I read this scripture from the Book of Mormon last week. “Now they wept because of the fear of being slain. Now when Ammon saw this his heart was swollen within him with joy; for, said he, I will show forth my power unto these my fellow–servants, or the power which is in me, in restoring these flocks unto the king, that I may win the hearts of these my fellow–servants, that I may lead them to believe in my words” Alma 17:29
Ammon saw the opportunity to help these people. He would recover the sheep and return them to the king. He would provide this service which would win him favor with the servants and also with the king.
The answer is simple. Service is the way to win the hearts of people. Probably in our community, the hearts of most people are won. But there are a few that have not been won over. It may take a long time, but genuine service to those will win them over.
A few years ago I was assigned to home teach a family that I had never seen at church. I would go to the door and they never let me in. Later I saw them on the roof putting on new shingles. I bought me a shingling hammer, and climbed the latter to the roof. I helped put on the shingles. After helping them several evenings, I was invited into their home. I don’t know if they ever participated at church or not, or just what they thought about it.
Alma did not rely on the sword, but he reports. “… that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them. (Book of Mormon | Alma 4:19)
There a number of religions that use the sword to win converts and after many generations those people have become converted.
