25 Now, it came to pass that when Ammon had heard this, he returned to the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, and also Alma with him, into the wilderness, where they had pitched their tents, and made known unto them all these things. And Alma also related unto them his conversion, with Ammon and Aaron, and his brethren.
26 And it came to pass that it did cause great joy among them. And they went down into the land of Jershon, and took possession of the land of Jershon; and they were called by the Nephites the people of Ammon; therefore they were distinguished by that name ever after.
Alma 27:25-26 (Emphasis mine)
Ammon, along with Alma(2), went back to the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi and recounted everything that had happened. When they learned they were going to be receiving land for them, there was great joy.
They also received another name as a people. From this time forth, they were know as the people of Ammon, or the Ammonites.
27 And they were among the people of Nephi, and also numbered among the people who were of the church of God. And they were also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end.
28 And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with the greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it.
29 Therefore, they would suffer death in the most aggravating and distressing manner which could be inflicted by their brethren, before they would take the sword or cimeter to smite them.
30 And thus they were a zealous and beloved people, a highly favored people of the Lord.
Alma 27:27-30 (Emphasis mine)
Mormon tells us that they were known for the passion towards both God and man. They were an honest people. They were faithful to the end.
They would never take up arms again. They never feared death, having their hope in Christ and the resurrection and Christ’s victory over death.
This story is a story of a miracle. Literally thousands accepted Christ. They had been a bloodthirsty, violent people. Killing was a way of life; remember that Lamoni regularly killed his servants when his sheep were driven away.
They went from being a brutal people to becoming a forgiven, peaceful people. They feared returning to their evil ways if they took up arms again, so they refused. They would rather suffer death than kill again.
They placed their hope and faith in Christ. They knew that it was better for them to die because through Christ they would live again. They feared being cut off from the presence of God through all eternity.
While this was a spiritual miracle, there was also a political miracle. Ammon and his brethren were able to rid the Nephites of a serious enemy. This brought peace to the Nephites. They were able to avoid the costs of war.
John Tvedtnes wrote:
“Ammon appears to stress the trade-off of war for peace more than the spiritual aspects of the Lamanite conversion. He further noted that the converts would rather sacrifice their own lives than to take up arms against others (see Alma 26:31-34). The converted Lamanites settled in the Nephite land of Jershon, and they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with the greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren (Alma 27:28). Clearly, the missionaries from Zarahemla had accomplished a political, as well as a spiritual, miracle.” [1] (Emphasis mine)
[1] The Sons of Mosiah: Emissaries of Peace, John A. Tvedtnes, Maxwell Institute, accessed October 7, 2011.
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