We have just spent time talking about all the success that Ammon and the other sons of Mosiah have had in preaching the gospel among the Lamanites. Many souls had heard the gospel because of the preaching of these men.
Alma the Younger, who was with the sons of Mosiah during all of their conversion, ended up not going with them to the Lamanites to preach because he ended up being the spiritual leader there among the Nephites.
He talks in this chapter about how he wishes he could just convince the whole world by speaking with the voice of an angel, and he also talked about how great it is to be an instrument in the hands of the Lord in leading even one soul to repentance.
Then his thoughts turned to the sons of Mosiah and he talks about their successful mission.
"Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy." (Alma 29:16)
I think in this application, with the success equating to people being saved, I can see the reaction of how much Alma is trying to put into words how happy he is that his brethren were successful. Basically, he said "I'm beside myself!" about this.
As I read that verse, though, this thought popped into my mind. Here is Alma, who honestly probably wanted to go with his friends and share in their experiences and success. He has his own successes and disappointments in his life while these others were gone preaching the gospel. But here he is rejoicing in THEIR success. His soul wasn't carried away at the thought of HIS success, but theirs.
Imagine how this world would be if we just celebrated other peoples' successes as often as we highlight their failures. We can learn from Alma's example, and celebrate others' successes, no matter what our own current circumstances or experiences are.
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