Alma 17:26 - 17:30

Alma 17:26 And after he had been in the service of the king three days, as he was with the Lamanitish servants going forth with their flocks to the place of water, which was called the water of Sebus, and all the Lamanites drive their flocks hither, that they may have water—

On the third day of Ammon’s job as a herder of the king’s flocks, Ammon along with the other caretakers of these animals were ordered to take them to a place to water them. The place was called Sebus and was a community watering hole.

Alma 17:27 Therefore, as Ammon and the servants of the king were driving forth their flocks to this place of water, behold, a certain number of the Lamanites, who had been with their flocks to water, stood and scattered the flocks of Ammon and the servants of the king, and they scattered them insomuch that they fled many ways.

As they were moving the flock to this watering place, there were men already there. However, these men started to scatter the king’s flocks in so much that the animals took off in all different directions.

Alma 17:28 Now the servants of the king began to murmur, saying: Now the king will slay us, as he has our brethren because their flocks were scattered by the wickedness of these men. And they began to weep exceedingly, saying: Behold, our flocks are scattered already.

This greatly upset Ammon’s fellow servants. With the loss of the animals, they figured that the king would have them killed because part of their duty was not to lose any of his flocks.

Alma 17:29 Now they wept because of the fear of being slain. Now when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow-servants, or the power which is in me, in restoring these flocks unto the king, that I may win the hearts of these my fellow-servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words.

Ammon saw an opportunity to impress not only his follow servants but the king as well. He would use the powers the Lord had given him to get back all of the scattered flock and win their gratitude. With this gratitude, he would be able to get them to listen to him and believe whatever he might preach to them.

Alma 17:30 And now, these were the thoughts of Ammon, when he saw the afflictions of those whom he termed to be his brethren.

This is what went through Ammon’s mind as he witnessed the extreme sorrow that his fellow servants felt for their lives.