Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Alma 27:16 - 27:20

Alma 27:16 And it came to pass that as Ammon was going forth into the land, that he and his brethren met Alma, over in the place of which has been spoken; and behold, this was a joyful meeting.

It was on this trip to Zarahemla that Ammon and his brothers ran into Alma and oh how joyful was this meeting.

One can ONLY image the joy the boys felt as they told of the experiences of the last 14 years: the boys, the conversion of thousands of Lamanites and Alma in his ministry in the land and more particular his experiences in Ammonihah. Probably even more joyful was the knowledge that all were still strong in the gospel and working hard to spread and maintain it in the land.

Alma 27:17 Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting of his strength; and he fell again to the earth.

As Ammon was recounting their experiences and the unfathomable joy they all felt, it was too much for Ammon and he fainted.

The mortal body seems to be able to only so much joy and it has to put the person unconscious in order to preserve itself. In order to experience the great joy in the heavens you either have to be in spirit or resurrected. So not only is the body limited as to powers such as begin able to see only certain colors but as to how much joy you can endure.

Alma 27:18 Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.

Mormon comments that this is evidence as to just how joyful it can be to those who repent of their sins and actively work to be better people.

Alma 27:19 Now the joy of Alma in meeting his brethren was truly great, and also the joy of Aaron, of Omner, and Himni; but behold their joy was not that to exceed their strength.

Ammon appears to be the most effected by the joy he felt. Whereas Ammon fainted, the others did not.

Alma 27:20 And now it came to pass that Alma conducted his brethren back to the land of Zarahemla; even to his own house. And they went and told the chief judge all the things that had happened unto them in the land of Nephi, among their brethren, the Lamanites.

Alma took the boys back to Zarahemla to his home. They then went to the chief judge to recount their experiences in the land of Nephi and that they had in tow hundreds of Lamanite converts and that they needed a place to live in order to not fall victim to the murderous intent of the Lamanites back in the land of Nephi.

The boy found out that their father, King Mosiah, had died some 10 to 12 years previously. I'm sure they must have said their final farewells to their families when they left for the land of Nephi. The boys had to know that they would probably never see their father again in this life.

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