I’m reading the account of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis in the Book of Mormon. You would think from their self-chosen name that they opposed Nephi and Lehi, but in their language that meant they were friends of Nephi and Lehi and their descendants. It was a way to distinguish themselves from their previous tribe, the Lamanites.

The Lamanites were very much against the Nephites, descendants of Nephi; both groups were descendants of Lehi. Hundreds of years before, the descendants of Lehi had split up over who should lead. They fought wars and sent ambassadors. Sometimes one side wanted to fight; sometimes both sides went at it tooth and nail. At least twice the Nephites split into two groups. One joined the Lamanites while the other remained distinct. We don’t know all the ins and outs of the Lamanites because the Book of Mormon is based on Nephite records.

What we do know is that four missionaries and their unnamed companions went to the Lamanites to teach about God. This time they were not killed outright and nobody attacked their home villages, not right away at least. One of the missionaries,.Ammon, became friends with a minor king, vassal and son of the Lamanite overlord. This minor king changed his ways from bloodthirsty to repentant and helpful; he introduced Ammon to his father. His dad immediately tried to kill Ammon. Ammon fought him to a standstill, but did not kill him, on condition that the minor king would be allowed to continue in his position without interference. The dad was astonished. What a change, both in his son and in this guy, Ammon. The dad king agreed and asked Ammon to come teach him about God.

The dad king and many of his people, along with his son’s people and many others in their kingdoms, stopped fighting. They apologized and tried to convince other Lamanites to stop fighting, as well. The other Lamanites rejected them; hence the name change to Anti-Nephi-Lehi. There were other former Nephites present among the Lamanites; these dudes chose to attack the Anti-Nephi-Lehis again and again, whipping up support among the Lamanites. Each time the Anti-Nephi-Lehis greeted them with prayer and allowed themselves to be killed. Each time some of the Lamanites, amazed, dropped their weapons and joined the Anti-Nephi-Lehis.

The Lamanites and former Nephites then turned their wrath on the Nephites, where these troublesome missionaries came from. The Nephites fought them off multiple times, so they returned to attacking the Anti-Nephi-Lehis.

Ammon and his brethren mourned over the Lamanites and former Nephites who continually attacked them. When Ammon saw that they would continue until the Anti-Nephi-Lehis were exterminated, he begged the king to travel to the Nephites. Surely they could find safety there!

The king said no. Then he said, okay, but we’ll be slaves to the Nephites until we have paid them back for all the people we killed. Then he said, go ask the Lord. We will only go if God tells us to. Otherwise we will stay here and die.

Of course God told Ammon, take them to the Nephites; the Anti-Nephi-Lehis went and the Nephites gave them land and protection from the Lamanites. But until then, the Anti-Nephi-Lehis, who were brave enough to lie down and die, without fighting back, were not willing to go live next to the people they had previously killed. That’s either tremendous fear, or great wisdom.