The Great Call of Diligence
Book of Mormon Notes - Monday, September 18, 2023, Alma 27-28
There is so much more in Alma 26. But let’s keep moving forward in our study of the Book of Mormon. My original goal was to finish the Book of Mormon by Christmas. I am a little bit behind schedule, but this reminds me to make shorter posts about the most important things, or the things that the Spirit most impresses upon my mind and heart.
To that end, in my study this morning, I began to ponder something about the future of the missionary efforts of the sons of Mosiah. Ammon and his brothers and his brethren didn’t just save thousands of Lamanites by inviting them to come unto Christ. They influenced generations upon generations. Particularly, the people of Ammon became the parents of one of the greatest generation of youth. We haven’t read about them yet, but the Spirit points my mind forward to these youth as I ponder the influence of Ammon and the sons of Mosiah and their missionary friends upon these parents. As I wondered how it was possible to raise such valiant youth, it seems clear that the key was the mighty change of heart and conversion of the parents, through the preaching of Ammon, the sons of Mosiah, and their missionary friends.
Listen to the way that Mormon describes these valiant future parents:
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.
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. (Alma 27:27-28)
Zeal towards God and men, perfect honesty, uprightness in all things, firmness in the faith of Christ unto the end… these were the attributes of the truly penitent and converted Lamanites, the people of Ammon. No wonder their children accomplished such amazing miracles. What might Mormon wish for his future audience, namely us, to understand about all of this?
There is so much more in these chapters - the reunion of Alma and the sons of Mosiah, wars between Lamanites and Nephites, etc. - but Mormon draws his spiritual lessons from the secular history:
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.
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. (Alma 28:13-14)
This is a vital message, particularly for modern Americans who are obsessed with equality. In the Lord’s eyes we are all equal in terms of God’s love for us, but not everyone loves God equally or enjoys His favor equally, as Nephi so plainly testified:
Behold, the Lord esteemeth all flesh in one; he that is righteous is favored of God. But behold, this people had rejected every word of God, and they were ripe in iniquity; and the fulness of the wrath of God was upon them; and the Lord did curse the land against them, and bless it unto our fathers; yea, he did curse it against them unto their destruction, and he did bless it unto our fathers unto their obtaining power over it. (1 Nephi 17:35)
As Mormon surveyed the spiritual landscape of these people who spoke from the dust to him, he emphasized their great inequality. He emphasized the great joy and happiness of people like Ammon and the sons of Mosiah, Alma, and the people of Ammon in contrast to the suffering and misery of the wicked. As Mormon concluded the portion of his abridgment about the missionary labors of the sons of Mosiah and their missionary friends, he succinctly encapsulated a simple lesson for future generations of missionaries: “Thus we see the great call of adiligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord.” (Alma 28:14) No wonder President Nelson and all previous prophets of the last dispensation have not only encouraged but commanded young men to serve missions. Remember Lehi’s instruction and admonition to his son Jacob:
Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, asave it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who blayeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the cresurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. (2 Nephi 2:8)
All of this brings me back to Abinadi, whose sacrifice in similitude of Christ changed the course of Nephite history. Think about it. Because Abinadi boldly testified of Christ before King Noah and his wicked priests, Alma the Elder repented and experienced a mighty change of heart. Because Alma the Elder repented and experienced a mighty change of heart, he was enabled to exercise the great faith in Christ that called down an angel of God to rebuke his son, Alma the Younger, and the sons of Mosiah. Because of this rebuke and message from the angel, Alma the Younger and the sons of Mosiah eventually embarked upon missions, one of which missions was that of Ammon among the Lamanites, many of whom were converted and became the people of Ammon and the parents of the noble warriors, Helaman’s army. Abinadi’s testimony of Christ and his martyrdom truly changed the world for the better. It is also a great reminder about how the Lord works and ministers to the one. Abinadi’s missionary efforts made all the difference for Alma the Elder, and for thousands upon thousands, and now millions and billions in future generations.
This is how Mormon summarized his abridgment of Alma’s record of the missionary labors of the sons of Mosiah:
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. (Alma 28:8)
And this is Mormon’s summary of the rest of the secular history in this portion of his abridgment:
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. (Alma 28:9)
All of these missionary labors and all of these wars must have stirred the great Mormon to contemplate the eternal purpose of the Lord and to draw forth the lessons that would most bless his future readers. Mormon saw the great inequality of men, not only in his own time, but in the last days, among us. He saw the sin and transgression and the power of the devil and his cunning plans in the last days. He saw how the devil would attempt to ensnare the hearts of men, and he knew what the solution was: to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Mormon calls it “the great call of adiligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord”. President Nelson has recently reiterated the importance of this great call of adiligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord:
Brothers and sisters, the gospel of Jesus Christ has never been needed more than it is today. Contention violates everything the Savior stood for and taught. I love the Lord Jesus Christ and testify that His gospel is the only enduring solution for peace. His gospel is a gospel of peace.2
His gospel is the only answer when many in the world are stunned with fear.3 This underscores the urgent need for us to follow the Lord’s instruction to His disciples to “go … into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.”4 We have the sacred responsibility to share the power and peace of Jesus Christ with all who will listen and who will let God prevail in their lives.
Every person who has made covenants with God has promised to care about others and serve those in need. We can demonstrate faith in God and always be ready to respond to those who ask about “the hope that is in [us].”5 Each of us has a role to play in the gathering of Israel.
Today I reaffirm strongly that the Lord has asked every worthy, able young man to prepare for and serve a mission. For Latter-day Saint young men, missionary service is a priesthood responsibility. You young men have been reserved for this time when the promised gathering of Israel is taking place. As you serve missions, you play a pivotal role in this unprecedented event!
For you young and able sisters, a mission is also a powerful, but optional, opportunity. We love sister missionaries and welcome them wholeheartedly. What you contribute to this work is magnificent! Pray to know if the Lord would have you serve a mission, and the Holy Ghost will respond to your heart and mind.
Dear young friends, you are each vital to the Lord. He has held you in reserve until now to help gather Israel. Your decision to serve a mission, whether a proselyting or a service mission, will bless you and many others. We also welcome senior couples to serve when their circumstances permit. Their efforts are simply irreplaceable.
All missionaries teach and testify of the Savior. The spiritual darkness in the world makes the light of Jesus Christ needed more than ever. Everyone deserves the chance to know about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Every person deserves to know where they can find the hope and peace that “[pass] all understanding.”6
Thus we see that the great call of adiligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord continues, and Mormon provides us with many tools to help prepare us for such diligent labor.