The idea of work has been on my mind lately because it is
what I am teaching about next Sunday, and what we talked about in Sunday School
yesterday. King Lamoni said he knew that Ammon could do anything with the help
of the Lord, but still volunteered his time and service to help get the others
out of prison. He understood a great truth that I am just starting to these
last few years about self-reliance and work. God can do anything, but we can do
a lot—and he expects us to do everything we can. There is so much more growth,
and even without growth, honor, in doing what you can do for yourself. Maybe
that is why I feel like I need to let my kids make their own thankful turkeys
tonight? I really want to teach them to work hard and be self-reliant. And I
know I need to be a better example of that myself.
King Lamoni was astonished that his father was mad when he
told him where he was going. I wonder why? Did he know his father’s prejudices
and temper? I wonder if it was because his heart was so softened by the Spirit,
and he felt so peaceful inside he forgot about all the hatred and turmoil from
before. I know I’ve been in a place where other people’s anger is hard to
understand. It’s amazing how the atonement of Christ so completely changes our
nature.
The old king was lucky that Ammon was harmless.
Now the king is astonished, but he is astonished by kindness
and love. The contrast here is truly poetic.
I love that the king just tried to kill Ammon, and now his
heart has been softened moments later and he is ready to learn. It reminds me
of Elder Christofferson
talking about how Christ can make any soul holy. In institute we have been
reading the Isaiah chapters in 2 Nephi, and I love how the Lord keeps forgiving
and helping his people, no matter how wicked they have become or how many times
they have to turn back, He is always there with outstretched arms waiting for them,
just as He is here with the old king, even moments later.
I love that the story is not about Aaron, Muloki, and Ammah being upset at how their time had been
awful while Ammon shows up hanging out with a king. They were patient in their suffering
and grateful to serve the Lord. It is amazing humility. It’s so easy to compare
our life with others and feel like things are bad or unfair. This is such a beautiful
example of faith.
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