Chapter 21: Religious Freedom in Seven Lands

Falana birthed a healthy and beautiful son after a difficult labor. Abish stayed on for many weeks, hovering anxiously over each roll of fat the baby gained and any discomfort the princess might express. To Abish’s great delight, Falana hardly let the little man leave her side and the new prince’s nurse had very little to do but sit and wait for Falana to eat or bathe.

Though she still missed Ammon himself, his brothers were a welcome addition to her limited circle of friends in Nephi and the baptisms numbered in the hundreds before it was time for her to leave. Once again, she enjoyed being involved in the work of the Lord, and became almost as happy as she had in the land of Ishamel.

A few days before her departure, King Lamoni-hah declared religious freedom in all Lamanite lands. Missionaries would soon have free passage anywhere they wanted to go. Care would still have to be taken in the wilder and more hostile parts of the land, but the Church was now free to grow. Abish was no prophetess, but her heart burned every time she thought about future possibilities.

Finally, after many months away, she said her goodbyes and turned her eyes homeward. Despite the long journey, the men who accompanied her were cheerful as they spoke of wives and sweethearts. Abish carried messages for Ammon. She was anxious to see him again, too anxious. She hoped their meeting would not fan the flames of her initial attraction to him. He was focused on his work and undoubtedly saw her as nothing more than a good friend. After all, weren’t his brothers both shocked to see how young she was? Whatever Ammon had said about her, it was nothing to make them think she was a potential wife.


After some days of travel, the landscape became familiar. Abish had delivered babies this far from the city and knew they were only within a day or two of the palace. The next day, the group decided to press on quickly and arrive late at night. Their late arrival meant there was no one to receive them. Abish was mildly disappointed, but told the men to join her for a late supper in the kitchen when the animals were put away. They heartily agreed.

As expected, there was plenty of food stocked in Lamoni’s house. Her hastily prepared meal would be simple, but filling. She heated water on the hearth for strong tea, cut and wrapped a large squash in corn husks to roast in the covered embers from the day’s cooking. She began rolling out corn cakes for frying and was humming to herself when she heard someone enter the kitchen. Rather than turning, she said, “Just sit anywhere. The food will be ready in a few minutes.” Abish continued her soft humming but worked with greater speed. She was surprised at the efficiency with which the animals had been put away. After a few minutes, she realized that nobody else had joined the first, or if they had they were very quiet and unconversant. She turned to see how many were there and cried out in surprise.

The man at the table looked equally surprised and stammered, “You said to sit—so I did.”

He had to be the fourth brother. In many ways he was so like Ammon it was uncanny. His hair and skin were nearly exactly the same color as his older brother’s. His features were the same too, but more guarded. His eyes were equally intense, but not blue. Or were they? There was something strange about them she couldn’t quite put her finger on, and it was hard to tell because he didn’t look at her directly.

Realizing she was staring, Abish stammered back, “You must be Himni.” The heart, Ammon had called him.

He bowed his head, “I am.”

“I am Abish.”

He nodded and even in the dim light she could see him blush, “You’re younger than I had expected.”

Abish couldn’t help but laugh right out loud, “I get a lot of that.”

Himni smiled and in that brief moment he looked almost exactly like Ammon, except for the way he held his head cocked slightly. The moment passed quickly and she could see that his smiles were rarer than his brother’s. “The queen thought you would arrive tomorrow.” He said.

“We pressed ahead. We’ve only been in just a few minutes—too late to wake anybody, but too early to go to bed hungry.”

“You are cooking for more than yourself,” he observed.

“Yes, my escort has kept a diligent pace these many days and we are all hungry.”

“Surely there are servants who can help . . .”

Abish smiled, “But since being converted the gospel, Lamoni gave all of his slaves their freedom and only a few stayed behind as hired help. So really, there is no one. Besides, like all Lamanite girls I have been doing this kind of work since I was a small child. This is second nature.”

“Like delivering babies?” He raised his eyebrows; she wasn’t sure he was teasing or not, but his remark struck her as funny and she laughed again.

“I wish delivering babies was as easy as making corn cakes!” As she said this, she handed him a plate of hot ones. She liked the way he devoured the stack, and turned away while he ate.

She continued working, trying to estimate how much food she’d need for eight, no nine, hungry men. Himni interrupted her counting, “I have often marveled at the multitude of skills women possess.”

