“I Believe That It Shall Be According as Thou Hast Said”

Brant Gardner

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

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.
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.
And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.
Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed. (John 20:26–29)

The queen was one who had not seen and had no 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, and their grandparents believed. They grew up in an environment where faith was a common element. The queen’s knowledge of God was almost certainly like that of Lamoni’s—polytheistic and confined to a vague belief in a Great Spirit. Not knowing Ammon’s God, she was nevertheless able to believe solely because of others’ words.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4

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