Thus We See: From Deliverance to Devotion

I saw a journey of emotions in today's reading. Commenting on each chapter makes it a little lengthy. Ammon and Alma definitely experienced a continuation of emotions up and down in the time they were preaching the Laminates.  

Alma 26 — Boasting or Bearing Witness?
Boasting—we all know it’s not a good thing. Ammon is called out for what Aaron initially perceives as boastfulness, but this chapter is a reminder to be careful in passing judgment. Ammon’s glory was never in himself; it was firmly in the Lord, and he made that abundantly clear.

He knew where they had come from. He remembered the darkness, the rebellion, and the mercy that had brought them out of it. Their journey—like ours—was filled with opportunities to digress. They didn’t. And Ammon’s gratitude for the Lord’s saving power was so full that it sounded like boasting to some. It wasn’t. It was rejoicing. It was glorying in the Lord and in His power to redeem.

Alma 27 — Joy and Sharing
In an effort to bring the Anti-Nephite-Lehies to safety, Ammon has an incredible experience. He meets Alma on the road. Alma is so overcome with joy at finding his brothers in the gospel that he collapses to the ground. What joy that must have been. I understand that joy—the joy of seeing someone return to the gospel path after being lost in the world. Alma and Ammon had once been rebellious together; they had experienced miraculous conversion together. What a beautiful reunion.

I've condensed a lot of story here, but the people of Zarahemla not only receive the Anti-Nephite-Lehies  kindly, but give them the land of Jershon so they can start over. They even commit to protecting them with their armies. Why? Because they were brethren—and because they knew these people would be hunted. In return, they asked for a small portion of their substance to assist in the effort. A small price to pay, in my opinion.

I especially love verses 25–26, where Alma, Ammon, and Aaron share their conversion stories with the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. There is something powerful about sharing our stories. I’ve learned that one of the best questions to ask when conversation lulls is simple: What’s your story? How did you get here?
If someone is a member of the Church, it often leads to their conversion story. If not, it still opens the door to meaningful connection.

Alma 28 — "And Thus We See”
Alma 28 shows the full range of human emotion—from great joy to deep mourning—as the righteous grieve the loss of loved ones after the Lamanites devastate their land. What are we being taught here?

I see Jesus in the final verse—verse 14. I love the “and thus we see” passages. I wrote about this last August, and it’s worth repeating. It’s a reminder of how vital it is to diligently nurture our testimonies.

“And thus we see…”

We are all called to labor diligently in the Lord’s vineyard. There is sorrow, yes—but oh, the rejoicing when even one soul returns to the covenant path. The Light of Christ is a remarkable thing. When our eyes are opened to the blessings and beauty the Lord has given us, we are illuminated—and that light draws others toward us.

I’ve seen this in my sweet daughter as she has returned to keeping her covenants. People are drawn to her light. It is a sweet thing.