"And it came to pass that we went up unto the house of Ishmael, and we did gain favor in the sight of Ishmael, insomuch that we did speak unto him the words of the Lord" (verse 4).
Nephi doesn't tell us how he and his brothers gained Ishmael's favor; we can presume, however, that they didn't give him money, because they didn't have any. They didn't give him land, for they were leaving Jerusalem behind for good. What seems the most likely is that they performed some act of service.
"And it came to pass that the Lord did soften the heart of Ishmael, and also his household, insomuch that they took their journey with us down into the wilderness to the tent of our father" (verse 5).
Several centuries later, the sons of King Mosiah turned down the opportunity to rule the kingdom in order to go on a mission to the Lamanites. They left Zarahemla and journeyed many days in the wilderness, "and they fasted much and prayed much that the Lord would grant unto them a portion of his spirit to go with them, and abide with them, that they might be an instrument in the hands of God to bring, if it were possible, their brethren, the Lamanites, to the knowledge of the baseness of the traditions of their fathers, which were not correct" (Alma 17:9).
As we will learn, the sons of Mosiah didn't march into the land of the Lamanites and start telling them that the traditions of their fathers was wrong. After entering his first area, the land of Ishmael, Ammon was captured and taken before the king. Nephites captured by the Lamanites were either killed, imprisoned or cast out of the land. The king, asked Ammon if he wanted to live among the Lamanites, and the missionary answered, perhaps wryly, "Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die" (verse 23).
The king found this answer pleasing and ordered that Ammon's bands should be loosed. Then the king offered one of his daughters to Ammon to be his wife, but this was against the rules of the mission. Instead, Ammon offered to be a servant unto the king, and as a servant he was sent into the fields to watch the flocks.
We all know the story; some rustlers came and scattered the flocks, and Ammon's fellow servants started to panic. The missionary assured them that everything would be fine and then set about gathering the flocks. Again the rustlers came, and this time Ammon stood to face them. The rustlers liked the odds, but Ammon cast stones at them with a sling, and this made them angry. They came forth with there clubs only to have the Nephite cut their arms off with his sword. Finally, the rustlers had had enough and they slinked away.
While his fellow servants hurried to report what had happened to the king, Ammon went to feed the king's horses and prepare his chariots. When the king heard this, he was even more impressed. Finally, with the horses and chariots prepared, Ammon appeared before the king who, for what was likely the first time in his life, was speechless. Ammon turned to leave, but another servant said that the king would like him to stay.
"What wilt thou that I should do for thee, O king?" asked Ammon (Alma 18:14). But the king remained silent, and an hour passed before Ammon again asked, "What desirest thou of me." Again the king was silent, but now the missionary was filled with the spirit, and he discerned the thoughts of the king.
"Is it because thou hast heard that I defended thy servants and thy flocks, and slew seven of their brethren with the sling and sword, and smote of the arms of others, in order to defend thy flocks and thy servants; behold, is it this that causeth thy marvelings" (verse 16). This may have been easy to guess, but what followed went to the root of the matter.
"I say unto you, what is it, that thy marvelings are so great? Behold, I am a man, and am thy servant; therefore, whatsoever thou desirest, which is right, that will I do" (verse 17). The king marveled at this, knowing that Ammon could discern his thoughts, for he had been wondering if the Nephite was the Great Spirit of Lamanite tradition. Despite Ammon's declaration that he was just a man, the king asked him if he was this Great Spirit.
"I am not," answered Ammon.
"How knowest thou the thoughts and intents of my heart?" asked the king. "Tell me by what power ye slew and smote off the arms of my brethren that scattered my flocks."
"Wilt thou harken unto my words," asked Ammon, "if I tell thee by what power I do these things? And this is the thing that I desire of thee.
"Yea," answered the king, "I will believe all thy words."
And so Ammon taught the king, and the Lord softened his heart and he was converted, being the first of thousands of Lamanites who would accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ammon had gained favor in the sight of the king, just as the sons of Lehi had gained favor in the sight of Ishmael.
Like Ammon and Nephi, we should give Christlike service joyfully to our friends before extending, with love and respect, invitations to learn about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We should first gain favor in the sight of our friends, if we don't they may be put off by our premature boldness. We should have the patience to set the table before we eat. If our friends decline our invitations, we should continue to be their friends and continue to give service, then they may know that our friendship is sincere and real, and not just a vehicle for telling them about our faith.
When members and missionaries work together, great things are brought to pass.
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