Alma 29
People in this chapter
Like Nephi's psalm in 2 Nephi 4, Alma 29 reads like a private prayer. There is no audience and no story. Alma, the high priest of the Church, simply tells us what he wishes: 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! (v. 1).
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Alma 29:1-3O That I Were an Angel
1O 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! 2Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
Alma wishes he could be an angel with a voice loud enough to reach everyone on earth at once. He wants every person to repent so there will be no more sorrow.
Alma's message has two parts: repent, and learn the plan of redemption. Both lead to the same place: come unto our God.
3But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.
Alma catches himself. His wish is good, and it reaches past the calling God gave him. He decides to be content with the things which the Lord hath allotted to him.
Alma 29:4-8Of Their Own Nation and Tongue
4I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire, whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable, according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction. 5Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.
Alma realizes that God will not force anyone to believe. He gives people what they truly desire. An angel's voice could compel people, but God honors their choices.
God judges people by what they know. A person who does not know good from evil is not blamed. A person who does know is given what they choose.
6Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called? 7Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth? 8For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.
Alma does not need to reach the whole world himself. The Lord gives every nation teachers of their own nation and tongue, and gives each people as much of His word as He sees fit.
Alma 29:9-13This Is My Glory
9I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and this is my joy. 10And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended towards me.
Alma no longer needs to reach everyone. His glory is to help some soul repent. Even one soul is enough for joy.
11Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers; for I surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of bondage, and by this did establish his church; yea, the Lord God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did deliver them out of bondage. 12Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers; and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did deliver them out of bondage. 13Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full.
Alma remembers two deliverances: Israel freed from Egypt, and his own father's people freed from bondage. The same God did both, and the same God called Alma.
Alma 29:14-17My Joy Is More Full
14But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi. 15Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward! 16Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy.
Alma is happy about his own success, but even happier about his friends' success. He feels no rivalry. Their joy is his joy.
17And now may God grant unto these, my brethren, that they may sit down in the kingdom of God; yea, and also all those who are the fruit of their labors that they may go no more out, but that they may praise him forever. And may God grant that it may be done according to my words, even as I have spoken. Amen.
Alma ends with a prayer for his friends and for all the people they taught: that they may live in God's kingdom, never leave it, and praise Him forever.
Research trail
Sources & further study
These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.
- AngelsWho angels are and how they deliver God's messages, the role Alma wishes for in verse 1.
- Agency and AccountabilityWhy God will not force anyone to choose Him, the principle Alma accepts in verses 4-5.
- Missionary WorkThe Church's teaching on sharing the gospel, the work Alma calls his glory and his joy in verse 9.
- JoyScripture passages on joy, the word Alma repeats through verses 9-16.
Where this echoes in Scripture
O That I Were an Angel
- Mosiah 27:11He spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake.The angel's voice Alma had heard himself.
- Mosiah 28:3They could not bear that any human soul should perish.The same longing in the sons of Mosiah.
- Philippians 4:11I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
- Revelation 14:6Another angel… having the everlasting gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth.An angel bringing the gospel to every nation.
Of Their Own Nation and Tongue
- D&C 137:9I, the Lord, will judge all men according to their works, according to the desire of their hearts.
- 2 Nephi 29:7Know ye not that there are more nations than one?… I bring forth my word unto the children of men.The Lord speaks to all nations.
- D&C 90:11Every man shall hear the fulness of the gospel in his own tongue, and in his own language.
- Acts 2:6, 8Every man heard them speak in his own language.The gospel in every tongue at Pentecost.
- Alma 26:37God is mindful of every people, whatsoever land they may be in.Ammon's conclusion at the end of the Lamanite mission.
This Is My Glory
- Alma 36:17-20O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me.The prayer Alma remembers in verse 10.
- D&C 18:15Bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy.
- Mosiah 24:21None could deliver them except it were the Lord their God.The captivity of Alma's fathers.
- Alma 36:28-29He has brought our fathers out of Egypt… and I have always retained in remembrance their captivity.Alma tells Helaman the same thing.
- Exodus 3:6I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.
My Joy Is More Full
- Alma 26:16Who can glory too much in the Lord?Ammon's joy, which Alma shares.
- Romans 12:15Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.
- 2 Corinthians 12:2Whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell.
- Revelation 3:12Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out.The blessing Alma prays for in verse 17.