“This People Who Are a Branch of the Tree of Israel”

Alan C. Miner

In rejoicing over his missionary experiences, Ammon speaks of "this people, who are a branch of the tree of Israel, and ha[ve] been lost from its body in a strange land" (Alma 26:36). According to Brant Gardner, this is a clear reference to Jacob's analogy of the olive tree as recorded in Jacob 5 of the small plates. It is a clear indicator that they studied those records on the small plates even when they have neglected to specifically mention as much. [Brant Gardner, Book of Mormon Commentary, [http://www.highfiber.com/] ~nahualli/LDStopics/Alma/Alma26.htm, p. 10]

Step by Step Through the Book of Mormon: A Cultural Commentary

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