Blogger of Jared

Types and symbols are rich methods of teaching us about the Savior and his role in the Plan of Salvation. The scriptures are full of these them. The prophet Nephi writes, “Behold, my soul delighteth in proving unto my people the truth of the coming of Christ; … all things which have been given of God from the beginning of the world, unto man, are the typifying of him” (2 Nephi 11:4).

Take, for example, the serpent on the staff. In Helaman 8:14-15, Nephi, the namesake of Nephi son of Lehi, teaches that this object represents the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ as he was lifted upon the cross:

14 Yea, did he not bear record that the Son of God should come? And as he lifted up the brazen serpent in the wilderness, even so shall he be lifted up who should come.
15 And as many as should look upon that serpent should live, even so as many as should look upon the Son of God with faith, having a contrite spirit, might live, even unto that life which is eternal.

Ammon, the great missionary to the Lamanites, is another powerful type of Christ. As he goes about tending the flocks of King Lamoni in Alma 17-18, he reminds us of the Lord’s role as our Shepherd. I will outline here several parallels between Ammon and his role as a shepherd of King Lamoni and Jesus Christ, our Shepherd. This list is not exhaustive; if you find other parallels, please share them.

Alma 17:25

• Just as Jesus Christ was a servant of us all, and particularly of our Heavenly Father, the great King, Ammon was a servant of King Lamoni. “But Ammon said unto him: Nay, but I will be thy servant. Therefore Ammon became a servant to king Lamoni.”
  • “And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:27-28)
  • “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me. And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:38-39)
• As the great Shepherd, Jesus Christ tended God’s sheep. So too, Ammon was assigned to tend King Lamoni’s sheep. “[H]e was set among other servants to watch the flocks of Lamoni….”
  • “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand.” (John 10:27-29)

Alma 17:26

• Jesus Christ leads us to living water. Likewise, Ammon “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….”
  • “The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.” (Psalms 23:1-2)

Alma 17:29

• By manifesting his power through miracles, Jesus was able to convince people to follow him. Ammon also sought to draw his brethren unto Christ by showing forth his power: “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.”
  • “And a great multitude followed him, because they saw his miracles which he did on them that were diseased.” (John 6:2)
  • “Then those men, when they had seen the miracle that Jesus did, said, This is of a truth that prophet that should come into the world.” (John 6:14)

Alma 17:31

• Jesus Christ brought joy and comfort to an earth full of fear and sorry because he was able to overcome sorrow, pain, and death. In the same manner, Ammon was able to comfort his brethren in a moment of fear, “saying: My brethren, be of good cheer….”
  • “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)
  • “But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid.” (Matthew 14:27)
• The Savior brought cheer to the lost souls in the world by gathering them—bringing them to him. As one of King Lamoni’s shepherds, Ammon gathered the king’s scattered flocks. He told his brethren, “let us go in search of the flocks, and we will gather them together and bring them back unto the place of water; and thus we will preserve the flocks unto the king and he will not slay us.”
  • “And he shall send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.” (Matthew 24:31)

Alma 17:33

• Once he has gathered his people, the Lord will protect them from Satan by encircling us about in the arms of his love. Ammon also protected his sheep from being scattered again by wicked men. “And those men again stood to scatter their flocks; but Ammon said unto his brethren: Encircle the flocks round about that they flee not; and I go and contend with these men who do scatter our flocks.”
  • “O love the LORD, all ye his saints: for the LORD preserveth the faithful….” (Psalms 31:23)
  • “No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:17)
  • “But thus saith the Lord: Even the captives of the mighty shall be taken away, and the prey of the terrible shall be delivered; for the Mighty God shall deliver his covenant people. For thus saith the Lord: I will contend with them that contendeth with thee….” (2 Nephi 6:17)
  • “And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety….” (Alma 34:16)
  • “But behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell; I have beheld his glory, and I am encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.” (2 Nephi 1:15)

Alma 17:36

• Jesus Christ is the Lord Omnipotent. In the strength of the Lord, Ammon wielded astonishing power in defense of his sheep. “But Ammon stood forth and began to cast stones at them with his sling; yea, with mighty power he did sling stones amongst them; and thus he slew a certain number of them insomuch that they began to be astonished at his power….”
  • “And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.” (Matthew 28:18)
  • “And moreover, I say unto you, that there shall be no other name given nor any other way nor means whereby salvation can come unto the children of men, only in and through the name of Christ, the Lord Omnipotent.” (Mosiah 3:17)
  • “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God….” (Isaiah 9:6)

Alma 17:39

• The primary mission of Jesus Christ is to return us to our Heavenly Father. Likewise, Ammon fulfilled the expectations of King Lamoni by safely returning the king’s flocks to him. “And when he had driven them afar off, he returned and they watered their flocks and returned them to the pasture of the king….”
  • “Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.” (Isaiah 51:11)
  • “And what is it that ye shall hope for? Behold I say unto you that ye shall have hope through the atonement of Christ and the power of his resurrection, to be raised unto life eternal, and this because of your faith in him according to the promise.” (Moroni 7:41)
  • “And this is the Father’s will which hath sent me, that of all which he hath given me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day.” (John 6:39)

Alma 18:10

• Jesus Christ came to do his father’s will and was faithful to all of His commandments. Ammon also obeyed all the commands of King Lamoni. “Now when king Lamoni heard that Ammon was preparing his horses and his chariots he was more astonished, because of the faithfulness of Ammon, saying: Surely there has not been any servant among all my servants that has been so faithful as this man; for even he doth remember all my commandments to execute them.”
  • “And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt.” (Matthew 26:39)
  • “For I came down from heaven, not to do mine own will, but the will of him that sent me.” (John 6:38)
  • “Know ye not that he was holy? But notwithstanding he being holy, he showeth unto the children of men that, according to the flesh he humbleth himself before the Father, and witnesseth unto the Father that he would be obedient unto him in keeping his commandments.” (2 Nephi 31:7)

I love the Book of Mormon. In both simplicity and complexity, it testifies of and points us to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.