Ammon has long been one of my biggest heroes. And, as luck would have it, it wasn't my week to teach when this lesson came around.
I had a couple of "wonders" during the lesson today:
1. Lamoni offered one of his daughters to Ammon as a wife (Alma 17:24). I wonder if this was a political move on his part, like in European history when the king of one country would marry the queen of another country. Ammon is King Mosiah's son, which would make him a prince in our day. Could Lamoni have been using this as an opportunity to get a foothold in the Nephite 'royal family'? Apparently he wasn't watching the news when Mosiah introduced the system of judges.
2. Lamoni puts Ammon on shepherd duty (Alma 17:25). I wonder if this was a way to get rid of Ammon, as this job had a reputation for employee termination. Let the kings sheep get scattered or stolen, and you're dead (literally). Maybe that was in some small way contributing to the king's amazement when the servants returned. Not only did Ammon not get killed, but he saved the flocks and the other servants, and managed to 'disarm' his opponents.
3. This one isn't so much of a wonder as a reverential amazement. We often glaze over the queen's experience as King Lamoni is presumed dead during his spiritual experience. As near as we can tell from the story, she was not taught by Ammon, but knew that he could help her. At Ammon's word alone, she stayed at her husband's bedside waiting for the time when Ammon said Lamoni would arise. "...Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith; I say unto thee, woman, there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites" (Alma 19:10).
Anyhow, I hope to one day have the opportunity to ask Ammon and Lamoni (and Mrs. Lamoni) for all the details of their experience. Maybe on judgement day while I'm waiting in line for my turn (letting everyone cut in line ahead of me).
