The harvest of the Sons of Mosiah

I was surprised to find that, except for quoting Isaiah, the word 'harvest' is only found twice in the Book of Mormon. The first time is in Alma 17:13, when the Sons of Mosiah are going on a mission to preach the gospel to the Lamanites.

13 And it came to pass when they had arrived in the borders of the land of the Lamanites, that they separated themselves and departed one from another, trusting in the Lord that they should meet again at the close of their harvest; for they supposed that great was the work which they had undertaken.

The second time is when Ammon is looking back on their mission, rejoicing in their success in Alma 26. They did meet again at the close of their harvest and Ammon is referring to their harvest in verse 7. In verses 5-7 he uses agricultural imagery that seems to be drawn from ancient Israelite culture.

5 Behold, the field was ripe, and blessed are ye, for ye did thrust in the sickle, and did reap with your might, yea, all the day long did ye labor; and behold the number of your sheaves! And they shall be gathered into the garners, that they are not wasted.

6 Yea, they shall not be beaten down by the storm at the last day; yea, neither shall they be harrowed up by the whirlwinds; but when the storm cometh they shall be gathered together in their place, that the storm cannot penetrate to them; yea, neither shall they be driven with fierce winds whithersoever the enemy listeth to carry them.

7 But behold, they are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, and they are his; and he will raise them up at the last day.

Similar metaphors are found in Joel 3:13

Put ye in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe: come, get you down; for the press is full, the fats overflow; for their wickedness is great.

and Micah 4:12

But they know not the thoughts of the Lord, neither understand they his counsel: for he shall gather them as the sheaves into the floor.

Notice also how Ammon says that the sheaves shall be gathered when the storms and whirlwinds come. These are ancient Israelite metaphors associated with scattering. For instance, in Zechariah 7:14

But I scattered them with a whirlwind among all the nations whom they knew not.

See also similar statements in Habakkuk 3:14 and Isaiah 41:16 for instance. Ammon argues that since the sheaves are in the hands of the Lord of the harvest, they will be gathered when the winds come, instead of scattered like Israel of old. Ammon certainly knew of the Lord's promises to the Lamanites pertaining to the latter-day gathering, in addition to making a case for the converts at his time.

Another connection I noticed is a few verses later in Alma 26, where Ammon describes the change that happened to the Lamanite converts.

13 Behold, how many thousands of our brethren has he loosed from the pains of hell; and they are brought to sing redeeming love, and this because of the power of his word which is in us, therefore have we not great reason to rejoice?

14 Yea, we have reason to praise him forever, for he is the Most High God, and has loosed our brethren from the chains of hell.

15 Yea, they were encircled about with everlasting darkness and destruction; but behold, he has brought them into his everlasting light, yea, into everlasting salvation; and they are encircled about with the matchless bounty of his love; yea, and we have been instruments in his hands of doing this great and marvelous work.

The language is very similar to Alma-2's description of the change that happened to the "fathers" of the Nephites in Zarahemla

7 Behold, he changed their hearts; yea, he awakened them out of a deep sleep, and they awoke unto God. Behold, they were in the midst of darkness; nevertheless, their souls were illuminated by the light of the everlasting word; yea, they were encircled about by the bands of death, and the chains of hell, and an everlasting destruction did await them.

8 And now I ask of you, my brethren, were they destroyed? Behold, I say unto you, Nay, they were not.

9 And again I ask, were the bands of death broken, and the chains of hell which encircled them about, were they loosed? I say unto you, Yea, they were loosed, and their souls did expand, and they did sing redeeming love. And I say unto you that they are saved. (Alma 5)

At this point, Ammon had met Alma again and might have even read the account of his preaching in Zarahemla. Still I sense use of symbolism that is much older and speculate about similar content and a common source on the brass plates, even though I have no other evidence to back that up.