Ammon And His Bag Of Arms

[_silentkid]

When I go back and look at the Book of Mormon now, as an unbeliever, I am amazed at some of the stories that I used to accept as literal history. My favorite is the story of Ammon and King Lamoni's sheep. If you need a refresher, the story is found in Alma 17. Ammon was hired as a servant by King Lamoni to watch over the King's sheep. Some crazy dudes were constantly scattering the sheep and causing the previous servants of the king much grief. Ammon, imbued with the power of the Lord, was able to protect the sheep from these nutjobs. When they tried to scatter the sheep, Ammon started slinging rocks at them (shades of David and Goliath), even killing a few. The sheep-scatterers couldn't hit Ammon with their own stones and got pretty irritated. So they charged Ammon and tried to beat him to death with their clubs. I'll let the text speak for itself here:

But behold, every man that lifted his club to smite Ammon, he smote off their arms with his sword; for he did withstand their blows by smiting their arms with the edge of his sword, insomuch that they began to be astonished, and began to flee before him; yea, and they were not few in number; and he caused them to flee by the strength of his arm.

To further show the strength of his arm, he gathers up all the chopped-off arms and carries them back to the king. Trophies, I guess. I'm not sure how he carried all these arms--the text isn't that specific. I wonder if he just tied them all at the wrist and slung them, as a group, over his shoulder. Maybe he had a bag that he put all the arms in. I envision this guy carrying a blood-stained pillowcase with some fingers poking out the opening.

Could those that still accept the Book of Mormon as a literal history please explain the value of this story?

[_KimberlyAnn]

Maybe he stuffed the arms down his pants. "Is that a forearm in your pants or are you just happy to see me?"

Seriously, I always imagined a sack or basket full of bloody arms. Gross, huh?

KA

[_Ray A]

Could those that still accept the Book of Mormon as a literal history please explain the value of this story?

If you mess with Ammon, it may cost you an arm or a leg.

[_moksha]

...please explain the value of this story?

From that point on, you could alway count on Ammon to lend a hand and an arm.

[_silentkid]

If you mess with Ammon, it may cost you an arm or a leg.

LOL! I guess I set myself up for that one.

[_Polygamy Porter]

Great costume idea for the ward halloween party!

Go buy a bunch of those fake hacked off arms throw some fake blood all over yourself, and carry a big bloody sword.

Another one would be a headless man carrying his severed head.. Laban, oh and only his underwear...

A friend could wear some blood soaked kings clothing...

[_Blixa]

Since you're reviewing the Book of Mormon, silentkid, can you run me through Korihor's heresy again?

[_Nevo]

Apparently Ammon took literally the words of the hymn: "Strike for Zion, down with error; flash the sword above the foe! Ev'ry stroke disarms a foeman..."

[_Inconceivable]

Let me put the story into perspective. Here is a parallel (think early 1990's):

1) George Bush Jr. tells his father he is going with a group of his buddies to Iraq to testify of Jesus.
2) The American laugh Jr to scorn. They think it is safer to exterminate the Muslims in Iraq than to preach Christianity to them. They remind Jr. and his buds that the Iraqis are a wild and ferocious people that delight in the bloodshed and eternal hatred for Americans.. something about Ishmael..
3) Bush Sr. is aprehensive about Jr's proposal but asks God if it's ok. God says that Jr. will be protected and will be the means of bringing many to "the Gospel".
4) Bush Jr. goes to Iraq AND splits with his buddies.
5) The white American from the Great Satan who happens to be the son of the US president meets Uday Husein. He impresses Uday so much that Uday offers one of his hot daughters to him. Bush declines.
6) Jr. gets a job tending Uday's sheep AND gassing up his fleet of hummers (feeding his horses.. er well whatever pulls his sled to the big festival of his father, Sadaam Husein).
7) Later that day, Uday becomes born again, a few weeks later, nearly gets killed by his dad for rejecting Islam..
8) This happens over a 14 year period.

Yeah, I guess the arms are kindof rediculous

[_Doctor Steuss]

The Book of Mormon is a 19th century production folks. This story obviously has something to do with the second amendment.