Abish (Book of Mormon)
Encyclopedia
According to the Book of Mormon
, Abish was a Lamanite
woman who lived in the 1st century BC, and one of only three women named in the Book of Mormon (other than those who also appear in the Bible). She is mentioned in the narrative of the Book of Alma
, and is notable as a figure in the dramatic narrative of the conversion of King Lamoni
by the missionary Ammon
.
s (an ancient tribe in the Americas that had rejected a religion focused on Jesus Christ). Abish is introduced in the 19th chapter of the Book of Alma
in the Book of Mormon
. She is a servant of a Lamanite king (King Lamoni
) and one of the few Lamanites who believe in Jesus Christ.
Prior to Abish’s introduction, the Book of Mormon discusses the missionary efforts of several Nephite
s (another ancient tribe in the Americas that continued to follow a religion focused on Jesus Christ and was traditionally hated by the Lamanites). These missionaries desired to preach their religion in the lands of the Lamanites in spite of great danger to themselves. In the words of the Book of Mormon, “[The missionaries] were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish.”
One of these missionaries, Ammon
, begins to preach in the land of King Lamoni. He wins the king’s friendship by first becoming the king’s servant and serving well. After gaining the king’s friendship, the king asks Ammon to teach him about God and Ammon’s religion. The king is converted and faints from joy as does his wife, the queen, their servants who are present, and Ammon himself. Of all who are present, only Abish does not faint for she had already been converted several years earlier due to “a remarkable vision of her father.”
When Abish sees that everyone has fainted she knows it is the result of the power of the Lord. Upon recognizing this, she hopes that the experience will help others also be converted to following God and so she begins to run from house to house calling the people to come and see. However, Abish is heartbroken when many of the people begin arguing about what has happened. Some people think it is “a great evil that had come upon them”. One of the people even attempts to kill Ammon while he lies in a faint, yet falls down dead when he lifts his sword. The people continue arguing and Abish is “exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears.” She goes to the queen and tries to raise her and the queen wakes up and joyfully proclaims her conversion. The queen then wakes the king who also tells of his conversion and begins to teach his people about God. As a result, many more people are converted. Thus Abish eventually gets her wish that the people be converted by coming to see the miracle that had occurred. This event begins a chain of great conversion among the people of the Lamanites.
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
, Abish was a Lamanite
Lamanite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Lamanite is a member of a dark-skinned nation of indigenous Americans that battled with the light-skinned Nephite nation...
woman who lived in the 1st century BC, and one of only three women named in the Book of Mormon (other than those who also appear in the Bible). She is mentioned in the narrative of the Book of Alma
Book of Alma
The Book of Alma is one of the books that make up the Book of Mormon. The full title is The Book of Alma: The Son of Alma. The title refers to Alma the Younger, a prophet and "chief judge" of the Nephites.-Historical Outline:...
, and is notable as a figure in the dramatic narrative of the conversion of King Lamoni
Lamoni
In The Book of Mormon, Lamoni is a Lamanite king. The missionary Ammon converts him back to the Law of Moses. After this, Lamoni becomes righteous....
by the missionary Ammon
Ammon (Book of Mormon)
This article is about the prominent Book of Mormon missionary. For the Book of Mormon explorer, see Ammon Ammon is a missionary in the Mormon religious text, Book of Mormon and a contemporary of Alma the Younger. The Book of Mosiah describes his original antipathy toward the Nephite Church of God...
.
History
Abish plays a key role in the conversion of an entire kingdom of LamaniteLamanite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Lamanite is a member of a dark-skinned nation of indigenous Americans that battled with the light-skinned Nephite nation...
s (an ancient tribe in the Americas that had rejected a religion focused on Jesus Christ). Abish is introduced in the 19th chapter of the Book of Alma
Book of Alma
The Book of Alma is one of the books that make up the Book of Mormon. The full title is The Book of Alma: The Son of Alma. The title refers to Alma the Younger, a prophet and "chief judge" of the Nephites.-Historical Outline:...
in the Book of Mormon
Book of Mormon
The Book of Mormon is a sacred text of the Latter Day Saint movement that adherents believe contains writings of ancient prophets who lived on the American continent from approximately 2600 BC to AD 421. It was first published in March 1830 by Joseph Smith, Jr...
. She is a servant of a Lamanite king (King Lamoni
Lamoni
In The Book of Mormon, Lamoni is a Lamanite king. The missionary Ammon converts him back to the Law of Moses. After this, Lamoni becomes righteous....
) and one of the few Lamanites who believe in Jesus Christ.
Prior to Abish’s introduction, the Book of Mormon discusses the missionary efforts of several Nephite
Nephite
According to the Book of Mormon, a Nephite is a member of one of the four main groups of settlers of the ancient Americas. The other three groups are the Lamanites, Jaredites and Mulekites. In the Book of Mormon, the Nephites were a group of people descended from or associated with Nephi, the...
s (another ancient tribe in the Americas that continued to follow a religion focused on Jesus Christ and was traditionally hated by the Lamanites). These missionaries desired to preach their religion in the lands of the Lamanites in spite of great danger to themselves. In the words of the Book of Mormon, “[The missionaries] were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish.”
One of these missionaries, Ammon
Ammon (Book of Mormon)
This article is about the prominent Book of Mormon missionary. For the Book of Mormon explorer, see Ammon Ammon is a missionary in the Mormon religious text, Book of Mormon and a contemporary of Alma the Younger. The Book of Mosiah describes his original antipathy toward the Nephite Church of God...
, begins to preach in the land of King Lamoni. He wins the king’s friendship by first becoming the king’s servant and serving well. After gaining the king’s friendship, the king asks Ammon to teach him about God and Ammon’s religion. The king is converted and faints from joy as does his wife, the queen, their servants who are present, and Ammon himself. Of all who are present, only Abish does not faint for she had already been converted several years earlier due to “a remarkable vision of her father.”
When Abish sees that everyone has fainted she knows it is the result of the power of the Lord. Upon recognizing this, she hopes that the experience will help others also be converted to following God and so she begins to run from house to house calling the people to come and see. However, Abish is heartbroken when many of the people begin arguing about what has happened. Some people think it is “a great evil that had come upon them”. One of the people even attempts to kill Ammon while he lies in a faint, yet falls down dead when he lifts his sword. The people continue arguing and Abish is “exceedingly sorrowful, even unto tears.” She goes to the queen and tries to raise her and the queen wakes up and joyfully proclaims her conversion. The queen then wakes the king who also tells of his conversion and begins to teach his people about God. As a result, many more people are converted. Thus Abish eventually gets her wish that the people be converted by coming to see the miracle that had occurred. This event begins a chain of great conversion among the people of the Lamanites.