The Science of Scripture Study

The Middoni Principle
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The Science of Scripture Study

Here is an excerpt from Ammon’s missionary journal; in particular the conversion stories of King Lamoni and his father King Laman. At the end of the stories are 5 steps that greatly enhance the study process. The brethren have exhorted us to move from a reading church to a studying church. These steps are instrumental in helping to position your mind so the scriptures come alive. As James Ferrill notes in his new book: “The Holy Secret,” studying the scriptures should be a dialogue and not a monologue. The 5 steps cited are also taken from his book.

This is an exercise using his formula.

King Lamoni receives the testimony of Ammon, feels the spirit “And now, when he had said this, he fell unto the earth, as if he were dead.” After 2 days and 2 nights, the Queen requested Ammon to visit her husband to determine what she should do.

Ammon prophesied he would rise on the morrow making it a total of 3 days and 3 nights and then inquired of the Queen her level of faith. After hearing her response, Ammon says: “…there has not been such great faith among all the people of the Nephites.”

Ammon’s prophecy is literally fulfilled and Lamoni’s testifies of the Redeemer. The spirit overwhelms King Lamoni, his wife and Ammon and they all three sink to the floor.

A great multitude assembles and sees the King and Queen prostrate as if dead along with a Nephite. They think the worse with the help of Ammon’s enemies. One of the men, whose brother was slain by Ammon, raised his sword in an attempt to kill Ammon and he is struck dead. Ammon’s life is protected as promised by the Lord to King Mosiah before his boys went off on their respective missions.

A great contention arose among the people over Ammon, whether he was a great spirit for good or a great spirit for evil. A covert convert is saddened by the contention and touches the hand of the Queen and the Queen arises. She sees the contention and rebukes them. She touches the King and he arises and rebukes them and then Ammon arises and they all minister to the people.

Many are converted, but there were many who did not believe and they went away.

King Lamoni is desirous that Ammon should travel with him to the Land of Nephi to preach the gospel to his father, the King of all the Land, King Laman. Ammon inquires of the Lord and is directed to the Land of Middoni to help Aaron get out of jail. Lamoni hearkens to the promptings that Ammon receives and offers his help.

On the road to Middoni, they meet the father of Lamoni, who is king over all the land. King Laman is not pleased with Lamoni, for while Lamoni was experiencing his conversion and out cold on the floor, he was supposed to be at a feast honoring his father in the Land of Nephi.

King Laman becomes quite angry with Lamoni when he encounters his disobedient son with a Nephite, who is a child of a liar!

Lamoni recounts his conversion story for he feared to offend his father. He is surprised when his dad becomes outraged over the situation telling Lamoni that Ammon is the son of a liar. That Ammon’s people robbed the Lamanites and now are trying to convince them otherwise through their cunning, lyings and deceit and that they want to steal their property.

King Laman commands Lamoni to kill Ammon. Lamoni refuses, so Laman takes control of the killing and is quickly subdued by Ammon. King Laman starts negotiations with Ammon. Laman offers Ammon whatsoever he wants even half his kingdom.
Ammon dictates the conditions of King Laman’s surrender:

• he gets Aaron and his companions out of jail in Middoni
• Lamoni retains his kingdom
• he’s not allowed to be angry with his son
• Lamoni can do according to his own will

The king is surprised with the conditions and the love Ammon has for his own son, so he immediately consents. The King invites everyone over to his house for dinner.

Using the following 5 steps, let’s study the preceding two stories:

1. What’s going on
2. Wonder Why: ask questions
3. Find Patterns
4. Types of the Savior
5. Apply Yourself

1) What
a. Every individual is an example of somebody judging the story of Jesus Christ (see 3 Nephi 27:13-15)
i. Ammon
ii. The Servants of the king
iii. The bad guys stealing the sheep
iv. King Lamoni
v. The Queen
vi. Abish (the covert Lamanite convert)
vii. The people who witnessed the three on the floor
viii. King Laman
b. Anger exists from the Lamanites against the Nephites, no economic ties between the two nations. Lamanites are without the gospel. Nephites have the gospel.
c. Great conversion stories against all odds
d. Traditions are playing a role
i. Royalty
ii. Lamanite
iii. Family
2) Why
a. Why did Ammon end up in the Land of Ishmael with Lamoni? Did Lamoni have any way of knowing Ammon was the King’s son?
b. Why did Lamoni greet him with a threat of death?
c. Why did Lamoni offer Ammon his daughter’s hand in marriage?
d. Why did Lamoni send him with servants that were being killed for negligence?
e. Why didn’t the servants do their jobs very good?
f. Why did Ammon use a sling first?
g. Why did Ammon cut off arms?
h. Why did the servants collect the arms and deliver them to the king?
i. Why was there water involved in the story (Sebus)?
j. Why did it take three days before they watered their flocks?
k. Why did the servants of the king just murmur about the spreading of the flocks?
l. Why did King Lamoni sit speechless for one hour?
m. Could I stare at someone in awe for the space of one hour without uttering a word?
n. Why did Ammon get a commitment out of the King before he shared the gospel with him? What impact would that have if all missionary work were done in this fashion? What more is there to this strategy?
o. Why did Ammon begin with Adam and how deep did he go?
p. Why did Lamoni and his wife pass out for three days and three nights?
q. Why did Abish appear and why was her conversion covert?
r. Why did Abish call the people around and why was Abish the one who raised the Queen?
s. Why did the people have contention when they saw the Royal couple passed out?
t. Why did some join the church and others not when the miracle was before their very eyes?
u. Why did the Lord send Ammon to Middoni and not to King Laman?
v. Why did Laman travel without guards to visit his son Lamoni?
w. Why was Aaron in prison in Middoni?
x. Why did Laman offer up half his kingdom? Is this a traditional reply? How old was King Laman?
3) Patterns
a. Three days and three nights
b. Hatred of Lamanites to Nephites
i. Source of hatred a lie
ii. No logic behind hatred
iii. No verifying truthfulness of the source of the lie
iv. Passed down from father to son etc.
v. Lies were said so many times, everyone believes it without questioning
c. The mistakes made were of the heart
d. When obedient, using the mind
e. Ignorance of the Lord generates contention
f. Faith of new convert exceeds that of the long-standing members
g. Being a member for a long time can bring on complacency
h. Success breads complacency
i. The Lord never breaks His word
j. Man often breaks his word
k. Great miracles have no impact upon a hardened heart
l. Miracles are not the source of conversion
m. The Holy Ghost is the source of conversion
n. Evil does not value the sanctity of life
o. The power of the spirit strikes fear into the recipient who is full of sin.
p. The Lamanites are a fallen people and held in spiritual bondage because of their traditions
q. The righteous never seek for the accolades or power of man, but only to serve
4) Types of the Savior
a. The Lord’s love is so great; He provides a way for the gospel to be preached to the Lamanites.
b. Ammon is a type of the Savior:
i. Saved the slothful servants of Lamoni from death
ii. Chastised the bad boys for stealing the sheep
iii. When they resisted they died a physical death or lost a limb that could not be restored
iv. He served faithfully every whit of his responsibility when the others, who knew what they had to do, did not
v. Ammon dealt with two temporal Kings, he types of the Greatest of all Kings
vi. The wisdom of man pales in comparison to the promptings of the Holy Ghost. Do not rely on the arm of man.
5) Apply to Yourself
a. Where do I sit on serving the Lord or serving mammon?
b. Am I subject to my heart over my mind?
c. How do I pattern myself after Ammon? Lamoni? The slothful servants? King Laman? Abish? Etc.