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"All this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul," Alma 26:23-30

Alma 26:23-30

This particular set of verses I have come to at a time when I am struggling with a particular challenging child. While the philosophies of the world shout in my ears to punish and harshly discipline in the face of such behaviors, I look at all that these missionaries suffered with the hopes of saving some soul. The parallel of such is not lost upon me.

There are two verses that give me a particular hope in my current situation from this passage. First, in verse 27, Ammon says "behold, the Lord comforted us." Despite the poor decisions that my children make, I am not denied the privilege of the Lord's peace in my own life when I seek it. Second, in verse 29, as Ammon goes on to describe all the varied exertions and hardships that they faced in their work, this brings a degree of assurance that perhaps in all these afflictions, we may eventually be the means of saving some soul.

This wording is also noteworthy. Twice in this passage Ammon states that "we came into the wilderness... with the intent that perhaps we might save some few of their souls." (vs. 26) Again, he says it in verse 30:
And we have suffered all manner of afflictions, and all this, that perhaps we might be the means of saving some soul; and we supposed that our joy would be full if perhaps we could be the means of saving some.
 Though one might say that these missionaries were incurably optimistic, they're goals were yet modest and humble. 
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