the story of abish

sunday i get the privledge of teaching the relief society lesson! i am way excited but quite nervous- i loved teaching when i was at college but this time it'll be in front of a bunch of older & wiser ladies, not my friends. quite nervous am i. our theme this year is 'woman at the well' (john 4). each month we spotlight women from the scriptures and apply it to our lives.to begin my lesson, i wanted to do something different.
abish is a story from the book of mormon about a woman who had a testimony of jesus christ but was living in a land that didn't have faith. not alot of known about her background so i took some artistic liberty with the story. hope you enjoy.

The Story of Abish

(alma 19)

 

Once upon a time there was an ordinary girl who lived an ordinary life; her name was Abish. She a quiet and plain girl, one who many people often passed over as unordinary and uninteresting, but Abish had a great destiny before her. You see, Abish had been blessed with a great and wonderful gift; the gift of faith.

Abish grew up wild and free in a small home outside the city. She had a wonderful and steadfast father who absolutely adored her mother. They lived a simple yet peaceful life together until one day, that all changed. Her father became very sick, slowly losing his strength every day. Near the end of his life, he called little Abish to his side.

“Abish, do you know why I am always so happy? So full of life?” her father asked.

Abish replied: “No Daddy. I just always thought being with momma and me made you so happy!”

“Well of COURSE that is what makes me happier beyond my wildest dream! But something else fills my life and soul with such happiness. A long, long time ago, when you were just a baby, a miracle happened. I was in the field harvesting the grain for the season, and a spirit overcame me.”

“A spirit? Like a ghost!” cried little Abish. She did not like ghosts that much.

“No, not like a ghost; a divine feeling; a vision, from our Father in Heaven. Abish, I saw many wonderful things. I saw a Savior, for all of mankind, who will one day come to our world. He will bring happiness, healings, and he will make it possible for us to one day live with our Father in Heaven. My little girl, this is the joy that fills my heart with such happiness. You must promise to always remember these truths and seek out those messengers of God that I know will one day come to this land”.

“I promise Father. I will never lose my faith”.

Soon after, Abish’s father died. Her mother was forced to move to the city to work in the courts of the King. Over time, little Abish grew up into a woman and started serving alongside her mother, but she never forgot her father’s dying testimony. She worked day after day with wicked men and woman surrounding her, but she never lost sight of the truth.

When Abish was about nineteen years old, some stranger from her enemy’s land came to work in King Lamoni’s court. Ammon was a Nephite, but had somehow charmed the King into working as one of his servants. He was feared among most of the servants, for his miraculous strength and valor in protecting the King’s sheep, but Abish could tell something was special about this man.

One very special night while Abish was attending to the Queen’s needs, she overheard Ammon speaking to King Lamoni about a “Great Sprit” who created the heavens and the earth. Abish’s heart leapt with joy! Was this a messenger of the truth her father had told her about, many years before? Ammon spoke of the creation of Adam, of the fall of man, and of Holy Scriptures which testified of prophets. This was not all though. This holy messenger spoke of a Christ!

When the King heard these words, he immediately fell to the earth, overcome by the spirit. Abish immediately ran to tell her mother of the miraculous events that conspired, but knew not what to do. King Lamoni’s servants, fearing he was dead, took the king and placed him upon a bed.

The Queen mourned and mourned for two days and two nights. She then called Ammon before her to ask. She had been told this Ammon was a prophet of God so she hoped that he would be able to tell her if her husband was really dead. This was precisely the greatest desire of Ammon’s heart.

“My Queen,” Ammon declared, “He is not dead but sleeps in God. Tomorrow he will rise again. Do you believe what I have told you?”

The Queen replied, “Not one of the many people in my court can say a single evil thing about you. Nevertheless, I believe what you have said.”

“Blessed art thou because of thy exceeding faith. There has never been such great faith among all people, even the Nephites”.

Ammon proceeded to bless the Queen and testify of the Redeemer and Savior of mankind. Upon hearing these remarkable words, the Queen also sunk down, having been overcome by the Spirit. Ammon then began to pray and he too fell down!

All of the King’s servants saw this miraculous event and was instantly terrified! What evil had this Nephite brought into their land? What kind of man had power to kill their King and Queen with his words? The servants began to pray ferverently, calling upon the Lord with all their might and too fell to the earth. Everyone, but Abish.

Abish could hardly believer her eyes: The Lord had truly sent his messenger to save her land! Having kept her testimony in the dark for so many years now was her chance to proclaim the truths she held so dear. Abish wasn’t a great leader or particularly eloquent, but she had the truth and she had faith, and that is what made the difference.

She immediately ran from the court, going house to house, calling all of her people to come and witness of the miraculous event that just transpired. Abish knew that if the Lamanite people could view for their own eyes the power of God; they too would come to know of the truth.

When the people got to the court, though, they were immediately terrified! Who had killed their King, their Queen, and their many servants? What evil had come upon them? Fearing that a great evil had befallen their kingdom, one man drew his sword, hoping to smite the cause of all this pain, Ammon. But as soon as he lifted his sword, he fell dead. The people began to argue, trying to make sense of the confusion that lay before them.

When Abish returned to the courts and saw her people arguing and so full of fear, her heart broke in despair. How could her people be so unbelieving? How could they not believe this miracle? She ran to her Queen’s side, grabbing the Queens hand. Immediately, the Queen arose and cried in a loud voice, “O Blessed Jesus, who has saved me from an awful hell! O blessed God, have mercy on this people!”

The Queen then took her husband by the hand and he too arose. King Lamoni began to preach and rebuke his people for their evil ways. Some people disbelieved the words of their leader, walking away as if ashamed of their King’s testimony. Ammon and the servants then arose. Ammon began ministering unto the people, declaring the truth. Many people believed in the words spoken, having been converted to the truth.

Because of Abish’s brave and fearless heart, many were baptized and brought to the truth. And those that were baptized became a righteous people, establishing a church among them. The Lord began to bless the Lamanites, pouring out his Spirit among them. Abish’s testimony changed a nation.

WHAT WILL YOUR TESTIMONY DO?