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.
I love the missionary zeal which Alma displays in these verses. Even though he subsequently reminds himself (and us) that you don’t have to be an angel to do the work of the Lord, I think these verses are in the Book of Mormon for a reason. I think that Alma’s desires, even though they needed to be tempered, were good and righteous.
It’s worth remembering that Alma’s most recent missionary experience was to the city of Ammonihah, which rejected his message violently. Surely he was devastated by their rejection of the gospel, and surely he wished that they could have the joy the gospel brought into his life. In his own case, the process of conversion began with the appearance of an angel, whose voice really did shake the earth. (See Mosiah 27:11.) No wonder Alma wanted to have that kind of dramatic impact on others. He quickly acknowledges that God gives everyone all of the teaching and motivation which they need, and that it really is up to them to choose whether they will accept or reject the message. But his gut reaction is to wish that he could be as powerful and convincing as the heavenly missionary who converted him.
Today, I will desire to bring others to the happiness that comes from the gospel. I will strive to emulate the great teachers who have influenced me for good.
It’s worth remembering that Alma’s most recent missionary experience was to the city of Ammonihah, which rejected his message violently. Surely he was devastated by their rejection of the gospel, and surely he wished that they could have the joy the gospel brought into his life. In his own case, the process of conversion began with the appearance of an angel, whose voice really did shake the earth. (See Mosiah 27:11.) No wonder Alma wanted to have that kind of dramatic impact on others. He quickly acknowledges that God gives everyone all of the teaching and motivation which they need, and that it really is up to them to choose whether they will accept or reject the message. But his gut reaction is to wish that he could be as powerful and convincing as the heavenly missionary who converted him.
Today, I will desire to bring others to the happiness that comes from the gospel. I will strive to emulate the great teachers who have influenced me for good.
Thank you for this post. I am directing my ward choir with “Oh, That I Were an Angel” and was having difficulty finding the reference.
I’m glad the post was helpful to you. I hope your choir number goes well.