Alma 26

“We Will Glory in the Lord”

Have you ever had an experience you couldn’t wait to tell someone about? What did you want people to know? Similarly, Ammon and his brothers rejoiced about their 14-year mission among the Lamanites, and they wanted to share their experiences. They witnessed the power and love of God as thousands of Lamanites were brought to the knowledge of the truth. This lesson can help you feel deep gratitude and love for the Lord and for the blessings He bestows in your life.

Preparing to be an instrument for the Holy Ghost. As you strive to follow the Savior’s example of obedience and live the gospel with all your heart, the Spirit will be with you. You don’t have to be perfect—just diligently trying. Seek forgiveness through the Savior’s Atonement whenever you stumble.

Student preparation: Students could read Alma 26:11–16 and ponder what they think it means to “glory in the Lord.”

Possible Learning Activities

What are you passionate about?

Students could discuss the following as pairs or in small groups. As an alternative, you might invite one or two students to briefly share with the class.

Reflect for a few moments on something you are enthusiastic or passionate about—something that once you start talking about, it’s hard to stop!

• Why do you feel so strongly about this?

• What do you hope others will feel when you talk about it? Why?

After the sons of Mosiah returned from their 14-year mission to the Lamanites, Ammon spoke with his brethren about their experiences. Read Alma 26:8, 16, looking for what Ammon was enthusiastic and passionate about.

In Alma 26:16, Ammon used the words glory, rejoice, and praise while speaking about the Lord. To glory means to rejoice in or give “worshipful praise, honor, and thanksgiving” (Merriam-Webster.com, “Glory”; see also Guide to the Scriptures, “Glory,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). You may want to mark these words in verse 16 and in other verses you study today.

Consider inviting students to write the definition of glory in their journals or make a note near Alma 26:16. Students may have additional definitions or thoughts to share based on their class preparation.

Take a few moments to reflect on the following:

• How do you feel about your relationship with Heavenly Father? Why?

• Do you speak to others about Him with excitement and joy? Why or why not?

As you study Alma 26 today, ponder how Ammon’s example of sharing how he felt about God can increase your love and gratitude for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

“Such great blessings”

Determine whether students will benefit most by reading the following scripture blocks (and other blocks later in the lesson) as a class, in small groups, or in pairs. Use the provided questions or others you might think of to help students understand and analyze the content and context.

Read Alma 26:1–4, 8–16, looking for how Ammon spoke about God and about what He had done for his brethren and the Lamanites.

• What stood out to you about how Ammon spoke about God?

• What truths did you find that could inspire someone to glory in the Lord?

Consider having students write the truths they discovered on the board. Or students could write these truths on sticky notes and read them aloud before posting them on the board. For example, God gives great blessings (verses 1–3); God can work through us to accomplish His great work and bless others (verse 3); in the strength of the Lord we can do all things (verse 12); and God is powerful, merciful, and patient with His children (verse 16).

You may then want to display the following images to remind students of Ammon’s experiences as a missionary that led him to praise God. You might invite students to briefly retell some of the events recorded in Alma 17–21.

Although our experiences are different from Ammon’s, we may have similar reasons to praise God.

To help students think about reasons they may have for praising God, you may want to display the following questions. Give students time to answer one of the questions in their study journals, then invite willing students to share their responses with the class.

• Think about how you have been or could be an “[instrument] in the hands of God” (Alma 26:3) to bless others. How might these experiences lead you to praise God?

• What are some other reasons you have for praising God?

• What differences could it make in someone’s life to glory in what God has done for him or her?

“So great reason to rejoice”

When Ammon remembered his time as a missionary and his interaction with God, he gloried and rejoiced in who God is and what God had made possible in his life.

Consider providing paper for students to complete the following study activity. For variety, the first part of the activity could be completed as a class. Students could study the different groups and record what they find on the board. Consider using the bulleted question or others you think of to help students glory in the Lord.

