“Thousands of Our Brethren Has He Loosed from the Pains of Hell”

Brant Gardner

Literature: These three verses comprise a single concept. Ammon explains that he is rejoicing in the salvation of thousands of the Lamanites who have been “loosed from the pains of hell.” He makes his point with paired contrasts.

The “pains of hell” are contrasted to “redeeming love.” The pain/love pairing plays on both of the opposition of those emotions. Ammon’s converts have been brought out of pain into love.

In contrast to “darkness and destruction” is “his everlasting light.” The dark/light contrast is a very common one in religious themes contrasting good and evil.

Ammon uses the phrase “sing redeeming love.” This might echo Alma’s similar phrase: “If ye have experienced a change of heart, and if ye have felt to sing the song of redeeming love, I would ask, can ye feel so now?” (Alma 5:26). It is also possible that this phrase was simply so familiar to Joseph Smith from his religious environment that it came readily to him as he translated this passage.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4

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