Notwithstanding their evil ways and their loathsomeness, the Lamanites had preserved a tradition among them that there was a Great Spirit, and Lamoni's father had in a very undefined manner bequeathed to him such a memorial. But in spite of their belief in the existence of the Great Spirit, they reasoned that whatever the king did was right, and that he was accountable to no man. However, when Lamoni thought of his many servants whom he had slain, he began to fear lest he had offended the Great Spirit in doing so. Ammon, Lamoni was certain, was the Great Spirit, and further, that He had come down from His abode to stop him in the slaying of the men who had allowed his flocks and herds to be scattered.