“How so?”

He waved his hand in the air, “Men hunt or grow crops and argue over how to run kingdoms. I sometimes think they should ask the ones who know how to do everything else the best way that it should be done.”

Abish laughed again. She didn’t know why. His comments were sincere and kind, not funny, but she felt relaxed and happy around him. “Perhaps that is so, Himni, but since it is not a question we can ever answer tonight, would you like more food?”

“That would be excellent, actually.” She loaded his plate as he added, “I couldn’t sleep tonight; we have lived out of doors for so long that this easy palace living is making me soft and restless. As I wandered the halls tonight I smelled something wonderful and decided to follow my nose.” He bit into another stack of her corn cakes and said as he swallowed, “Is that tea ready?”

She smiled brightly, “Just now.”

As she said these words, the others filled the room. Abish quickly introduced Himni to the soldiers and, seeing there was plenty for everyone to eat, dismissed herself wordlessly. Despite the recently relaxed protocol as of late, it still was not seemly or comfortable to eat with a large group of men. Besides, she felt the odd sense that her pleasant conversation with Himni had been somehow ruined, for all that she knew the others better. She slipped out quietly, turning to look into the kitchen as she walked out the door, thinking to see Himni’s back. Instead, he was looking at her directly with his strange eyes. There was no expression on his face, but he flushed and turned quickly away when she caught him looking.


It was well after midnight when Abish finally went to bed and sleep came immediately. She found herself in the middle of a very odd dream. She was walking through the woods when she approached two pools of water. Without hesitation she dove, clothing and all, into the first though it seemed almost muddy in appearance. As she dove, she realized the pond wasn’t actually brown, and there seemed to be a light radiating from the bottom, which gave the pond a kind of an amber color. Swimming in the pond filled her with inexplicable energy and joy that pulsated through her whole body. Just as she adjusted to this new, heightened awareness, she climbed from the pool and dove into the second. Again, as she swam, she realized the pond wasn’t brown at all, but actually green, although she couldn’t tell the source of it. This second pond gave her an overwhelming feeling of peace and relaxation. She closed her eyes and sank under the cool water.

She awoke suddenly, with a start, gasping for breath. She couldn’t erase the vividness of the dream from her consciousness. She tried to sleep again, but was too agitated. She stood and splashed water on her face, trying to make sense of it. Since her baptism, she had often dreamed of water, but never like this. She rubbed her eyes for a moment, and as she did so, she felt the flush spread through her face. The reason Himni’s direct gaze had so disconcerted her was suddenly apparent—his eyes were exactly the same color as the ponds she’d been swimming in.


Abish greatly enjoyed the independence of her new life as she moved into a small home not far from the palace. As the missionary work spread, her circle of friends broadened. Over the next couple of years, Ammon and his brothers came and went as they preached in the seven lands. Jerusalem was the eighth, but there were no converts there. If anything, hostilities increased. Zaria ruefully joked that she was the only Amalekite who would ever be converted. Still, she didn’t seem too sorry to put distance between herself and her family. Despite the love she and Lamoni now shared, she could never quite forget that her father had given her to a man he knew nothing about merely to seal a political alliance.

The kings in the faithful lands organized a council that met regularly. They decided to begin calling themselves, officially, the Anti-Nephi-Lehies in order to separate themselves from their more bloodthirsty relatives. The people, however, often referred to themselves as the Ammonites. Abish knew the name made her friend uncomfortable, and he was glad they had officially decided on something else, even if it was seldom used.

As grateful as Abish was to no longer be considered a Lamanite, she knew such a move would anger those who were hostile to them. In addition, correspondence had been opened with the Nephites. Ammon’s old friend, Alma, was the head of their government there, and he explained in a letter that a new group had risen up and had broken away from the Nephites. They called themselves Amlicites and marked themselves red on the forehead to distinguish themselves from Nephites. It was feared they had opened negotiations with the hostile Lamanites. Abish was aware of all of this. She knew it worried Lamoni a great deal, but such dealings seemed far removed from the happy, peaceful life she knew during those years in Ishmael.

