Alma 29: 1-10

With what's going on right now in the world, I can totally relate to Ammon as he wishes that he was an angel. 

 "1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the ^atrump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!

2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and ^acome unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.

4 I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their ^adesire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their ^bwills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.

5 Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is ^ablameless; but he that ^bknoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of ^cconscience.

6 Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to ^aperform the work to which I have been called?

7 Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?

8 For behold, the Lord doth ^agrant unto ^ball nations, of their own nation and ^ctongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he ^dseeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.

9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do ^anot ^bglory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy.

10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember ^awhat the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me."

The Lord is in charge. And He cares for all His children in every nation of the earth. And he grants teachers for all nations. Every one of His children has the opportunity to hear His word and to make the choice to repent and change according to their own free will. God honors His children's free agency. He never forces you and me to obey His words. 

With the technology we have now, we can see everything that's going on around the world. And it's easy to become critical of those who are making wrong decisions for themselves and for others around them. Well, they don't know what they don't know. And if they are able to know of what they don't know that they don't know, they would probably do better. God is a merciful God and He is giving every one a second chance. He is the ultimate judge. It's His job to judge, not yours, not mine. Unless you're working in a court of justice where you are implementing the law of the land and in charge of judging those who are disrupting the peace and order of the community, it's not your job to judge any human being who is a child of God. God is implementing His laws and commandments. Every thought, word and action of each one of us, doesn't escape His glance. He is the most powerful being and He is all-knowing. He is just and true. He is perfect. He is a God of both justice and mercy. He judges us according to our actions and the desires of our hearts. If there are people who are able to get away with disobeying the law of the land, no one could get away with disobeying the law of God. So, when we see what's going on in this world and want to call out those who are making wrong choices and affecting many people, maybe they don't know what they don't know. And in God's perfect timetable, they will be given a chance to hear God's word and make their own decision to obey or reject it. And in the end, they, along with every human being who was born and lived on this earth, will be judged of their thoughts, words and actions. So, is there anything to worry about if a lot of people are disobeying God at this moment in time when we know that everyone is accountable in God's eyes? And God already carried the burden of punishment of everyone's sins through His Only Begotten Son. God has overcome the world already. We all have the privilege to repent and be forgiven of our sins. And we will all live again after we die. So, even though there are people whose sins cause death of other people, since God already overcame death and all of us will live again, then why do we need to worry about people who are making wrong choices? Other people's choices is not under our control. We were all given the freedom of choice. Just as God honors our free agency, we can also do the same. 

Alma 28: 1-14

Have you observed how happy little children are? They would be smiling most of the time. Little things around them and little things given to them make them so happy already. The people of Ammon are like little children. They're so grateful and so happy for what they are given. Nothing can disrupt their happiness--even the threat to their lives...because they were pure like little children are. Life is full of challenges which could disrupt our happiness. And yet even as we go through our sufferings, sorrows and afflictions, we can find incomprehensible joy as Ammon and his brethren did. 

"1 And now it came to pass that after the people of Ammon were established in the land of ^aJershon, and a church also established in the land of Jershon, and the armies of the Nephites were set round about the land of Jershon, yea, in all the borders round about the land of Zarahemla; behold the armies of the Lamanites had followed their brethren into the wilderness.

2 And thus there was a tremendous battle; yea, even such an one as never had been known among all the people in the land from the time Lehi left Jerusalem; yea, and tens of thousands of the Lamanites were slain and scattered abroad.

3 Yea, and also there was a tremendous slaughter among the people of Nephi; nevertheless, the Lamanites were ^adriven and scattered, and the people of Nephi returned again to their land.

4 And now this was a time that there was a great ^amourning and lamentation heard throughout all the land, among all the people of Nephi—

5 Yea, the cry of ^awidows mourning for their husbands, and also of fathers mourning for their sons, and the daughter for the brother, yea, the brother for the father; and thus the cry of mourning was heard among all of them, mourning for their kindred who had been slain.

6 And now surely this was a sorrowful day; yea, a time of solemnity, and a time of much ^afasting and prayer.

7 And thus endeth the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi;

8 And ^athis is the account of Ammon and his brethren, their journeyings in the land of Nephi, their sufferings in the land, their sorrows, and their afflictions, and their ^bincomprehensible joy, and the reception and safety of the brethren in the land of Jershon. And now may the Lord, the Redeemer of all men, bless their souls forever.

9 And this is the account of the wars and contentions among the Nephites, and also the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites; and the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges is ended.

10 And from the ^afirst year to the fifteenth has brought to pass the destruction of many thousand lives; yea, it has brought to pass an awful scene of bloodshed.

11 And the bodies of many thousands are laid low in the earth, while the bodies of many thousands are ^amoldering in heaps upon the face of the earth; yea, and many thousands are ^bmourning for the loss of their kindred, because they have reason to fear, according to the promises of the Lord, that they are consigned to a state of endless wo.

12 While many thousands of others truly ^amourn for the loss of their kindred, yet they rejoice and exult in the hope, and even know, according to the ^bpromises of the Lord, that they are raised to dwell at the right hand of God, in a state of never-ending ^chappiness.

13 And thus we see how great the ^ainequality of man is because of sin and ^btransgression, and the power of the devil, which comes by the cunning ^cplans which he hath devised to ensnare the hearts of men.

14 And thus we see the great call of ^adiligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the ^blight of Christ unto life."

Indeed our reason of joy is "the light of Christ unto life". Christ lightens our burdens as we turn to Him. He wipes away our tears when we cry. He brings our smile back after a season of sorrow and pain because of sin and transgression. 

