Alma 26:23 23 Now do ye remember, my brethren, that we said unto our
brethren in the land of Zarahemla, we go up to the land of Nephi,
to preach unto our brethren, the Lamanites, and they laughed us
to scorn?

Alma 26:24 24 For they said unto us:  Do ye suppose that ye can bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of the truth?  Do ye suppose that ye can convince the Lamanites of the incorrectness of the traditions of their fathers, as stiffnecked a people as they are; whose hearts delight in the shedding of blood; whose days have been spent in the grossest iniquity; whose ways have been the ways of a transgressor from the beginning?  Now my brethren, ye remember that this was their language.

Alma 26:25 25 And moreover they did say:  Let us take up arms against them,
that we destroy them and their iniquity out of the land, lest
they overrun us and destroy us.

Alma 26:26 26 But behold, my beloved brethren, we came into the wilderness
not with the intent to destroy our brethren, but with the intent
that perhaps we might save some few of their souls.

Alma 26:27 27 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 26:28 28 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—­not upon the mercies of the world alone but upon the mercies of God.

Alma 26:29 29 And we have entered into their houses and taught them, and we have taught them in their streets; yea, and we have taught them upon their hills; and we have also entered into their temples and their synagogues and taught them; and 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 through the power and wisdom of God we have been delivered again.

Alma 26:30 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.

Alma 26:31 31 Now behold, we can look forth and see the fruits of our
labors; and are they few?  I say unto you, Nay, they are many;
yea, and we can witness of their sincerity, because of their love
towards their brethren and also towards us.

Alma 26:32 32 For behold, they had rather sacrifice their lives than even
to take the life of their enemy; and they have buried their
weapons of war deep in the earth, because of their love towards
their brethren.

Alma 26:33 33 And now behold I say unto you, has there been so great love
in all the land?  Behold, I say unto you, Nay, there has not,
even among the Nephites.