Everything I Do, I Do It For You

I got into an argument with my teenage daughter a couple weeks ago (shocking, I know), during which she told me that I was very judgmental toward her current friends.  She said that I hold onto things that I hear about them, and I don't let go.  My answer to her was that I love her so much that there will never be a person that comes into her life that I don't judge.  I told her that I simply cannot stand by while the people around her try to get her to behave in a way that she and I both know is not right.

Lamoni had a similar, although magnified, experience with his father.  He was traveling with Ammon, when he came across his father who was traveling between lands.  Their exchange was so true-to-life that it was almost comical to me at the beginning.  I hope that this isn't too disrespectful, but this is how I summarize their conversation, had Lamoni been a teenager:

Lamoni:  Dad!  Crazy meeting you here!  What's up?

Lamoni's Father:  Hello son.  Long time, no see.  Why didn't you come to the reunion this year?  And what are you doing with this guy?  He's a Nephite.  You know that right?  That son of a liar.

Lamoni:  Dude.  I have been super busy.  You'll never believe what happened to me!

The scriptures say that Lamoni was truthful with his father and told him everything - including the fact that he was traveling with Ammon to help him free his brother and his brother's companions from prison in a neighboring city.

And now when Lamoni had rehearsed unto him all these things, behold, to his astonishment, his father was angry with him, and said:  Lamoni, thou art going to deliver these Nephites, who are sons of a liar.  Behold, he robbed our fathers; and now his children are also come amongst us that they may, by their cunning and their lyings, deceive us, that they again may rob us of our property. (Alma 20:13)

And then Lamoni's father commanded Lamoni to kill Ammon, and he, of course, refused to do so.  He explained that he was going to go with Ammon to release his brethren, whether his father liked it or not.  He told them that he knew that they were "just men and holy prophets of the true God".

And he stretched forth his hand to slay Ammon... (Alma 20:16)

Just for the record, no matter how much I dislike my daughter's friends, and even if the thought has crossed my mind, I have never tried to slay them.

After an altercation in which Lamoni's father came to the conclusion that Ammon could easily take his life, he began pleading with him.  Again, Ammon was promised anything he wanted, and again, he asked only for something that would help the greater good.  He asked that his brethren be released from prison and that Lamoni would retain his kingdom and run it without the overreaching arm of his father.

And when he saw that Ammon had no desire to destroy him, and when he also saw the great love he had for his son Lamoni, he was astonished exceedingly...(Alma 20:26)

Not only did he grant Ammon his desires, he asked that Ammon and his brethren come visit him in his kingdom to teach him all that he had taught Lamoni. 

Although quite extreme, I look at this story as a great example of parental love.  Lamoni's father was worried that he had fallen in with the wrong crowd (according to his personal upbringing and beliefs).  He didn't want his son to be influenced by this "son of a liar", and he was willing to do anything to keep him from harm.  What loving parent wouldn't do the same thing, within reason, for their child?  

Click here to read what I read today: Alma 20