"Now this was the tradition of Lamoni, which he had received from his father, that there was a Great Spirit. Notwithstanding they believed in a Great Spirit, they supposed that whatsoever they did was right; nevertheless, Lamoni began to fear exceedingly, with fear lest he had done wrong in slaying his servants;
And Ammon began to speak unto him with boldness, and said unto him: Believest thou that there is a God?
And he answered, and said unto him: I do not know what that meaneth.
And then Ammon said: Believest thou that there is a Great Spirit?
And he said, Yea.
And Ammon said: This is God. And Ammon said unto him again: Believest thou that this Great Spirit, who is God, created all things which are in Heaven and in the earth?"
I noticed in the first verse that king Lamoni believed in a Great Spirit but supposed whatever they did was right. Yet, now he fears thinking Ammon is the Great Spirit and that he had done wrong slaying his servants. I could see this as the light of Christ already working on king Lamoni. For the light of Christ will always testify of truth and by it man will always know right from wrong. It was making him receptive to hearing the message that Ammon would give and to feel the Holy Ghost as he speaks.
Then Ammon says the Great Spirit is God, which technically isn't true. For God does not believe that whatever we do is right. Ammon sets a wonderful teaching example. He taught Lamoni based on the knowledge he already had of a Supreme Being. He used that as common belief in the creator of the earth to then teach eternal truth. He did not destroy the knowledge Lamoni already had, but instead added to it. That is the invitation we need to extend to others.
In the words of President Gordon B. Hinckley.
"We say in a spirit of love, bring with you all that you have of good and truth which you have received from whatever source, and come and let us see if we may add to it. This invitation I extend to men and woman everywhere with my solemn testimony that this work is true, for I know the truth of it by the power of the Holy Ghost."
(President Gordon B. Hinckley, "The Marvelous Foundation of Our Faith", Oct 2002 General Conference)
Day 1876
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