Monday, July 05, 2010

 

Be The Angel

We often get what we desire and may not realize it; it just doesn't always happen like we expect.

In Alma 29:1&2 Alma says:
O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people. Yea, I would declare... repentance and the plan of salvation...

Alma changed his own conduct after a visit from an angel. That angelic visit as described in Mosiah 27:11-17 included a voice of thunder to shake the earth, questions about Alma's persecution of the church, a testimony of God's power and of his church, a directive to remember the difficulties from which the Lord had delivered his fathers, and a warning of destruction if he continued his persecution of the Church.

We find that Alma used these same elements in his subsequent conduct in preaching and teaching and leading the church. In his own teaching he tells the people to remember their fathers and the Lord's power that delivered them. When he faces Korihor in Alma 30 he also uses the methods of the angel in telling Korihor about the existence of God; in verse 47 he tells Korihor that he will be smitten and destroyed rather than be allowed to keep bringing souls to destruction.

Alma really becomes the angel. He teaches and rebukes and as the angel had taught and rebuked him. So his prayer that he could be as an angel and preach repentance is mostly realized. He carried on as the angel taught him - doing what the angel did. The only thing he lacked was the voice of thunder to shake the earth. In lieu of that voice of thunder he was clothed with power and authority.

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