Ammon Speaks to the People
King Limhi had spoken many things to his people—though only a few are written here. He told them everything about their relatives in the land of Zarahemla.
Then he had Ammon stand before the large crowd and tell them everything that had happened to their relatives from the time Zeniff left until Ammon himself arrived. Ammon also shared the final teachings of King Benjamin and explained them carefully so Limhi’s people could understand every word.
After this, King Limhi dismissed the crowd and sent everyone home.
The Mystery of the Gold Plates
Later, the king brought out the plates that contained his people’s record—from the time they left Zarahemla—and had Ammon read them.
As soon as Ammon finished reading, the king asked if he could translate languages. Ammon told him he couldn’t. The king said, “My heart ached for my suffering people. So I sent forty-three men on a journey through the wilderness to find Zarahemla. We hoped our relatives there could help free us from bondage. They got lost in the wilderness for many days. They searched hard but never found Zarahemla. When they came back, they told us about traveling through a land of many waters. They’d discovered a land covered with human and animal bones—covered with ruins of all kinds of buildings. It had been home to a people as numerous as the hosts of Israel. As proof of what they found, they brought back twenty-four plates of pure gold, filled with engravings. They also brought large breastplates of brass and copper, still in perfect condition. And swords—though the handles had rotted away and the blades were eaten with rust. No one in this land can translate the language or the engravings on those plates. So I’m asking you: Can you translate them? Let me ask again: Do you know anyone who can translate? I need these records translated into our language. Maybe they’ll tell us about the remnant of the people who were destroyed—where these records came from. Maybe they’ll tell us about the very people who were destroyed. I need to know what caused their destruction.”
What Is a Seer?
Ammon answered, “I can tell you for certain, O king, about a man who can translate those records. He has something he can look through to translate any ancient record—it’s a gift from God. These things are called interpreters. No one can look through them unless God commands it, or they’ll see things they shouldn’t and die. Whoever is commanded to look through them is called a seer. The king of the people in Zarahemla is the man commanded to do these things. He has this high gift from God.”
The king said, “So a seer is greater than a prophet?”
Ammon replied, “A seer is a revelator and a prophet too. No one can have a greater gift except by possessing the power of God himself, which no one can. Still, God can give someone great power. But a seer can know about things from the past and things yet to come. Through them, all things will be revealed—secret things will be made known, hidden things will come to light, unknown things will be discovered. They make known things that couldn’t be known any other way. This is how God has provided a way for people, through faith, to work mighty miracles. That’s why a seer becomes such a blessing to everyone.”
The King Rejoices
When Ammon finished speaking, the king was thrilled. He gave thanks to God, saying, “Without a doubt, these plates contain a great mystery. And these interpreters were prepared for the very purpose of revealing such mysteries to humanity. How marvelous are the works of the Lord! How patient he is with his people! And how blind and thick-headed we humans are—we won’t seek wisdom. We don’t want her ruling over us. We’re like wild sheep running from the shepherd—scattered, driven, and torn apart by the beasts of the forest.”