“I Have Had No Witness Save Thy Word”

Brant Gardner

Ammon’s comment to the queen confirms the power of this type of faith. It is the faith that Christ extols in his post resurrection experience with Thomas:

John 20:26-29

26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.

27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.

28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.

29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

The queen was one who had not seen. The queen did not have the advantage of a heritage of belief. The Nephites may not have seen or may not have had a direct witness of the spirit, but they did have a tradition of belief. Their parents believed, their grandparents believed, so it was almost natural for them to believe. The queen was from a different background entirely, sharing with King Lamoni the belief in the Great Spirit, but not knowing the God of Ammon. Nevertheless, coming from such a distance of non-belief, yet she was able to believe based solely on the words of others.

It is this type of faith that many of the converts to the church have in the modern day, where their traditions are not one of belief in the church, and they come to believe based upon the words and testimonies of missionaries and other members. For these modern “queens” (and “kings” to complete the analogy) they are yet among those with great faith, and the full rewards of the kingdom are as open to them as to any. Indeed, as Ammon suggests, their faith may be greater than those who do achieve a personal witness.

Multidimensional Commentary on the Book of Mormon

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