Although Lamoni's father recognized the existence and power of the Great Spirit, he was altogether ignorant of things concerning the attributes and benign qualities of the True and Living God. (See Alma 18:5-6)
The king, notwithstanding its simple phrases, did not understand the meaning of Aaron's statement that Ammon had been led to go elsewhere by the Spirit of the Lord. The king thought of the Great Spirit, known to the Lamanites only in an indefinite way. The Great Spirit lived, they believed, in many things, and made Himself manifest in many ways. We may presume that like many other semi-savage races, they imagined that He could be seen in fire, in water, in the red lightnings of the sky, in thunder when He was angry, in Sun and Moon and stars. But, mostly they saw Him in human feats of daring as was shown by Ammon at the Waters of Sebus. However, the Spirit of the Lord, the king knew not. "Behold," he said, "this is the thing which doth trouble me."
Also perplexing to the king were certain words spoken by Ammon when that Nephite servant of God rebuked the great ruler of the Lamanites as each journeyed, the king to Ishmael and Ammon with Lamoni to the Land of Middoni.
Ammon had spoken to the king of repentance of which the aged monarch knew nothing. To be saved at the Last Day or to be cast off evoked a feeling of consternation in his troubled breast. Not only were Ammon's words perplexing to the king's mind, but to his heart, they were painful. The words and conduct of Ammon had reached the royal person's innermost thoughts, and although he was king, yet he humbly sought their meaning. "What is this that Ammon said," was the thing the king wanted most to be explained.