Alma 29
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?
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.
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.
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.