Alma 27: 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.
There is a difference between those that love the Lord and those that love the world. As we turn our excitement “zeal” towards God we step into the eternal light of Christ. “They were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love.” (Alma 26:15) “Joy, because of the light of Christ unto life.” (Alma 28:14) “Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea, he was swallowed up in the joy of his God.” (Alma 27:17) “They were a zealous and beloved people, a highly favored people of the Lord.” (Alma 27:30)
Alma 26: 4 Behold, thousands of them do rejoice, and have been brought into the fold of God.
This joy is for every person, “this is not which none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness.” (Alma 27:18) “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.” ( Alma 26:37) “ He loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children,” “plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations.” (Alma 24:14) “For he has all power, all wisdom, and all understanding, and he is a merciful Being, even unto salvation, to those who will repent and believe on his name.” (Alma 26:35)
Our zeal for the Lord helps us to discern truth, because our hearts are open to hear spiritual guidance, “as sure as the Lord liveth, so sure as many as believed, or as many as were brought to the knowledge of the truth, through the preaching of Ammon and his brethren, according to the spirit of revelation and of prophecy, and the power of God working miracles in them.” (Alma 23:6) They were “brought to believe and to know the truth they were firm.” (Alma 24:19) “He that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God.” (Alma 26:22)
Alma 26: 5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.
The more we love God, the more we desire to be “instruments in his hands.” (Alma 26:15) “This is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some souls to repentance; and this is my joy.” (Alma 28:9) “I will go and inquire of the Lord, and if he say unto us, go down unto our brethren, I will go? ….Yea, if the Lord saith unto us go, we will go.” (Alma 27:7-8) “Who can say too much of his great power, and of his mercy, and of his long-suffering towards the children of men.” (Alma 26:16) “I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren.” (Alma 29;14) “They are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.” (Alma 26:7)
Through our zealous desires to follow the Lord, he will give us strength, “the law of Moses did serve to strengthen their faith in Christ; and thus they did retain a hope through faith, unto eternal salvation, relying upon the spirit of prophecy, which spake of those things to come.” (Alma 25:16) “I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.” (Alma 26:12) “Let us glory, yea, we will glory in the Lord; yea, we will rejoice, for our joy is full; yea, we will praise our God forever.” (Alma 26:16)
Alma 26: 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.
-Written by Sherri Jorgensen
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