They Did Suffer Much

After telling how Alma met up with the sons of Mosiah, Mormon wrote this about their mission: “Now these are the circumstances which attended them in their journeyings, for they had many afflictions; they did suffer much, both in body and in mind, such as hunger, thirst and fatigue, and also much labor in the spirit” (Alma 17:5). As we read the account of their labors among the Lamanites, it would seem that they had only a few difficulties and then it was trial-free from that point on as they brought thousands of Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth. But as we read carefully I think we see that, though it came with incredible spiritual rewards, their mission was extremely difficult for the sons of Mosiah. There were apparently some challenges up front in the wilderness because Ammon said later, “Now when our hearts were depressed, and we were about to turn back, behold, the Lord comforted us, and said: Go amongst thy brethren, the Lamanites, and bear with patience thine afflictions, and I will give unto you success” (Alma 26:27). For some reason they had been ready to give up even before they got started, perhaps because of the difficulty of trying to survive in the wilderness. And then of course we know that for Ammon’s brethren suffering came immediately as they commenced and ultimately ended up in prison where they were saved by Ammon and Lamoni. Here is the description we have: “The brethren of Ammon were brought forth out of prison. And when Ammon did meet them he was exceedingly sorrowful, for behold they were naked, and their skins were worn exceedingly because of being bound with strong cords. And they also had suffered hunger, thirst, and all kinds of afflictions; nevertheless they were patient in all their sufferings…. they had cast them out, and had smitten them, and had driven them from house to house, and from place to place, even until they had arrived in the land of Middoni; and there they were taken and cast into prison, and bound with strong cords, and kept in prison for many days” (Alma 20:28-30). Clearly they had suffered immensely, and Mormon emphasized again: “And those who were cast into prison suffered many things…. and thus they had suffered” (Alma 21:14-15). I have always assumed they didn’t spend very long in prison, but we really don’t know, and this suffering could have lasted for months. Despite their righteousness and selfless intentions, they still had to suffer in the work of the Lord.

                After this point the king over all the land was converted, and we don’t have many specific details about the trials the sons of Mosiah faced other than watching their converts get persecuted and killed by the other Lamanites. But Ammon’s later words suggest, I believe, suggest that their 14 years of missionary service were a struggle the whole way through. Ammon summarized, “And now behold, we have come, and been forth amongst them; and we have been patient in our sufferings, and we have suffered every privation; yea, we have traveled from house to house, relying upon the mercies of the world…. We have been cast out, and mocked, and spit upon, and smote upon our cheeks; and we have been stoned, and taken and bound with strong cords, and cast into prison…. And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul” (Alma 26:28-30). As Mormon summarized their missionary service he said this, “And this 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 incomprehensible joy, and the reception and safety of the brethren in the land of Jershon” (Alma 28:8). And so while they did ultimately find great joy, they also passed through terrible sorrows and afflictions as they served away from their home for 14 years among a foreign people. They faced depression, hunger, thirst, and surely incredible fatigue; they were cast out, mocked, stoned, and spent time in prison; they faced all manner of afflictions. But ultimately the Lord caused them to triumph over all their struggles as they persevered no matter what the cost and continued preaching the word of the Lord to their former enemies. They could have stayed home in the palace living a life of ease; instead they suffered great privations so they could bring the word of God to the Lamanites. Ultimately as they endured through their trials they came to find “exceeding joy” in bringing their brethren to a knowledge of the truth.