Ammon (Book of Mormon missionary)

Ammon: a modern artist's illustration.

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This article is about the prominent Book of Mormon missionary. For the Book of Mormon explorer, see Ammon (Book of Mormon explorer)

Ammon(pron.: /ˈæm.ʌn/) is a missionary described in the Book of Mormon, and a contemporary of Alma the Younger. The Book of Mosiah describes his original antipathy toward the Nephite Church of God and his subsequent conversion after a sudden vision of an angel. As one of the royal Sons of Mosiah and likely the oldest, he was approached to eventually succeed his father as king but opted instead to minister among their Lamanite enemies as a missionary. His missionary journeys appear in the Book of Alma as the most detailed of any missionary activities in the Book of Mormon.

Early life and conversion

As one of the four sons of King Mosiah, Ammon had tremendous influence among his people, the Nephites. He rejected the Church and attempted to turn the people from the teachings of the prophets. Because of the fervent prayers of their parents, Alma the Younger and the four sons of Mosiah had a conversion experience much like that of Saul of Tarsus. An angel appeared to them on the road and rebuked them for their wickedness. The shock put Alma the Younger into an insensible state for a time; the specific effect upon Ammon is not recorded, but he became fully converted to the Gospel and desired to serve as a missionary to the Lamanites.

Successful mission

Ammon and his brothers spent several years teaching the Gospel to the Lamanites. Ammon chose to go first to the land of Ishmael. He was captured by the Lamanites and taken before their king, Lamoni. Lamoni asked his purpose in straying so far from Nephite lands. Ammon replied that he wanted only to serve. The king, impressed, offered Ammon one of his daughters. Ammon refused and instead became a servant in the king's household, assisting others in caring for his flocks (The Book of Mormon does not use the term sheep).

Three days later, bandits attacked the king's flocks. The other servants fled but Ammon stood his ground and was miraculously protected. Ammon was granted supernatural strength and cut off the arms of each robber who attacked him. His great power convinced the servants and the king that he was favored of God. The king, his household, and the entire kingdom were converted to the Gospel.

Later, Lamoni's love and respect for Ammon impressed Lamoni's father, the king of all the Lamanites. As a result, the Lamanite king accepted the teachings of Aaron, Ammon's brother, and was baptized. The Lamanites who were converted as a result of Ammon's ministry were called the "Anti-Nephi-Lehies." (They later changed their name to the People of Ammon after their migration to the Nephite land of Jershon.) They swore never to take up arms again, and never did, although the two thousand stripling warriors were recruited from among their sons.