Each March we celebrate Women’s History Month. We commemorate and encourage the study, observance, and celebration of the vital role of women in American history. In the Book of Mormon, there are two stories of conversion to Jesus Christ involving kings in the land. Both conversion stories are inspiring. In honor of Women’s History Month, we will instead discuss the conversion stories of their queens. One is the wife of King Lamoni, and the other is his mother, the queen of all the Lamanite nations.
To me, he doth not stink
Let us begin with the wife of King Lamoni. Following Ammon’s teachings, Lamoni had been overcome with the Spirit, and was “carried away in God”. For two days and two nights, he lay on his bed. “Now the queen having heard of the fame of Ammon, therefore she sent and desired that he should come in unto her. And it came to pass that Ammon did as he was commanded, and went in unto the queen, and desired to know what she would that he should do.
“And she said unto him: The servants of my husband have made it known unto me that thou art a prophet of a holy God, and that thou hast power to do many mighty works in his name; Therefore, if this is the case, I would that ye should go in and see my husband, for he has been laid upon his bed for the space of two days and two nights; and some say that he is not dead, but others say that he is dead and that he stinketh, and that he ought to be placed in the sepulcher; but as for myself, to me, he doth not stink.” (Alma 19:2-5)
Such great faith
Ammon reassures the queen that Lamoni is not dead but only sleeps and will rise again the next day. “And Ammon said unto her: Believest thou this? And she said unto him: I have had no witness save thy word, and the word of our servants; nevertheless, I believe that it shall be according as thou hast said. And Ammon said unto her: 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. And it came to pass that she watched over the bed of her husband, from that time even until that time on the morrow which Ammon had appointed that he should rise.” (Alma 19:9-11)
Blessed art thou
Ammon’s promise was fulfilled the following day and Lamoni and his wife are reunited. Lamoni stretches out his hand to his wife and says, “Blessed be the name of God, and blessed art thou.” Both are converted to Christ.
Fast forward to chapter 22 in Alma and the other king, Lamoni’s father. Lamoni’s father promises God to “give away all my sins to know thee”. When he does, he is overcome with the Spirit “as if he were dead”.
In this case, the servants of this king also ran and told the queen what had happened. “And she came in unto the king; and when she saw him lay as if he were dead, and also Aaron and his brethren standing as though they had been the cause of his fall, she was angry with them, and commanded that her servants, or the servants of the king, should take them and slay them.
“Now the servants had seen the cause of the king’s fall, therefore they durst not lay their hands on Aaron and his brethren; and they pled with the queen saying: Why commandest thou that we should slay these men when behold one of them is mightier than us all? Therefore, we shall fall before them. Now when the queen saw the fear of the servants she also began to fear exceedingly, lest there should some evil come upon her. And she commanded her servants that they should go and call the people, that they might slay Aaron and his brethren.” (Alma 22:19-21)
Converted unto the Lord
Two completely opposite reactions to two very similar situations. While King Lamoni’s wife reacted with faith, his mother responded with fear. Aaron would not allow the queen’s fear to become terror and cause the people to attack him and his brethren. So, he put forth his hand and commanded the fallen king to “Stand”. Immediately the king received his strength and stood. “Now this was done in the presence of the queen and many of the servants. And when they saw it they greatly marveled and began to fear. And the king stood forth and began to minister unto them. And he did minister unto them, insomuch that his whole household were converted unto the Lord.”
Choose your path
The world is being prepared for the second coming of Jesus Christ. And, we will have many opportunities to decide how to react to events that surround us. We have no control over the tests that will precede the Lord’s return. But, we do have a choice on how we react. Our choices will place our feet on the path.
Which path will we choose, the path of faith, or the path of fear? May we follow the faithful examples of these two women who chose to believe and come unto Christ.
