Wise Yet Harmless

©Darrell Wyatt

I've often thought about what I would ask for if I were told I could have anything that I wanted.  Would I ask for money? For health?  A new car?  A new house?  To lose weight?  I honestly don't know the answer to that question, because my perceived "needs" change almost daily. 

When King Lamoni learned of Ammon's bravery and loyalty in defending his flock, he wanted to know how he did it.

And now, if thou wilt tell me concerning these things, whatsoever thou desirest I will give unto thee; and if it were needed, I would guard thee with my armies; but I know that thou art more powerful than all they; nevertheless, whatsoever thou desirest of me I will grant it unto thee. (Alma 18:21)

Ammon could have told the king anything.  He could have asked for a part of the kingdom.  He had already been offered one of the king's daughters to wife and had declined.  He could have asked for servants of his own.  Really, anything he wanted would've been granted him.

Now Ammon being wise, yet harmless, he said unto Lamoni:  Wilt thou hearken unto my words, if I tell thee by what power I do these things?  And this is the thing that I desire of thee. (Alma 18:22)

Wise, yet harmless.  I was taken aback by this phrasing for a moment.  Here's a guy who had just killed seven men with his slingshot and then cut the arms off of a group of men that was "not few in number".  Harmless just doesn't seem like the right word to use.  But then I thought about it a little more deeply.  The dictionary defines the word harmless as "without the power or desire to do harm".  Ammon certainly had the power to do harm, as evidenced by his earlier actions.  But did he have the desire?  I think not.  He was doing what was necessary to protect and defend his charges.  When Lamoni asked him what he desired, Ammon could have caused harm by asking for temporal things.  Instead, he chose to use the spirit that was with him to teach Lamoni.  Again, he was thinking of Lamoni and his people before himself.  He was being wise, yet selfless. 

This brings me back to thinking about my desires.  Do I sometimes get so caught up in what's important to me that I could cause harm to those around me?  Or do I strive to do what would be best for all?  My goal for this week is to seek out and serve the needs of the people I come in contact with.  To work towards being "wise yet harmless", as Ammon was.

Click here to read what I read today: Alma 18