And so, for a long time, the adventures in Abish’s life seemed to be at an end. The sons of Mosiah became famous through the land until those early events surrounding their coming almost became the stuff of legend. Though they were very busy and often far away, when they were in Lamoni’s city, Abish would occasionally have the companionship of Ammon on her night visits. Himni, Ammon’s near-constant companion, would come too and hover near the margins, anxious to help and listen while his elder brother ministered and spoke. Abish couldn’t deny that births went better when this splendid pair of missionaries came with her. Ammon’s energy was boundless and Himni brought a spirit of love and compassion to each visit.

Abish looked forward to her rare times with Ammon more than she’d dared express to anyone, even her closest friends. But talk had begun. The women in the palace and the marketplace whispered that Ammon and his handsome brothers could not stay single forever. Didn’t it seem that they would stay in this land always? They must marry. Abish heard these things and kept very quiet. She had been there the day Ammon as good as pledged a lifetime of service to Lamoni. Still, the women had a point; surely God didn’t intend for these righteous men to stay single for the rest of their lives.

Abish’s twentieth birthday came after a three-day stint of delivering babies non-stop. She’d had little time to reflect on the tenth anniversary of the time her life changed for good, but took a moment to remember the significant details from that week in her life. Twenty also gave her great pause. She’d never met a Lamanite woman married in her twenties before. At least not a first marriage. As she swaddled her fifth new baby in three days, she couldn’t help thinking she would never do this for her own babies. The thought made her despondent and despite her exhaustion, she spent some time in prayer before trying to sleep when she returned to her home. The desired peace didn’t come. When she lay down, all she could think is that Ammon had gone away again, for at least two months, to meet with Lamoni’s father and some of the priesthood in the Land of Nephi. She stilled her breaths, willing the image of his handsome face from her mind.

There was a clap at the door. Surprised, Abish rose to see Himni waiting at the entrance to her home. He generally always followed Ammon on his journeys, long or short. She smiled broadly at him. He seemed nervous, perhaps because he was by himself, though they had shared many wonderful conversations together, “Yes, Himni?”

“I know you have delivered many babies these past days, and I’m sorry to disturb you.”

She wasn’t sure how he knew this, but said, “That is no matter. What do you need?”

“One of Lamoni’s household needs you.”

“Tika?” He nodded, and Abish frowned. Tika was early and had not been doing well the last couple of weeks. Abish had feared something like this. She sighed, “I will come as soon as possible. I just need to gather a few things.”

“I’ll wait.”

She prepared quickly and Himni offered to carry her basket of things. She carried a second, smaller one. There were things she had for the queen and would take advantage of the extra set of arms. They said little as they hurried toward the palace, though the silence was not uncomfortable.

Himni looked at her sideways, “Everything is a little duller without Ammon around.”

Abish laughed, “Yes, perhaps it is.”

There was more silence and Himni cleared his throat before announcing. “Omner is engaged to be married.” Abish stopped in her tracks and dropped her basket, so great was her shock. Himni stopped with her and bent over to help her recover the items that had fallen into the road. He quickly gathered them and took her basket on top of the larger one he carried. Abish flushed, murmured her thanks and stood. Himni looked mildly distressed, “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“No, of course not . . . I just . . .” Abish trailed off, not knowing what to say.

“I’m sure it will come as a shock to many. We ourselves were not sure if such a thing would happen, but we have been in this land many years.”

“And may stay many years yet.”

“Exactly. We are beginning to feel less and less like foreigners. Perhaps it is time to settle.”

Abish fought for calm and tried to sound casual, “So are you or your other brothers thinking of settling?”

Himni glanced sideways at her again, “There are no plans, as of yet, but Omner’s decision has gotten the rest of us thinking.”

Abish swallowed hard, biting back more questions, particularly those that would be about Ammon. Little more was said for the rest of the trip and Abish hardly noted when Himni left her side with a polite farewell. She told herself to focus on the task ahead and not think about what Omner’s wedding might mean for anyone else but himself.

Omner’s wife was a good and righteous woman named Tisha from the land of Middoni. She was not young, and it was likely that many people had thought she was past a proper marrying age. Abish was immediately impressed with her strength and wisdom. She would be the kind of woman who could work alongside her chosen husband with little complaint or murmuring. On the rare occasions Abish had a chance to observe them, she could see that they said little, but seemed to communicate in a way that was beyond words: understanding one another soul to soul. As she watched Omner over the next months with his new bride, she knew that for all of Ammon’s friendship and their history together, he had never looked at her with such tenderness.