Ammon and Moses

When Moses fled from Egypt, Jethro "gave Moses Zipporah his daughter" to wife (Exodus 2:21). When Ammon first arrived in the land of Ishmael, King Lamoni offered to marry him to "one of his daughters," although Ammon politely declined (Alma 17:24). The account in Exodus says that "Moses was content to dwell with the man" Reuel or Jethro in Midian (Exodus 2:21). When Lamoni asked Ammon if he wanted to dwell in the land among his people, Ammon said, "Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die" (Alma 17:23).

While in Midian, "Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father-in-law" (Exodus 3:1). Similarly, Ammon was assigned to "watch the flocks of Lamoni" (Alma 17:25). On one occasion, when the daughters of Jethro were trying to draw water for the flocks of their father, a group of rival shepherds "came and drove them away: but Moses stood up and helped them and watered their flock" (Exodus 2:17). Similarly, when a gang of Lamanites attempted to scatter the king’s flocks, Ammon "stood to contend with" them and defended and preserved the flocks at the watering place (Alma 17:34). When Jethro’s daughters reported to their father what Moses had done to help them, he asked, "Where is he?" (Exodus 2:20). Similarly, when Lamoni’s servants reported how Ammon had successfully defended the king’s flocks, he asked, "Where is this man?" (Alma 17:8).

Later, the Lord spoke to Moses and told him that He had seen and heard the afflictions of His people who were in bondage and called him to go down into Egypt so that the Lord could "deliver them out of the hands of Egyptians" (Exodus 3:7-8, 10). When Moses learned this, he spoke to Jethro and told him that that he would return to Egypt to do so (Exodus 4:18). The Lord also spoke to Ammon and told him that his brethren were in prison in the land of Middoni (Alma 20:2) and sent him to "deliver" them (Alma 20:5). Ammon then told Lamoni what the Lord had said (Alma 20:3-5).

Personal application

When Mormon recounts the story of Ammon, he recounts parts shared by the Ammon and Exodus stories and highlights key words that point the reader to similarities in both accounts. He does this to emphasize how God used both Moses and Ammon to deliver His people.

Ammon is likened to Moses because, like Moses, he, his brother Aaron, and their companions were the Lord’s servants in delivering thousands of Lamanites from the bondage of sin through the gospel of Jesus Christ. This remarkable account of Lamanite conversions is a continuing fulfillment of the Lord’s promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob: That he would always remember his people and visit them in mercy from generation to generation. As you read his words, consider how he visits you with mercy.

Moses	Ammon
[Moses was adopted as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter; see Exodus 2:10].	[Ammon was the son of Mosiah, king of the land of Zarahemla; see Mosiah 27:34].
[Moses was the younger brother of Aaron; see Exodus 4:14].	Ammon was the younger brother of Aaron; see Mosiah 27:34].
The angel of the Lord appeared unto him (Exodus 3:2).	The angel of the Lord appeared to Ammon and his brethren and Alma the Younger (Mosiah 27:11; Alma 17:2).
[Moses went to deliver his brethren, the Israelites who had gone down into Egypt, from bondage; see Exodus 4:18].	[Ammon and his brethren went up to the land of Nephi to preach the word of God to their brethren the Lamanites; see Mosiah 28:1–8].
And Moses was content to dwell with the man (Exodus 2:21).	And the king inquired of Ammon if it were his desire to dwell in the land among the Lamanites, or among his people. And Ammon said unto him: Yea, I desire to dwell among this people for a time; yea, and perhaps until the day I die (Alma 17:22–23).
And he gave Moses Zipporah his daughter (Exodus 2:21).	And it came to pass that king Lamoni was much pleased with Ammon … and he would that Ammon should take one of his daughters to wife. But Ammon said unto him: Nay, but I will be thy servant (Alma 17:24–25).
And Moses kept the flock of Jethro his father in law (Exodus 3:1).	And it came to pass that he was set among other servants to watch theflocks of Lamoni, according to the custom of the Lamanites (Alma 17:25).
And they said, an Egyptian delivered us out of the hand of the shepherds, and also drew water enough for us, and watered the flock (Exodus 2:19).	[Ammon preserved Lamoni’s flocks at the waters of Sebus; see Alma 17:26–39].
[Jethro had seven daughters, which Moses defended at the well; see Exodus 2:16].	[Ammon slew seven attackers while defending the king’s flocks; see Alma 17:38].
[Jethro’s daughters brought word to their father of Moses’ actions in defending his flocks; see Exodus 2:18–19].	[Lamoni’s servants brought word to the king of Ammon’s actions in defending the king’s flocks; see Alma 18:1–2].
And he said unto his daughters, And where is he? Why is it that ye have left the man? (Exodus 2:20).	And it came to pass that king Lamoni inquired of his servants, saying,where is this man that has such great power? (Alma 18:8).
[The Lord commanded Moses to go into Egypt to deliver Israel from bondage; see Exodus 3:10].	[The Lord called Ammon to go to the land of Middoni to deliver his brethren from bondage; see Alma 20:2].
And Moses went and returned to Jethro his father in law, and said unto him, Let me go, I pray thee, and return unto my brethren which are in Egypt, and see whether they be yet alive (Exodus 4:18).	Now it came to pass that when Ammon had heard this, he said unto Lamoni: Behold, my brother and brethren are in prison at Middoni, and I go that I may deliver them (Alma 20:3).