Alma 17

Jehovah (the Lord speaking)

Jehovah — the premortal Jesus Christ, the covenant God of Israel

And it came to pass that the Lord did visit them with his Spirit, and said unto them: Be comforted. And they were comforted. Alma 17:10–11

The Lord comforts the missionaries and sends them out in His own voice. Nephite prophets knew this Lord as the Christ, and He asks them to be good examples 'in me' and promises to make them instruments to save souls.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• the same event in Alma 26:27 — Ammon recalls it: the Lord comforted us and said, Go amongst thy brethren ... and I will give unto you success.

The plan of redemption

Therefore, this was the cause for which the sons of Mosiah had undertaken the work, that perhaps they might bring them unto repentance; that perhaps they might bring them to know of the plan of redemption. Alma 17:16

The missionaries' purpose is to teach the plan of redemption, and that plan is built on the Atonement of Jesus Christ. In Alma 18:39 Ammon teaches it together with the coming of Christ.

• alludes to Alma 18:39 — Ammon expounds the plan of redemption and the coming of Christ to Lamoni.

Echo of the leader who serves

Now Ammon being the chief among them, or rather he did administer unto them, and he departed from them, after having blessed them according to their several stations, having imparted the word of God unto them, or administered unto them before his departure; and thus they took their several journeys throughout the land. Alma 17:18

Mormon corrects himself: Ammon was not so much the chief as the one who ministered to the others. That is the pattern Jesus taught and lived, since He came to minister, not to be ministered unto.

• alludes to Matthew 20:26-28 — Whoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant, even as the Son of man came to minister.

Ammon as servant-shepherd, a type of the Good Shepherd

But Ammon said unto him: Nay, but I will be thy servant. Therefore Ammon became a servant to king Lamoni. And it came to pass that he was set among other servants to watch the flocks of Lamoni, according to the custom of the Lamanites. Alma 17:25–32

Ammon turns down royal status to become a servant, then seeks out the scattered flocks and brings them back to the water, saving his fellow servants from death. His actions picture Christ, the Servant and Good Shepherd who gathers scattered sheep to living water.

• a type of what is in John 10:11-12 — The Good Shepherd protects the sheep when the wolf scatters them.
• a type of what is in Ezekiel 34:12 — The Lord seeks out His scattered sheep and delivers them.
• a type of what is in Philippians 2:7 — Christ took upon Him the form of a servant.

Jehovah (the covenant-keeping Lord)

Jehovah — the premortal Jesus Christ, the covenant God of Israel

Therefore they did not fear Ammon, for they supposed that one of their men could slay him according to their pleasure, for they knew not that the Lord had promised Mosiah that he would deliver his sons out of their hands; neither did they know anything concerning the Lord; therefore they delighted in the destruction of their brethren; and for this cause they stood to scatter the flocks of the king. Alma 17:35

The Lord keeps His promise to Mosiah to protect his sons. The Lamanites 'knew not anything concerning the Lord,' which is exactly the knowledge Ammon came to bring them.

How we know: Jehovah is the premortal Christ (Abraham 1:16; D&C 110:3–4)

• alludes to Mosiah 28:7 — The Lord's original promise to Mosiah: I will deliver thy sons out of the hands of the Lamanites.