Over the last few weeks, in “Come Follow Me,” we’ve been studying the stories of people such as Alma the Younger, Ammon, King Lamoni, and Lamoni’s father. These are names well-known by most people who’ve read the Book of Mormon, especially those who have read it multiple times. Almost hidden in Alma 19, is a woman named Abish, who is only mentioned by name in one verse.
Why Abish is Unique
In Alma 19, Lamoni, Lamoni’s wife, Lamoni’s servants, and even Ammon fall into trances. Yet, a woman named Abish was the only person present who did not fall into a trance. While I’ve read this story multiple times before, for some reason, it stuck with me more than it usually does.
The verse explains that she had previously been converted because of a vision of her father. On the surface, it would appear that her faith was the reason she didn’t fall down like everyone else. While that is part of the reason, if that was the full story, wouldn’t it seem that Ammon, who was also converted, would also have not fainted?
The Role of Abish
I could be completely wrong in this assumption, but in reading about Abish, I feel like her role was to testify. This was a role she needed to fulfill on her own. It might have been easy for Ammon to have also stayed conscious so he could testify alongside her, thereby providing two witnesses. For some reason, this was not in the plan, though. Was Abish given this role because the people already knew her? Was Ammon excluded from helping her because the people didn’t trust him yet? If Ammon had stayed conscious, would he have taken the lead role in testifying? Did Abish need this so she could prove to herself the strength of her testimony?
I think that it’s a combination of at least a few of these. Abish was placed there because of the strength of her testimony. She needed to share that testimony with others. She had hidden her testimony for years, and now was the time for her to share it with others.
Lessons Learned from Abish
Fortunately, the story of Abish is not just about her specifically. There are lessons we can each learn from her story.
We Each Have a Role to Fulfill
This one can be hard for us to accept at times. We each have a role to fulfill in this world. It’s not necessarily the same role as someone else. At times, the other person’s role might seem more exciting or prestigious. Ammon got to throw stones at people and chop off their arms. Abish got to run around telling people about those who had fainted, and then she got to help the queen stand up. On the surface throwing stones and chopping off arms might sound more exciting than running around and helping someone stand up. Yet, both roles were important in the conversion of the Lamanite people.
When your role in the Kingdom of God seems less prestigious or important, remember that it’s not about the prestigious. It’s about doing what is expected of you, which might be something only you can do.
A Quiet Testimony is Still a Testimony
Chapter 19 talks about how people didn’t know about Abish’s testimony. Until this point, she hadn’t shared it with others. I’m sure, though, that she had spent years building her testimony. Sure, there are times when we can and should share our testimony with others. Yet, that quiet testimony, whether expressed in words or just in actions, is just as important as the louder, bolder testimony. We don’t have to feel embarrassed if our testimonies are smaller or less well-known. The important thing is continuing to build our testimonies.
It’s About Timing
I’ll admit it. I’m really not a patient person sometimes. When I want something to happen, I want it to happen right now. Impatience with Heaven Father’s timing is not going to make something happen sooner, though. Abish developed a testimony years before this story took place. Because of the circumstances among her people, she had to wait for the right time to share that testimony. Often, we have to be patient as well. We have to be willing to wait for Heavenly Father’s timing to be right. Abish couldn’t have shared her testimony earlier and gotten the same result. She had to wait for the right time, the time when the people were ready to hear and experience her testimony. Accepting God’s timing is something I struggle with a lot. I guess it’s time to accept that His timing and my desired timing are rarely the same thing.
The Ultimate Takeaway
For me, the story of Abish is a reminder that every scripture story has a lesson specific to us. The key is being willing to pay attention and understand that lesson. For me, these three things were the lessons I got out of it. For others, they may get completely different lessons from the story. Even minor scripture characters can make an impact in our lives.
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