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CHAPTER 29Alma 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.] |
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1 O THAT I were an
angela, and could have the wish of
mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the atrump
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 acome unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.
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1a O that I were an angel Who
that has felt of the redemption of Christ has not desired to cry aloud to all
people that Christ's redemption is available to all mankind. Who had not felt
of that missionary spirit to declare that message to the world? Alma so
wishes that he could declare it from the house tops, with the voice of an
angel flying in the midst of heaven, declaring it to all the world. One day
those declarations will be made by the voices of such angels and no doubt
that Alma like Moroni is so worthy to particpate in such. At the birth of
Christ it was anounce by the voice of angels sing and shouting praises to
God, visiting and declaring it unto man. So will be the great and general
Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ as he will come with the trump of
angels declaring glory to the King come in the fulness of his glory. 'O that
we might all be such angels'.
But for now we must, like Alma be content with that which the Lord had given us. And he has give us much. He has given us the power within us, of the Spirit, that we might speak with the voice of angels. Yea, even the Lamanites did consider Ammon and his brothers as though they were the very angels of God, declaring unto them the redeeming love of the plan of salvation. So is the position of those who are called to preach and teach in the church, from the missionary to the apostle, from the classroom instructor to the prophet; we all have the ability and calling to speak as it where with the voice of angels by the preaching in and by the power of the Holy Ghost. This is our lot. Often we fail to recognize it and fulfill it. But it is ours and we ought to perform in that which we are called to do to this very end of speaking by the Spirit, as guided by the Spirit, and by the voice of the Spirit as we perform our duties in God. Yet some are yet so timid that they do not arise to that which they are called to perform. Take the Home Teacher who does not take that spirit and that calling to heart, and does not go forth and speak as it were with the trump of God in the homes of his people he is called upon to visit according to the direction of the spirit which is in him to do so if he will but rise to the challenge. Why then think we to speak with the voice of an angel when we do but fail to perform our duties in our callings in our every day church positions? |
1a
Isa. 58:1;
D&C 29:4 1a Omni 1:26 (25-26); 3 Ne. 21:20
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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 adesire, 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 bwills, whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.
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4a
Ps. 21:2;
Ps. 37:4 b TG Agency
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5 Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he
that knoweth not good from evil is ablameless; but he that
bknoweth 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
cconscience.
6 Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to aperform 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?
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5a
TG
Accountability b Gen. 3:5; 2 Ne. 2:18, 26; Mosiah 16:3; Moro. 7:16 (15-19); TG Discernment, Spiritual c Job 27:6; TG Conscience 6a TG Stewardship
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8 For behold, the Lord doth agrant unto
ball nations, of their own nation and
ctongue, to teach his
worda, yea, in wisdom, all that he
dseeth 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 anot bglory 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 awhat 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.
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8a the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own nation and tongue, to teach hi word Now this is give according to he wisdom of the Lord and the faith that men do exercise in him. For if men do not exercise faith in the Lord then the Lord worketh no work among them. But there are many nations and many record of them which are yet to be brought forth that me might know of the workings of the Lord among all the nations of the earth, of he is the Lord of all the world, every nation, kindred, tongue and people which is upon it. |
8a
3 Ne. 26:8 (7-10);
D&C 11:22 b 2 Ne. 2:27; 2 Ne. 29:12 c D&C 90:11 d Alma 12:9-11 9a Alma 26:12 b TG Glory 10a Mosiah 27:14 (11-31)
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11 Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers; for I surely
do know that the aLord 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 adelivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did deliver them out of bbondage. 13 Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea, and that same God hath called me by a aholy calling, to bpreach the word unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy is full.
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11a
Ex. 3:6;
Alma 36:2 12a Micah 6:4 b Alma 5:5-6; Alma 36:29 (2, 29) 13a Alma 5:3 b TG Preaching
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14 But I do not joy in my own asuccess 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!
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14a
Alma 17:4 (1-4)
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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.
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16a
TG
Joy
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