Chapter 26: Get This People Out

“Come Selah, the men must have a proper send off,” Zaria prodded her step-daughter, but it was to no avail.

Selah sobbed as the queen rubbed her hand across her daughter’s back. Abish fought the need to shift her weight impatiently. She and Himni had come to the palace that morning to take their leave of Aaron before their journey to Middoni. It had only been three days since they’d made the decision to go, and although she and Himni had vowed to spend all the time they could together, there had not been much.

Selah had not taken the news well. Abish hoped she had not behaved this way for the past three days; no wonder Ammon was in such haste to go. She decided she should try to say something that would help. “Have you told him about the baby?”

Selah looked up into Abish’s face. “He guessed!” She said almost accusingly.

“That is not a bad thing, dear; I am sure he was very happy.”

“It is just so embarrassing.”

Now Abish was puzzled. She exchanged glances with Zaria across Selah’s back while the girl buried her head again. Zaria prodded, “Embarrassing?”

“Now everyone will know that we . . .” She sobbed again and broke off. Abish tried not to laugh right out loud as she saw the flush deepen across the girl’s face.

Zaria, more composed, replied, “Daughter, this is the natural way of men and women. Nobody will laugh or joke. The people love Ammon, and the people love you. Your baby will only bring joy to you and your husband—to everyone.”

She shook her head and sniffed, “Ammon is very happy about the baby. He says I should have told him, and both of you, sooner.”

Abish kissed her forehead, “I know in plenty of time; although I could have given you some things that would have better helped you through your sick time.”

“Really?”

Abish nodded and continued, “You must focus on what is happening between you and Ammon. Think of the coming of this baby who will have your beauty and Ammon’s zest for life. Do not worry about the rest.”

The queen added, “And count your blessings that your baby will have a father.”

Selah’s tears began flowing afresh at this comment, but they were quieter. “Indeed I am blessed to have such a father for my baby.”

“Come,” Abish took her hand, “Let us go and wish our husbands Godspeed on their important journey.”

She nodded slowly and stood. Abish smiled. The queen stood with them. The three walked arm in arm out into the garden. It was a glorious morning and Abish choked back her own tears to send her husband off with a smile. She prayed that Selah would hold herself together. They had better get used to it; this-send off would likely be the first of many when married to such men.


The memory of Selah’s sweet kiss stayed with Ammon a long time. She had reacted so strongly when he asked her about the baby just two days previous. Today, however, she had been like a completely different person. Mature. Beautiful. Valiant. Their courtship had been quick and wonderful, but she was very young. In the months since, he had almost given up hope that Selah would actually become the wife he had hoped he married. This premonition had become especially dark when he saw how completely happy his youngest brother had been over the last several weeks.

As he saw the way his young wife sent him off—waving one hand and gripping Abish’s tightly with the other—he couldn’t help but think that somehow Abish had worked her magic on Selah. Such a friendship would be valuable to his wife. He hoped that this time apart would somehow be good for them, and that she would learn to depend on the wonderful women in her life. Ammon would often be gone; he needed to know that he could be confident about leaving her behind sometimes.

He glanced sideways at his brother, noting again the joy that filled his face. Himni caught the glance, “We will be home soon, brother. You will be back to help your wife when her time comes.”

“Maybe with the news we are fleeing many weeks journey into the north.”

Himni’s smile was suddenly replaced with a more somber look. “Indeed. But Abish will care for her along the way. All will be well.”

Ammon nodded, since he had just been thinking something similar. Abish and Zaria could hold the women together. All of them.



Many weeks passed before the return journey. King Anti-Nephi-Lehi walked with Ammon along the city streets of Middoni as they talked over final arrangements. While he had not found the companionship with Antiomno that he had once had with Lamoni, Ammon knew that he was a good and worthy ruler. The people loved him and he loved the Lord.

“There are many details to think over, Ammon.” The king’s calm words understated greatly the reality of their undertaking.

Ammon clapped him on the back. “You will have Himni here to help gather and organize your people. Omner will be in Midian and Aaron and I will gather Ishmael.”

