Alma assures Helaman he knows these things because he had
been born of God. This is an essential
part of our salvation.
“Therefore if any man be
in Christ, he is a new creature: cold things are passed away;
behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
“If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by
him, as the truth is in Jesus: That ye put off concerning the former
conversation the bold man,
which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; And be renewed in the spirit
of your mind; And that ye put on the anew
man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:21-24).
“Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy
hath begotten us again unto a lively [GR living] hope by the resurrection of Jesus
Christ from the dead” (1 Peter 1:3).
He learned these things from an angel, not because he was
worthy of knowing things himself. “And
now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these
things? I say unto you, there is none
that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent. Yea, he that repenteth and
exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually
without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God; yea, unto
such it shall be given to reveal things which never have been revealed; yea,
and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even
as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance” (Alma 26:21-22).
Alma reminds Helaman he went around with the sons of Mosiah,
destroying the church.[1] An angel appeared to them and stopped their efforts. He spoke with a voice of thunder and the
earth trembled[2]
under their feet and they were overcome with fear of the Lord.
“Then shalt thou understand the fear of the LORD, and find
the knowledge of God” (Proverbs 2:5).
“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” (Mosiah
27:18).
“Many years later, Alma still remembered the power of that
experience and the angel who ‘spake unto us, as it were the voice of thunder,
and the whole earth did tremble beneath our feet’ (Alma 36:7; compare 3 Nephi
8:6). (Such power seems a divine prerogative; the Greek god Poseidon was also
known as ‘Earth-Shaker.’) It turned Alma’s life around. Ever afterward, he
remained acutely aware of his status as a convert who had been saved from
destruction by divine grace (see, for example, his sermon in Alma 5 and his
famous chiastic testimony at Alma 36), and he wished that all could have an
analogous experience.”[3]
Alma was in an unconscious state for three days and nights.[4] He had heard the angel’s voice as he spoke to
him. “If thou wilt of thyself be
destroyed, seek no more to destroy the church of God” (Alma 36:9).
The angel spoke many words to Alma. The sons of Mosiah also heard these
words. “If thou wilt be destroyed of thyself,
seek no more to destroy the church of God” (Alma 36:11). He feared he would be destroyed, fell to the
earth, and heard nothing more.
“And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were
with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they
fled to hide themselves” (Daniel 10:7).
“And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly
there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and
heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me? And he
said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord
said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it
is hard for thee to kick against the pricks [hurt oneself by persisting in
useless resistance or protest.]. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what
wilt thou have me to do? And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the
city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do.
And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless,
hearing a voice, but seeing no man”[5]
(Acts 9:3-7).
[1] “Now
the sons of Mosiah were numbered among the unbelievers; and also one of the
sons of Alma was numbered among them, he being called Alma, after his father;
nevertheless, he became a very wicked and an idolatrous man. And he was a man of many words, and did speak
much flattery to the people; therefore he led many of the people to do after
the manner of his iniquities. And he became a great hinderment to the
prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people;
causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God
to exercise his power over them” (Mosiah 27:8-9).
[2] “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” (Mosiah 27:18).
[3] Editor’s
Introduction: An Unapologetic Apology for Apologetics, Daniel C. Peterson, FARMS
Review 22/2 (2010):xlv.
[4] “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. 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. 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. 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. 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 27:19-23).
[5] “And
they
who were journeying with him saw indeed the light, and were afraid; but
they heard not the voice of him who spake to him” (Joseph Smith Translation Acts 9:7).
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