Chapter 29
Alma desires to cry repentance with angelic zeal—The Lord grants teachers for all nations—Alma glories in the Lord's work and in the success of Ammon and his brethren. About 76 B.C.
1 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!
2 Yea, 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.
3 But 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.
4 I 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.
5 Yea, 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.
6 Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?
Alma 29:1-6 (Emphasis mine)
In Chapter 29, we have one of those special chapters in the Book of Mormon. Here we have a psalm from Alma(2). We are reading the deepest feelings of his soul, which he is now pouring out unto God.
His desires come from a man who had a major change in his life. He was the “vilest of sinners” (Mosiah 28:4). His soul was lost. He was about to lose everything for all eternity. Then, through a miraculous conversion, he experienced a mighty change. The vile man died that day. He was reborn as a servant of Christ.
His greatest desire is to call the people to repentance. Is it any wonder that a man who knows the results of true repentance would emphasize this principle? As we’ve read Alma(2)’s teaching, repentance was the main gospel principle he preached.
Robert Millet wrote about this experience.
“A relatively young man at the time of his conversion, Alma lived fewer than twenty years thereafter. Yet in those two decades he almost single-handedly invigorated and established the cause of truth and liberty in the Nephite church and society. Never forgetting the thunderous voice of the angel at the time of his conversion, Alma always carried with him this unchanging desire: ‘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! . . . that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth’ (Alma 29:1—2).” [1] (Emphasis mine)
Alma(2) also mentions an important principle. In verse 5, he teaches we all face the choice of good and evil. Those who know the difference will reap the consequences of their choice. But before this, he tells us that those who don’t know good from evil; those who have not heard the word of Christ, will be held blameless. The rest of us will be held accountable.
7 Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?
8 For 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.
9 I 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.
10 And 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 29:7-10 (Emphasis mine)
He continues to share important insights as he celebrates God. In verse 8, he tells us that the Lord deals differently with people and nations. Not all people receive all gospel principles. The Lord determines what they should have. Even though they might not have all truth, we learn that most have important truths.
Alma(2) rejoices not because of all that the Lord commanded, but because he was an instrument in the hands of God. Why? To bring the people to repentance (here’s that important principle again).
He also rejoices in his brethren being truly repentant.
John Tvedtnes observes:
“Similar wording is found in Alma's poem, making it clear that he was thinking about his earlier experience with the angel. ‘I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just God,’ said he, speaking of life and death, of salvation and destruction (Alma 29:4). Man's desire for ‘good or evil, life or death’ results in ‘joy or remorse of conscience’ (Alma 29:5), as Alma knew from firsthand experience: ‘Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?’ (Alma 29:6).
“Much of Alma's poem speaks of his joy (see Alma 29:9, 13, 16). Seeing others come unto the Lord, he exclaimed, ‘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 29:10).” [2] (Emphasis mine)
Lindon Robinson writes:
“Alma declared that his joy was in being an instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance. He added that his joy was more full because of the success of his brethren (Alma 29:9, 14). Later, Alma declared that his reward for his service to the Church was the happiness he felt because of the joy of his brethren (Alma 30:34).” [3] (Emphasis mine)
11 Yea, 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.
12 Yea, 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.
13 Yea, 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 29:11-13 (Emphasis mine)
The captivity of his fathers features prominently in the next three scriptures. They were in captivity, but were delivered out of bondage by the Lord.
I would also look at this is a form of Alma(2)’s rejoicing for his freedom from bondage as well. It was recorded that Alma(2) suffered the “pains of hell” before obtaining forgiveness. Sin, is a form of captivity. We allow our spiritual welfare to be held captive when we do not repent of our sins.
14 But 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.
15 Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward!
16 Now, 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.
17 And 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 29:14-17 (Emphasis mine)
Alma(2) continues to praise his brethren because of their successes. It’s not a large stretched to say that Alma(2) might be experiencing more joy from their successes than his own. What matters to him is bringing souls unto the Lord. It doesn’t matter who does it. What matters is that it’s done.
He ends asking that his brethren and all who the fruits of their labor are may sit in the king of God and praise him forever.
In verses 14-16, we have an example of chiasmus. This is where we find some important point being made, and then the point is made a second time, only in reverse. This is a common feature of Hebrew writing.
Let’s look at this example.
| “Another example of the abundant number of chiasms in the Book of Mormon is found in Alma 29:14—16. A but my joy is more full | ||
| | B because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of Nephi. | |
| | | C Behold, they have labored exceedingly, |
| | | C and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward! |
| | B Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away, | |
| A even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy.” [4] (Emphasis in original article) | ||
I want to end this post with this observation from Richard Rust.
“Alma, too, considers both past and future from his present: He always remembers the captivity and deliverance of his fathers, he rejoices in the present repentance of many of his brethren, and he looks forward to bringing some soul to repentance, with the hope that his redeemed brethren will enter the timeless state of the heavenly kingdom of God ‘to go no more out’ (Alma 29:17).” [5] (Emphasis mine)
[2] The Voice of an Angel, John A. Tvedtnes, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 13, 2011.
[3] Economic Insights from the Book of Mormon, Lindon J. Robison, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 13, 2011.
[4] Forms of Parallelism, Hugh W. Pinnock, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 13, 2011.
[5] "Great Things the Lord Hath Done" - Epic Elements, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed November 13, 2011.
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