“Will our enemies wait long enough for us to be ready?”

“I only know the Lord has bid us great haste; but he has said nothing about manna from Heaven. We will need to prepare.”

“I only hope this will be the will of the Nephite people as well.”

“My brothers and I may have some influence that way.”

“You have been away a long time.”

“It is true; but the Nephites are a generous people. I know there will be a place for us.” Ammon gave hardly a thought to how easily the word “us” escaped his mouth. He had indeed become one with these people who had taken him in and treated him and his brothers as though they were angels sent from God himself. He could hardly bear to think about what would happen if they lingered much longer. Indeed, the Lord had been very plain. In his more than 12 years in this land he had seldom heard such a clear directive. He knew that if they acted with haste the Lord would preserve them and their faith would be a great infusion into his native people.

They walked in companionable silence toward the palace. It gratified Ammon to see the way the king greeted subjects that they passed, and that his subjects, while respectful, did not shirk from him in fear or intimidation. After a few minutes passed, the king said, “What of this place the Nephites will give us?”

“It is south of Bountiful and east of Zarahemla, but nobody lives there.”

“Is the land desolate and barren?”

“Forested. Probably good for farming, but it will take some work.”

He nodded. “There will be a place for this people. But I wonder if there will be a place for me.”

“How so?”

They had just entered the palace gates and the king stopped and gestured toward the palace, “This is the life I was brought up to. I love this people and I love the Lord. I know leaving is the only way to ensure our survival. But I also know that when we implore the Nephites to give us place, we will be surrendering our government for theirs. I am not afraid to work with my hands, but I don’t know how. I will be as a child learning a whole new way to live.”

Ammon smiled. “I was a farmer long before I was a leader. I will be there with you, side by side, to show you what to do, just as I have always been. Aaron will be there, as will Omner and Himni. We will not abandon the people who have given us more joy than we could have ever thought possible.”

The furrow in his brow was slowly replaced with a smile. “I would follow you anywhere, brother. Let us make all haste to start our new lives.”


Ammon left very early the next morning. Only Himni was there to see him off. Himni was characteristically quiet and supportive, and though he would be out of his element to stay behind and organize the efforts to gather and depart, his youngest brother had come a long way since joining his brothers on the adventure of their lives. In the early morning light, Himni’s strange eyes appeared almost blue, though slightly different shades.

With the longest to prepare, those in Middoni would gather food. Ammon’s main job in Ishmael would be to organize the people with enough supplies to see them through until they returned here. It was much faster to get to Jershon by marching straight through the center of the Lamanite holdings, but it was not safe. The images from the afternoon of Lamoni’s death would haunt him forever. He didn’t know how he would bear it if such a thing happened again, especially when the Lord had commanded them to get out.

Himni embraced his brother. “Go with God. After your stop in Midian, you will be back in Ishmael almost a whole month later than we expected.”

“Yes, but I should still arrive before Selah’s time.”

Himni nodded, but Ammon saw something else was on his mind that was difficult for him to voice. “I am sure Abish will understand why you have had to stay.”

He smiled wanly, “I know she will. But I miss her. More than I can say. For all the years we have been in this land, we have lived as nomads—never staying in more than one place for a few weeks or months at the most. We have preached in every city in the land of Nephi. Until I was married I had come to see nearly every part of these Lamanite lands as our own. But now . . .” His voice trailed off, heavy with emotion. There was a pause while he collected his thoughts. “But now, home is wherever she is; I will never be completely content unless she is with me. When we see Alma again, I will ask him to marry us by the sealing power so that nothing can ever separate us. I love her, Ammon, and I have for a long time—even when I was certain she would one day marry you. Worry for her will never be far from my thoughts until I set eyes on her again.”

Himni stopped, spent with feeling. Ammon embraced him. “She is strong; she can take care of herself, and if she cannot then Aaron and I will look after her as our sister.”

“Thank you, brother; please tell her that I think of her often.”

“I will.”