Today reading Alma 20, the story of the sons of King Mosiah, and their missions to their sworn enemies, the Lamanites. This particular chapter focuses on Mosiah’s son, Ammon. 

King Laman is angry over his son, King Lamoni’s, conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ and tries to kill Ammon with his sword. To me the biggest surprise isn’t Ammon’s prowess with the sword (we’ve already seen that, and he remains awesome here), but that he is able to use this as a chance to to win King Laman’s favor. I wonder if Ammon ever expected or imagined that his sword-fighting talent would help him win converts to Christ? I think it’s wonderful how God can make more of our talents and abilities than we might ever expect. 

Alma 20:20-27 

“20 And he stretched forth his hand to slay Ammon. But Ammon withstood his blows, and also smote his arm that he could not use it. 21 Now when the king saw that Ammon could slay him, he began to plead with Ammon that he would spare his life.” 

“26 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, and said: Because this is all that thou hast desired, that I would release thy brethren, and suffer that my son Lamoni should retain his kingdom, behold, I will grant unto you that my son may retain his kingdom from this time and forever; and I will govern him no more 27 And I will also grant unto thee that thy brethren may be cast out of prison, and thou and thy brethren may come unto me, in my kingdom; for I shall greatly desire to see thee. For the king was greatly astonished at the words which he had spoken, and also at the words which had been spoken by his son Lamoni, therefore he was desirous to learn them.”

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/20?verse=20-21&lang=eng#p20