part of much of the Book of Mormon narrative, within that story there are also divine prophecies promising that the Lamanites' rejection of Christianity is temporary and foretelling their future embrace of the Christian message as inheritors to sacred promises. Earlier narratives in the Book of Mormon describe Nephites receiving prophetic knowledge that Lamanites are destined to fulfill the covenant between Lehi's family and God. Narrative Prior to Abish's introduction, several Nephites are in the midst of a missionary outreach to the Lamanites, despite the risk to their safety amid the hostilities between their peoples and despite discouragement from Nephites who derisively suggest that going to war with the Lamanites would be more productive. One of these missionaries, Ammon, goes the land of the Lamanite king Lamoni who, contrary to the Nephites' perception of Lamanites, does not harm Ammon and even invites Ammon to become part of his family by marrying his daughter, an offer that Ammon declines. Instead, Ammon becomes a servant to Lamoni. Ammon's compassionate service earns Lamoni's trust, and the king allows the missionary to teach him. In this process, the king experiences a conversion to Christ and faints from joy as does his wife, the queen, their servants who are present, and Ammon himself, leaving all "as though they were dead" while overcome with the spirit. Abish is introduced at this point. Described as a "Lamanitish" servant of Lamoni (because of the King James biblical language, she is possibly implied to be enslaved), Abish is one of the few people in Lamanite society who believes in Jesus Christ before Ammon's arrival, "having been converted unto the Lord for many years, on account of a remarkable vision of her father". Of all who are present in Lamoni's household, only Abish does not faint and enter a death-like trance. When Abish sees that everyone has fainted she knows it is the result of the power of the Lord. Upon recognizing this, she hopes that the experience will help others also be converted to following God, and so she begins to run from house to house calling neighboring Lamanites to come and see. However, Abish is heartbroken when many of the people who gather begin arguing about what has happened. Some people think the royal household's condition signifies that "a great evil that had come upon them" as divine punishment upon Lamoni for allowing a Nephite to dwell in