Alma 27: 27-30

Are you highly favored of the Lord? If not, what would it be like if you are just like the people of Ammon? 

"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 ^azeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly ^bhonest and upright in all things; and they were ^cfirm 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 ^adeath 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."

The people of Ammon were "perfectly honest and upright in all things." What would it be like if we are the same, you and I am also perfectly honest and upright in all things? If I want to be highly favored of the Lord just as the people of Ammon were, I would be working on being perfectly honest and upright in all things. I am honest. And yet, I'm not sure if I am perfectly honest. And I am upright though not in all things yet. I'm grateful for the example of the people of Ammon. I'm grateful for the Book of Mormon. I'm gaining a lot of insights as I study this sacred book every day. I've read about the people of Ammon over and over again over the years. And now I understand this people now more than ever before. I'm grateful that I've been able to work from home because I've been able to take more time reading and pondering the words the Book of Mormon. And I've been able to take more time on my knees pouring my heart out to God in prayer and I've been able to take more time listening to Him. He does want me to work from home full-time. This is truly His will. First of all, I am able to spend more time with Him and draw closer to Him. And He wants me to develop a closer and stronger relationship with my loved ones and my fellowmen as well because He's got a work for me to do. I got my mission to fulfill while I am still here in this earthly life. And if I am more aligned to His will for me, He would highly favor me. How about you? You would want to be highly favored of the Lord as well, right? What are you working on for the Lord to favor you highly? 

Alma 27: 20-26

Are you expecting God to provide everything that you need because you made the choice to believe in Him and do His will? Seems like this is not the case for the Anti-Nephi-Lehis. They needed protection from their brethren, the Lamanites because they wanted to kill them. And yet, they were not asking God to protect them. And they already buried their weapons of war so they could not protect themselves. They wanted to commit murder no more as they already repented of their sins. It doesn't matter what happens to them. All they wanted was to show to God how they are willing to obey His will. They're so grateful for the privilege of being to repent and be forgiven of their sins. And such great blessings is enough for them. They were not expecting for more blessings. And yet, God has more blessings for them. And indeed innumerable blessings came. They were led by God through Ammon and his brethren to the land of the Nephites. And the Nephites welcomed them and provided them everything which they need. Now they are called the people of Ammon. 

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

21 And it came to pass that the chief judge sent a proclamation throughout all the land, desiring the voice of the people concerning the admitting their brethren, who were the people of ^aAnti-Nephi-Lehi.

22 And it came to pass that the voice of the people came, saying: Behold, we will give up the ^aland of ^bJershon, which is on the east by the sea, which joins the land Bountiful, which is on the south of the land Bountiful; and this land Jershon is the land which we will give unto our brethren for an inheritance.

23 And behold, we will set our armies between the land Jershon and the land Nephi, that we may ^aprotect our brethren in the land Jershon; and this we do for our brethren, on account of their fear to take up arms against their brethren lest they should commit sin; and this their great fear came because of their sore repentance which they had, on account of their many murders and their awful wickedness.

"24 And now behold, this will we do unto our brethren, that they may inherit the land Jershon; and we will guard them from their enemies with our armies, on condition that they will give us a ^aportion of their substance to assist us that we may maintain our armies.

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 ^aconversion, 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 ^apeople of Ammon; therefore they were distinguished by that name ever after." (Alma 27: 20-25)

When we are not attached to the blessings that we want, that's when they are showered to us just as their enumerable blessings were showered to the people of Ammon. They were already enough. They were abundant. Coming from such place of abundance, they were not needy of anything anymore. It's the same with you and me. You and I am enough. God has already provided everything for us with abundance of blessings. When we take of this abundance, we are enough and never needy anymore. And then more blessings come! 

Alma 27: 15-19

 

Haven't you been able to return to your country of origin for quite a long time? Isn't it exciting to be able to go home and reunite with your family and friends after not seeing them for quite a long while? Ammon and his brothers didn't see their friend Alma for many years since they left their homeland. And they did have great joy when they met again as Ammon and his brethren came back with the Anti-Nephi-Lehis. 

"15 And it came to pass that Ammon said unto them: Behold, I and my brethren will go forth into the land of Zarahemla, and ye shall remain here until we return; and we will ^atry the hearts of our brethren, whether they will that ye shall come into their land.

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 ^aplace of which has been spoken; and behold, this was a joyful meeting.

17 Now the ^ajoy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the ^bexhausting of his strength; and he fell ^cagain to the earth.

18 Now was not this ^aexceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of ^bhappiness.

19 Now the joy of Alma in meeting his ^abrethren was truly great, and also the joy of Aaron, of Omner, and Himni; but behold their joy was not that to exceed their strength." (Alma 27: 15-19)

Ammon and his brethren along with Alma were converted unto the Lord after their rebellion. Ever since their conversion, they've been laser beam focused in their mission to bring people to repentance and glorify God. They never gave in to distractions. They've been united in their effort to serve God with all their hearts, might and mind. I'm so grateful for their example. They gave all they got and God did the rest and so they were able to succeed in fulfilling their mission. 

How will I follow the  examples of Ammon, his brethren and Alma as I endeavor to fulfill my own mission in life? I choose to laser focus on the achievement of my goals. I cannot afford to waste my time with random things. I choose to perform and use all the faculties God has given me to their full capacity. I choose to give my all just as Ammon, his brethren and Alma did. And I know God will do the rest...And then when this life is over and I meet my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ again, I imagine, it is a joyful reunion because I made them proud.