Page:A dictionary of the Book of Mormon.pdf/71

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61
Ammon.

and two nights, awaiting his return to consciousness. There was great diversity of opinion among his retainers as to what troubled the king. Some said the power of the Great Spirit was upon him, others that an evil power possessed him, yet others asserted that he was dead, and with remarkable acuteness of smell affirmed, He stinketh. At the end of this time they had resolved to lay him away in the sepulchre, when the queen sent for Ammon and pleaded with him in her husband's behalf. Ammon gave her the joyful assurance: He is not dead, but sleepeth in God, and to-morrow he shall rise again. Then he asked, Believest thou this? She answered, I have no witness, save thy word and the word of our servants; nevertheless I believe it shall be according as thou hast said. Then Ammon blessed her, and told her that there had not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites.

So the queen lovingly continued her watch by the bedside of her husband until the appointed hour. Lamoni then arose, as Ammon had foretold. His soul was filled with heavenly joy. His first words were of praise to God, his next were blessings on his faithful wife, whose faith he felt or knew. He testified to the coming of the Redeemer, of whose greatness, glory, power and mercy he had learned while in the spirit. His body was too weak for the realities of eternity that filled his heart. Again he sank overpowered to the earth, and the same spirit overcame his wife also. Ammon's rejoicing heart swelled within him as he heard and witnessed these things; he fell upon his knees and poured out his soul in praise and thanksgiving, until he also could not contain the brightness of the glory, the completeness of the joy that overwhelmed him. Unconscious of all earthly things he sank beside the royal pair. The same spirit of unmeasured joy then fell upon all present, with the same results. There was but one exception, a Laman-