19 And king Lamoni would not suffer that Ammon should serve him, or be his servant.
20 But he caused that there should be synagogues built in the land of Ishmael; and he caused that his people, or the people who were under his reign, should assemble themselves together.
Of course Lamoni would not ask a Prophet of God to be his servant, however willing the prophet was.
But even greater, the king declared, by edict (apparently because that’s how kings “cause” things to happen) for places of worship to be built in the land of Ishmael. And he “caused” that the people should assemble to hear the word of God. Wow! Talk about a good captive audience!
I am quite sure nobody was compelled to believe anything, even if they were compelled to listen— which the record does not state one way or the other. How this was organized and orchestrated we do not know. But we do know Kings had massive power over the people, as evidenced by him killing his servants who failed to protect his flocks.
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