Before Ammon and his brothers left on their missions, they saw the Lamanites as “the very vilest of sinners” (Mosiah 28:4).
But because of their own complicated past and subsequent conversion, Ammon and his brothers “could not bear that any human soul should perish” (Mosiah 28:3).
So they gave up everything and left to serve these Lamanites who were considered their enemies.
The Nephites never expected anything good to happen. In fact, they laughed Ammon and his brothers “to scorn” (Alma 26:23) for wanting to love and serve the Lamanites.
But over course of time, these misfits turned missionaries were able to witness one of the greatest conversion stories in all of scripture.
Those “vilest of sinners” now became the purest of Saints. These Lamanites, fighters by heritage, became so committed to God and their covenants that they buried their weapons in the ground and covenanted to never fight again. Many of them ultimately gave up their lives to keep that covenant.
We should never judge the condition of someone’s heart.
We should never give up on someone because of their past.
We don’t know what others have gone through or how they were raised.
And we should never assume that their story is written and the book is sealed on what they will do with their lives.
These Lamanites became “Anti-Nephi-Lehis” and changed the course of history for the Lamanite people because of their faithfulness. But it required someone to love them and serve them in order for that to happen.
When you combine the Spirit of God, the teachings of Christ, a person who genuinely loves and cares for others, and a little time, there is no end to the miracles that can take place.
—Greg Trimble
Member of the Young Men General Advisory Council