry from the ground to the Lord his God for vengeance against you; and you might lose your soul."

Now when Ammon had said these words unto him, he answered him, saying: I know that if I should slay my son, that I should shed innocent blood; for it is thou that hast sought to destroy him.

When Ammon had said these words, the king answered him, "I know that if I were to kill my son, I would shed innocent blood; for it is you who have tried to destroy him."

And he stretched forth his hand to slay Ammon. But Ammon withstood his blows, and also smote his arm that he could not use it.

And he reached out his hand to kill Ammon. But Ammon withstood his blows and struck his arm so that he could not use it.

Now when the king saw that Ammon could slay him, he began to plead with Ammon that he would spare his life.

When the king saw that Ammon could kill him, he began to plead with Ammon to spare his life.

But Ammon raised his sword, and said unto him: Behold, I will smite thee except thou wilt grant unto me that my brethren may be cast out of prison.

But Ammon raised his sword and said to him, "I will strike you down unless you grant that my brothers be released from prison."

Now the king, fearing he should lose his life, said: If thou wilt spare me I will grant unto thee whatsoever thou wilt ask, even to half of the kingdom.

The king, fearing for his life, said, "If you will spare me, I will grant you whatever you ask, even up to half the kingdom."

Now when Ammon saw that he had wrought upon the old king according to his desire, he said unto him: If thou wilt grant that my brethren may be cast out of prison, and also that Lamoni may retain his kingdom, and that ye be not displeased with him, but grant that he may do according to his own desires in whatsoever thing he thinketh, then will I spare thee; otherwise I will smite thee to the earth.

When Ammon saw that the old king was ready to do what he wanted, he said to him, "If you will grant that my brothers be released from prison, and that Lamoni keep his kingdom, and that you will not be displeased with him but will let him act according to his own wishes in whatever he thinks, then I will spare you; otherwise I will strike you to the earth."

Now when Ammon had said these words, the king began to rejoice because of his life.

When Ammon had said these words, the king began to rejoice because his life would be spared.

And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release thy brethren, and suffer that my son Lamoni should retain his kingdom, behold, I will grant unto you that my son may retain his kingdom from this time and forever; and I will govern him no more—

And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he saw the great love Ammon had for his son Lamoni, he was utterly amazed, and said, "Because all you have asked is that I release your brothers and let my son Lamoni keep his kingdom, I will grant that my son may keep his kingdom from this time on and forever, and I will govern him no more.

And I will also grant unto thee that thy brethren may be cast out of prison, and thou and thy brethren may come unto me, in my kingdom; for I shall greatly desire to see thee. For the king was greatly astonished at the words which he had spoken, and also at the words which had been spoken by his son Lamoni, therefore he was desirous to learn them.

And I will also grant that your brothers may be released from prison, and you and your brothers may come to me in my kingdom, for I will be eager to see you." For the king was greatly astonished at the words Ammon had spoken, and also at the words spoken by his son Lamoni, and he wanted to learn them.

And it came to pass that Ammon and Lamoni proceeded on their journey towards the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found favor in the eyes of the king of the land; therefore the brethren of Ammon were brought forth out of prison.

Then Ammon and Lamoni continued their journey toward the land of Middoni. And Lamoni found favor in the eyes of the king of that land, so Ammon's brothers were brought out of prison.

And when Ammon did meet them he was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold they were naked, and their skins were worn exceedingly because of being bound with strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings.

When Ammon met them, he was filled with sorrow, for they were naked, and their skin was badly worn from being bound with strong cords. They had also suffered hunger, thirst, and every kind of hardship; yet they were patient in all their sufferings.

And, as it happened, it was their lot to have fallen into the hands of a more hardened and a more stiffnecked people; therefore they would not hearken unto their words, and they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days, and were delivered by Lamoni and Ammon.

As it happened, it was their lot to fall into the hands of a more hardened and more stubborn people, who refused to listen to their words. They drove them out, beat them, and chased them from house to house and from place to place, until they arrived in the land of Middoni. There they were seized and thrown into prison, bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days, until Lamoni and Ammon freed them.