The angel laid things on the line. Repent and turn away from wickedness or risk being cut off from the Lord. Once again, we read a concept found throughout the Book of Mormon – free agency. The Lord always gives the people an either/or choice. Make the choice the Lord advises or suffer the consequences of wickedness. But, the choice is always that of the person or people to whom the Lord is speaking. When you stand before the Lord, you will fully realize that, if you are cut off from His presence, it was because of choice you made. You only have yourself to blame for having chosen poorly.
18 And now Alma and those that were with him fell again to the earth, for great was their astonishment; for with their own eyes they had beheld an angel of the Lord; and his voice was as thunder, which shook the earth; and they knew that there was nothing save the power of God that could shake the earth and cause it to tremble as though it would part asunder. 19 And now the astonishment of Alma was so great that he became dumb, that he could not open his mouth; yea, and he became weak, even that he could not move his hands; therefore he was taken by those that were with him, and carried helpless, even until he was laid before his father. 20 And they rehearsed unto his father all that had happened unto them; and his father rejoiced, for he knew that it was the power of God.
Mosiah 27:18- 20 (Emphasis mine)
Alma(2) and the sons of Mosiah fell again to the ground. The unbelievable had just happened. They had just received a divine messenger calling them to repentance.
It’s not surprising that this experience would never be forgotten. Writing to his son Helaman, Alma(2) would recount the voice of the angel and its power. He said that “he spake unto us, as it were the voice of thunder, and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet; and we all fell to the earth, for the fear of the Lord came upon us” (Alma 36:7).
Alma(2) appears to have been the lead in their efforts to destroy the church. When the angel spoke, he spoke directly to Alma(2). The sons of Mosiah heard the message and realized the angel was speaking, indirectly, to them as well. Alma(2) would bear the brunt of the message and the effects of the message.
The sons of Mosiah were in about as good a shape as one would expect after an experience like this. Alma(2), on the other hand, was so overwhelmed the he could neither speak nor move. He had lost all his strength.
He was carried to Alma(1) and he was told all that had happened. Alma(1) rejoiced for his prayers had been answered. His son had received the desired message.
21 And he caused that a multitude should be gathered together that they might witness what the Lord had done for his son, and also for those that were with him. 22 And he caused that the priests should assemble themselves together; and they began to fast, and to pray to the Lord their God that he would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength—that the eyes of the people might be opened to see and know of the goodness and glory of God. 23 And it came to pass after they had fasted and prayed for the space of two days and two nights, the limbs of Alma received their strength, and he stood up and began to speak unto them, bidding them to be of good comfort:
Mosiah 27:21 23 (Emphasis mine)
Alma(1) saw an opportunity to show the people the works of the Lord among his people. He called them together and had them witness Alma(2)’s condition as well as the effect receiving this message had on the sons of Mosiah.
Alma(1) called the priests to gather. They began to fast a pray for Alma(2). They asked to the Lord to restore his strength and to let the people see the power of God. They prayed for two days and two nights. (Alma(2), in recounting this experience to Helaman, would tell him that “it was for the space of three days and three nights that I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs” (Alma 36:10).
Kevin Christensen writes:
“This encounter so astonished Alma that he fell to the earth "and it was for the space of three days and three nights that I could not open my mouth, neither had I the use of my limbs" (Alma 36:10). Alma describes this period as ‘wandering through much tribulation, repenting nigh unto death’ (Mosiah 27:28).
“Not only does Alma declare himself as near death, but the formal response of those around him resembles the ‘Opening of the Mouth’ rite for initiation and rebirth that was intended to ‘reverse the blows of death.’ A religious leader called a multitude of people to gather to witness the event ritually (Mosiah 27:21). The priests assembled and fasted and prayed for two days and nights that ‘God would open the mouth of Alma, that he might speak, and also that his limbs might receive their strength (Mosiah 27:22).” [1] (Bold-faced emphasis mine)
[1] "Nigh unto Death": NDE Research and the Book of Mormon, Kevin Christensen, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed February 4, 2012.
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