Fold a piece of paper into thirds or make three columns on a page in your study journal. Label the top of each column with one of the following groups of people:

• Ammon and his brethren (Alma 26:17–22)

• The Lamanites (Alma 26:23–24, 31–34)

• All of God’s children (Alma 26:35–37)

Read the scripture passages for each group and record in the column what God had done for them.

• What stood out to you about what God had done for these groups of people? Why would this cause the people to glory in Him?

Give students ample time to complete the following individualized segment of this activity. Encourage students to be thoughtful and prayerful as they work.

Turn the folded sheet of paper over, or create three new columns in your study journal. Give each column one of the following headings:

• How God has blessed me

• How God has blessed those I love

• What I know and feel about God

You may want to pray to Heavenly Father, asking Him to bring thoughts and memories to your mind. As you remember how God has blessed you and others and reflect on your feelings for Him, the Holy Ghost can help you feel God’s love for you.

Record your responses in each column, and explain why they cause you to glory in God.

Consider using the following questions to help students understand the truth and importance of the feelings they experienced. Encourage willing students to share what they felt as they reflected on their reasons to glory in the Lord.

• How did this activity help you feel greater joy in God or increased love and gratitude for Him?

• How do you think your relationship with the Lord would change if you took time to remember and glory in Him more frequently?

Encourage students to act on the following invitation.

As you reflect on what you have learned and felt today, you may want to make a goal to take time to remember and glory in God. You may also feel prompted to share your thoughts with someone else like Ammon did. Look for an opportunity to share, and consider how you could help the other person feel what you have felt for Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

Commentary and Background Information

What can I learn about God by reflecting on my spiritual experiences?

Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught:

Think of your own life. Over the years, I have listened to thousands of profoundly spiritual experiences from Latter-day Saints all across the world, confirming to me beyond any question that God knows and loves each of us and that He eagerly desires to reveal Himself to us. These experiences may come at pivotal times in our lives or in what may at first seem as uneventful happenings, but they are always accompanied by an exceptionally strong spiritual confirmation of the love of God. (Neil L. Andersen, “Spiritually Defining Memories,” Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 19)

How can I glory in God every day?

Sister Joy D. Jones, former Primary General President, reminded us:

The Lord counseled, “Look unto me in every thought” [Doctrine and Covenants 6:36]. And each week we covenant to do just that—to “always remember him” [Doctrine and Covenants 20:77, 79]. Can such a godly focus apply in everything we do? Can performing even a menial task become an opportunity to demonstrate our love and devotion to Him? I believe it can and will.

We can make each item on our to-do list become a way to glorify Him. We can see each task as a privilege and opportunity to serve Him, even when we are in the midst of deadlines, duties, or dirty diapers. (Joy D. Jones, “For Him,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2018, 51)

Supplemental Learning Activities

Alternate way to begin the lesson

Ask students to praise someone they know. Encourage them to express why this person or what he or she accomplished is praiseworthy or impressive. Then ask students what they could say in praise about God. How is talking about Him the same as or different from talking about another person? Why? Then invite them to read Alma 26:8, 16, looking for who Ammon praised and why.

Alma 26:11–12. “In his strength I can do all things”

You may want to help students reflect on Ammon’s teachings in these verses. To do this, you might provide students with a scenario about a teenager who is given a task he or she finds difficult or intimidating from a Church leader or from God through revelation. Students could then consider how Ammon’s declaration could help the teenager in the scenario respond to his or her uncertainty.

Alma 26:22. Ammon’s promise

Write the following equation on the board: + = . Invite students to fill in the blanks however they would like, as long as the equation is accurate. Then invite them to complete another that is more complex: + + = . Inform students that Ammon gave a promise in Alma 26:22 that can also be written as an equation. Invite them to read the verse and write out the equation Ammon taught. It may be helpful for students to know that “mysteries of God are spiritual truths known only by revelation” (Guide to the Scriptures, “Mysteries of God,” scriptures.ChurchofJesusChrist.org). Consider inviting students to share which blessing they would want most from Ammon’s promise and why. Then discuss what it means to do each of the actions to receive such blessings.