Abish, a Lamanite woman of significant faith and courage, appears in the Book of Mormon narrative as a pivotal figure during the missionary efforts of Ammon among the Lamanites (Alma 19:16-17). Prior to the events described in Alma 19, Abish had been converted due to a remarkable vision experienced by her father, a spiritual occurrence that motivated her steadfast belief in the Lord. However, she had kept her conversion private, not disclosing her faith to those around her.
As a servant in King Lamoni’s household, Abish was uniquely positioned to witness an extraordinary manifestation of God’s power. Following Ammon’s preaching and the demonstration of God’s power through him, King Lamoni, his queen, and their servants (except Abish) fell to the earth, overcome by the Spirit (Alma 19:17). Recognizing this divine event as an opportunity to foster faith in the hearts of others, Abish promptly took the initiative to share the miraculous scene with her community, hoping to inspire belief in God’s power through the testimony of what had transpired at the king’s residence (Alma 19:17).
Regrettably, her well-intended efforts were met with contention and confusion rather than conversion. A tumultuous debate erupted among the gathered spectators, some attributing the powerful scene to evil influence, while others defended the divine nature of the events (Alma 19:28). In an effort to dispel the contentious atmosphere, and perhaps guided by divine persuasion, Abish stepped forward and took the queen’s hand. This simple act of faith resuscitated the queen, who immediately testified of Jesus Christ and God’s mercy upon rising (Alma 19:29).
The heartfelt actions of Abish, combined with the queen’s testimony, effectively ceased the dissension and led to a profound spiritual awakening among many who witnessed these events. King Lamoni and the previously prostrate servants joined in bearing witness to God’s power, which further contributed to a widespread outpouring of the Spirit and a harvest of new converts to the Lord (Alma 19:29-33). Abish, by her discreet but momentous role, served as a catalyst for the spiritual redemption of many of her people.