Book of Mormon Mondays - Courage

Alma 17:19-25

19 And Ammon went to the land of ^aIshmael, the land being called after the sons of ^bIshmael, who also became Lamanites.

  20 And as Ammon entered the land of Ishmael, the Lamanites took him and ^abound him, as was their custom to bind all the Nephites who fell into their hands, and carry them before the king; and thus it was left to the pleasure of the king to slay them, or to retain them in captivity, or to cast them into prison, or to cast them out of his land, according to his will and pleasure.

  21 And thus Ammon was carried before the king who was over the land of Ishmael; and his name was Lamoni; and he was a descendant of Ishmael.

  22 And the king inquired of Ammon if it were his desire to dwell in the land among the Lamanites, or among his people.

  23 And Ammon said unto him: Yea, I desire to ^adwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die.

  24 And it came to pass that king Lamoni was much pleased with Ammon, and caused that his bands should be loosed; and he would that Ammon should take one of his daughters to wife.

  25 But Ammon said unto him: Nay, but I will be thy servant. Therefore Ammon became a ^aservant to king Lamoni. And it came to pass that he was set among other servants to watch the flocks of Lamoni, according to the custom of the Lamanites.

Living in a foreign country myself, I was particularly struck by verse 23.  Lamoni asked what his intentions were and Ammon answered, "I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die."

What courage!!  The Nephites and Lamanites were brothers, but I think their cultures had diverged enough that there would have been a significant culture shock for Ammon.  And he was willing to stay there for the rest of his life?  Now that's commitment to the gospel.

Photo courtsey of lds.org