Alma 26:26 - 26:30

Alma 26:26 But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the wilderness not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls.

Ammon reminds his brothers that their original intent was not to destroy the Lamanites but to try and save a few souls.

I wonder if this is a hint by Mormon that we need to have this in mind when talking about our so called enemies. Do we wish to kill them or save their souls? What is in our mind when we think about our enemies. Do we call them our “beloved brethren” or something else?

Alma 26:27 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.

It was easy at first. In fact they were ready to give up and return home. But the Lord said to be patience in their afflictions, because they would have many. However, in due time we would see the fruits of their labors.

Alma 26:28 And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world—not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

So they persevered and suffered every kind of physical punishment by the Lamanites. However, they preached in from house to house without money or support relying on the generosity of the people and the mercy of the Lord that He would cover their backs.

Alma 26:29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and we have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison; and through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

Ammon reminded them again of what they had just done for the salvation of the Lamanites. They had preached in the streets, houses, on hill sides, in temples and synagogues. Sometimes they were thrown out of these places of worship and suffered stoning, slapped around and spit upon. They were even tied up and thrown into prison from which they had been delivered time and time again.

Alma 26:30 And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.

They did this with the hope of converting maybe a few souls. And they supposed that they would be happy with even if it was just a few souls.