Ammon intervenes to save Lamoni. That does not assuage the overking’s anger. Lamoni’s father had already shown that he harbored a traditional hatred for the Nephites, and now expresses that hatred by claiming that Ammon, a Nephite, is really at the heart of Lamoni’s disobedience and rebellion. In his mind, Ammon has led his son astray and has made him take part in a rebellion against his father and his heritage.
Undoubtedly, Lamoni knew that Ammon could not be killed. Ammon defeated the king, and wounded him. That put Ammon in a position where he could easily kill the overking. He will not, and that will set up the next important missionary story.
Ammon’s words to the overking demonstrate the nature of his teaching and of Lamoni’s transformation. Ammon declared, in verse 17, that even should Lamoni be killed, it would be better for Lamoni than his father. Lamoni had repented. Ammon’s view of the world saw past the boundaries of mortality. Were this mortality all that there was, dying would be an almost ultimate tragedy. If, however, there was a continuation of life in another realm, as Ammon had taught and Lamoni had briefly experienced, then a mortal death was not the tragedy that living unrepentant and, therefore, unprepared for that other realm would be.