Alma 26:31-37

31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our labors; and are they few? I say unto you, Nay, they are many; yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love towards their brethren and also towards us.

32 For behold, they had rather sacrifice their lives than even to take the life of their enemy; and they have buried their weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love towards their brethren.

33 And now behold I say unto you, has there been so great love in all the land? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, there has not, even among the Nephites.

34 For behold, they would take up arms against their brethren; they would not suffer themselves to be slain. But behold how many of these have laid down their lives; and we know that they have gone to their God, because of their love and of their hatred to sin.

35 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.

36 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.

37 Now my brethren, we see that God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth. Now this is my joy, and my great thanksgiving; yea, and I will give thanks unto my God forever. Amen. (Alma 26:31-37)

Ammon finishes.

Ammon asked after looking back and seeing what they accomplished, are their accomplishments few? No. They accomplished many things.

The converted Lamanites were willing to sacrifice their lives rather than kill the enemy.

“And it came to pass that their brethren, the Lamanites, made preparations for war, and came up to the land of Nephi for the purpose of destroying the king, and to place another in his stead, and also of destroying the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi out of the land.

“Now when the people saw that they were coming against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay them with the sword.

“And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God” (Alma 24:20-22).

The Anti-Nephi Lehies feared if they took up their weapons again, they would fall back to their bloodthirsty ways. “And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace” (Alma 24:19).

We learn that, among the converted Lamanites, there was great love throughout the land. This great love was not found among the Nephites.

In the case of the Nephites, they would have taken up arms against their brethren. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies refused and lost their lives because of their love and their hatred of sin. “And thus without meeting any resistance, they did slay a thousand and five of them; and we know that they are blessed, for they have gone to dwell with their God” (Alma 24:22).

There had never been anyone who had so great a reason to rejoice. His joy is carried away and he is boasting to God. He has all power, wisdom, and understanding. “He comprehendeth all things, and all things are before him, and all things are round about him; and he is above all things, and in all things, and is through all things, and is round about all things; and all things are by him, and of him, even God, forever and ever” (D&C 88:41).

God comprehends all things and He is a merciful being. “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us” (Ephesians 2:4).

All who repent and believe will obtain salvation.

If praising the Lord is boasting, Ammon will boast. Blessed is God who has remembered these people who are a branch of the tree of Israel. “Joseph is a fruitful bough, even a fruitful bough by a well; whose branches run over the wall” (Genesis 49:22).

Once again, we are reminded the Nephites and Lamanites are a part of the tree of Israel who had been scattered. “Wherefore, thus saith the Lord, I have led this people forth out of the land of Jerusalem, by the power of mine arm, that I might raise up unto me a righteous branch from the fruit of the loins of Joseph” (Jacob 2:25).

“Thus saith the Lord God; I will also take of the highest branch of the high cedar, and will set it; I will crop off from the top of his young twigs a tender one, and will plant it upon an high mountain and eminent” (Ezekiel 17:22).

“And the Lord shall scatter thee among all people, from the one end of the earth even unto the other; and there thou shalt serve other gods, which neither thou nor thy fathers have known, even wood and stone” (Deuteronomy 28:64).

“My God will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto him: and they shall be wanderers among the nations” (Hosea 9:17).

God is mindful to all people where ever they are found.

“He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation” (2 Nephi 26:24).

“But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him” (Acts 10:35).

[F]or he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile” (2 Nephi 26:33).

He numbers His people and extends mercy over all the Earth.

This is Ammon’s joy and thanksgiving, which he will give forever.

“Who are ‘his people’ in this promise? Is it all mortals – all who enjoy the reality of resurrection through the Atonement? Or is it only those select servants qualified through ordinances and covenants?

“The word people has many meanings in the scriptures. The meaning most appropriate for the teaching that the Savior will succor ‘his people’ is the meaning Ammon employed when he taught that ‘God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in’ (Alma 26:37). That is also what the angels meant when they announced the birth of the Christ child: ‘Good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people’ (Luke 2:10).”[1]

“The bursting of the gospel light upon Africa is a great manifestation and testimony of God’s love for all of his children. In the words of the Nephite prophet Ammon, He is ‘mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in; yea, he numbereth his people, and his bowels of mercy are over all the earth’ (Alma 26:37).”[2]

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[1] Strengthened by the Atonement of Jesus Christ, President Dallin H. Oaks, October 2015 General Conference.

[2] The Dawning of a New Day in Africa, Elder Alexander B. Morrison, October 1987 General Conference.