Alma 26

Light of the World

Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites, were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon us, that we have been made instruments in the hands of God to bring about this great work. Alma 26:3

Ammon uses the same words his friend Alma used for his own conversion: out of the darkest abyss into the marvelous light of God. Conversion to Christ is pictured as coming out of darkness into His light.

• alludes to Mosiah 27:29 — Alma the Younger: I was in the darkest abyss; but now I behold the marvelous light of God.
• alludes to 1 Peter 2:9 — Called out of darkness into his marvellous light.

Good Shepherd

Behold, thousands of them do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of God. Alma 26:4

Converts are gathered into God's fold, the sheepfold of the Good Shepherd. Christ taught that He has other sheep not of the Jerusalem fold whom He would bring in.

• alludes to John 10:16 — Other sheep I have, which are not of this fold; there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
• alludes to Mosiah 18:8 — Alma's baptism invitation: desirous to come into the fold of God.

Lord of the Harvest

Lord of the Harvest — the owner of the field who gathers souls as grain

Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted. Alma 26:5–7

The converts belong to the Lord of the harvest, who keeps them safe from the storm and will raise them up at the last day. Jesus used both the harvest title and the promise 'I will raise him up at the last day' of Himself.

• the same title in Matthew 9:38 — Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers.
• alludes to John 6:40 — Christ: every one which believeth on him may have everlasting life: and I will raise him up at the last day.
• alludes to Helaman 5:12 — Built on the rock of our Redeemer, the storm and whirlwind shall have no power over you.

Strength through Christ

Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever. Alma 26:12

Ammon knows he is nothing by himself, yet in God's strength he can do all things. Paul says the same of Christ's strengthening grace.

• alludes to Philippians 4:13 — I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

Redeemer

Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice? Alma 26:13–15

Ammon describes redemption: captives loosed from the pains and chains of hell who now 'sing redeeming love.' That deliverance is the work of the Redeemer, who breaks the bands of death and hell and wraps the penitent in His love.

• alludes to Alma 5:9 — Alma: the chains of hell which encircled them about were loosed.
• alludes to Alma 5:26 — Have ye felt to sing the song of redeeming love?
• alludes to 2 Nephi 1:15 — Lehi: encircled about eternally in the arms of his love.

Atonement of Jesus Christ

Who could have supposed that our God would have been so merciful as to have snatched us from our awful, sinful, and polluted state? Alma 26:17–20

Ammon, once a persecutor of the church, marvels that God's mercy, not justice, fell on him and carried him over the gulf of death and misery. Book of Mormon prophets teach that mercy can satisfy justice only through Christ's Atonement.

• alludes to Mosiah 27:28 — Alma: the Lord in mercy hath seen fit to snatch me out of an everlasting burning.
• alludes to Alma 42:15 — The plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made.

Jehovah

Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success. Alma 26:27

Ammon recalls the Lord speaking to comfort the discouraged missionaries and promise them success. The Lord who speaks to Nephite prophets is Jehovah, the premortal Christ.

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

• the same event in Alma 17:11 — The Lord visited them and said: Go forth among the Lamanites, thy brethren, and establish my word; be patient in afflictions.

Faith in Christ

Now have we not reason to rejoice? Yea, I say unto you, there never were men that had so great reason to rejoice as we, since the world began; yea, and my joy is carried away, even unto boasting in my God; for he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding; he comprehendeth all things, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name. Alma 26:35

Salvation comes to those who repent and believe on His name. In the Book of Mormon, the name that brings salvation is the name of Christ.

• alludes to Mosiah 3:17 — No other name given whereby salvation can come, but only in and through the name of Christ.
• alludes to John 1:12 — As many as received him, to them that believe on his name.

Redeemer

Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God, who has been mindful of this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and has been lost from its body in a strange land; yea, I say, blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land. Alma 26:36

Ammon calls his God his life, light, salvation, and redemption from endless woe, titles scripture gives to Christ. It echoes the psalm 'The LORD is my light and my salvation.'

• alludes to Psalm 27:1 — The LORD is my light and my salvation.
• alludes to Mosiah 16:9 — He is the light and the life of the world.