Ammon’s words were effective and caused the king to cry out for the mercy of Christ; not only for himself, but for his people. Just as Enos, son of Jacob, began with concern for himself then for his people, the Nephites, and then for the Lamanites; the king sought mercy for himself and then for his people the Lamanites (v. 41; Enos 1:3–11).
What was happening to the king during his unconsciousness for two days and two nights will be explained by Ammon in the next chapter (Alma 18:41). The lamenting “after the manner of the Lamanites” (v. 41), probably referred to their not weeping “for the [temporary] loss of them that die” (D&C 42:45), but a great lamentation (Alma 18:41) because they did not understand that death was a step in the eternal progression of man. Therefore, “death [was] bitter” to them (D&C 42:47), because they did not believe they would ever see their loved ones again. The same type of mourning is still experienced among many people today.