Lamoni’s father was angry to see his son traveling with a Nephite. He commanded his son to kill Ammon, and when Lamoni refused, he tried to kill Ammon himself. When Ammon overpowered him, his mood shifted from anger to desperation, and he began to bargain with him, offering him anything he wanted, “even to half of the kingdom” (Alma 20:23).
But Ammon wasn’t seeking power or personal gain. He only made two requests of the king:
- Release his brothers from prison.
- Grant his son, Lamoni, autonomy to run his kingdom according to his desires.
(See Alma 20:24.)
The king was not only relieved to hear these requests, he was also astonished. He was apparently shocked that anyone, let alone a Nephite, could act so unselfishly. So he granted Ammon’s requests, and he invited Ammon to visit him, “for I shall greatly desire to see thee” (Alma 20:27).
Sister Susan A. Porter referenced this scriptural passage when she recently assured us that God can help us influence others by our actions. She said:
You can pray for help to show Heavenly Father’s love to others. Through His Spirit, Heavenly Father will help you notice someone who is sad so you can comfort them. He can help you show His love by forgiving someone. He can give you courage to serve someone and share with them that they are a child of God. You can help others come to know and love Jesus and Heavenly Father as you do.
“Pray, He Is There,” General Conference, April 2024
Ammon’s actions influenced the king far more than any words could have done. With God’s help, we can also act in a way tha influences others for good and helps them draw closer to God.
Today, I will pray to be able to show God’s love to others. I will remember that my actions may speak louder than my words, and I will see God’s help to act in a way that uplifts and strengthens the people around me.
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