After telling us about Alma’s missionary tour, which ends in horrific tragedy, and the mission to the Lamanites, which also ends with terrible violence, Mormon quotes a psalm written by Alma. The tone of the psalm is resignation leading to joy. He recognizes how little control he has over the the results of his ministry, and he expresses great joy in his own success as well as the success of his friends.
Chapter Outline
- Alma eliminates unrealistic expectations (speaking with the voice of thunder) and focuses instead on what he can do (v. 1-9)
- Alma finds joy in the conversion of many people, both through his efforts and through the mission of the sons of Mosiah (v. 10-17)
My Takeaways
- A disciple of Jesus Christ wants to help all of God’s children and is willing to let God direct His work.
- We can identify inappropriate emotions and convert them into positive ones.
- A measure of our own level of charity is how quickly we recognize and celebrate the achievements of other people.
Featured Blog Posts
Alma Desires to Speak with the Voice of an Angel – Alma 29
Setting Alma the Younger was overjoyed to be reunited with the sons of Mosiah, who he hadn’t seen for fourteen years (Alma 17:1-4, Alma 27:16-19). These four friends had been with Alma when an angel appeared and called him to repentance (Mosiah 27:8-12). All five of them had changed their lives as a result of…
❖ “I ought to be content” – Alma 29:1-9
Was It a Sin for Alma to Wish He Were an Angel?
There is an unusual chapter in the Book of Mormon in which Alma reflects on his missionary experiences. Mormon quotes this passage (Alma 29) without introduction, and it is only from the text itself that we can tell it was written by Alma the Younger. For seventeen verses, Alma shares his deepest feelings, including his misgivings…
I Ought to Be Content – Alma 29:3
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. (Alma 29:3) The hymn “School Thy Feelings” teaches us not to smother our emotions, but nevertheless to “let wisdom’s voice control.” In this chapter, Alma demonstrates…
❖ “My soul [is] filled with joy” – Alma 29:10-17
The Success of My Brethren – Alma 29:14-16
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…
Old Testament Foundations
Rise to the Call
Callings can be challenging. They can stretch us in unexpected ways. They can make us uncomfortable or anxious. They can also reveal latent talents, spark new relationships, and expand our perspectives. Moses was hesitant to accept the call to free his people from bondage. “Who am I?” he asked the Lord (Exodus 3:11). Enoch protested…
Sweet Is the Work
Based on: Psalm 92 Core message: Simplifying our service will increase our happiness. Related Book of Mormon passage: Alma 29:9
Cyrus
About a hundred years before the Babylonian Captivity, Isaiah described how it would end. He named a specific individual who would send the people back to Jerusalem and support them in rebuilding the temple: Thus saith the Lord, thy redeemer, and he that formed thee from the womb… That saith of Cyrus, He is my shepherd, and shall perform all my pleasure: even saying…
Some Great Thing
Naaman was used to commanding respect. As the leader of the Syrian army, he was surrounded by people who would do his bidding. So when the prophet Elisha sent a messenger with instructions on how to be healed, and when those instructions seemed ridiculous, he was angry. “Behold,” he complained, “I thought, He will surely…
Thousands vs. Ten Thousands
How easily we can become unsettled when we compare ourselves with others. Saul, who was king of Israel, heard that women across his country were singing, “Saul hath slain his thousands, and David his ten thousands.” How could this be? He was the king; he was supposed to get the most “likes.” He thought to himself,…
The Desire of Their Hearts
Only by educating and training our desires can they become our allies instead of our enemies! Neal A. Maxwell, “According to the Desire of [Our] Hearts,” General Conference, October 1996 To the ancient prophet Jeremiah, God said, “I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways” (Jeremiah 17:10). Alma reaffirmed this principle: “I…
New Testament Parallels
Abide in Your Calling
Paul urged the Corinthian saints to stay focused on their current callings and not to be distracted by opportunities that aren’t currently theirs. It can be hard to maintain our focus, but we will find joy in doing what we have been called to do right now
I Am a Man
It is impossible to be objective about ourselves, but we ought to try. Throughout the scriptures, prophets remind themselves and others that they are human. Alma, Nephi, Ammon, and Peter all used some version of the phrase “I am a man” to emphasize this.
The Spirit Is Willing
When Peter and the other apostles disappointed Jesus, He acknowledged their good desires. “The spirit is willing,” He said, “but the flesh is weak.” We can follow His example by giving people credit for their positive desires even when they disappoint us.
“Is It I?”
There is a human tendency to see faults in others and to ignore or rationalize away our own faults. To overcome this tendency, we need to ask introspective questions like: Is it I? What lack I yet? What is keeping me from progressing?
“Is Your Eye Evil Because I Am Good?”
In the Parable of the Laborers in the Vineyard, the people who had worked all day were angry because those who worked far less were paid the same. Their employer questioned their envy: Why should you feel bad when something good happens to someone else?
Church History Connections
Room Enough
Alma wished he could speak with the thunderous voice of the angel who had called him to repentance. (See Alma 29:1-2, Mosiah 27:11.) As he saw his friends, the sons of King Mosiah, return home from a fourteen year mission with thousands of converts, it would have been natural to compare their success with his…
“The Work to Which I Have Been Called” – Alma 29:6
Contributing to a greater cause is fulfilling, but it requires us to set aside our ego, be modest in our expectations, and recognize the contributions of others. Alma was so committed to bring others to Christ that he wrote, “O that I were an angel!” He wanted to “speak with the trump of God, with…
Declare Repentance
Both John Whitmer and his brother Peter asked God many times what they could do which would be of the greatest worth. His response to both of them was the same: The thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with…
“Pretend to No Other Gift”
God told Joseph to “pretend to no other gift,” than the gift to translate until his task was complete. He meant that Joseph should focus on the task at hand and not spend time thinking about other opportunities and gifts which might come in the future.
“Your Joy With Him”
Jesus suffered so that we can all repent. As we help other people grow closer to Jesus Christ and repent, He experiences joy and so do we. That joy is communal in nature. We experience joy not “for” those we serve, but “with” them.
My Runway
Like a pilot using their assigned runway, we each receive revelation from God within our appointed responsibilities. The Lord taught Oliver Cowdery this principle and instructed him to respect the “runway” of Joseph Smith. We can likewise receive revelation while respecting the revelation received by others within their assigned responsibilities.
All Posts Referencing Alma 29
- Standing Fast in My Appointed Offices (5/31/2025)
- My Runway (3/26/2025)
- “Pretend to No Other Gift” (1/29/2025)
- Exquisite (8/2/2024)
- The Fruits of our Labors (7/14/2024)
- Uninhibited Joy (7/13/2024)
- The Plan of Salvation (4/18/2024)
- Abide in Your Calling (8/25/2023)
- I Am a Man (7/19/2023)
- The Spirit Is Willing (6/14/2023)
- “Is It I?” (5/31/2023)
- “Is Your Eye Evil Because I Am Good?” (5/11/2023)
- Rise to the Call (11/26/2022)
- Sweet Is the Work (8/18/2022)
- Cyrus (7/22/2022)
- Some Great Thing (7/9/2022)
- Thousands vs. Ten Thousands (6/19/2022)
- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (2/20/2022)
- Glory (12/28/2021)
- The Desire of Their Hearts (12/5/2021)
- Room Enough (10/19/2021)
- “The Work to Which I Have Been Called” – Alma 29:6 (3/3/2021)
- Declare Repentance (2/18/2021)
- What Can I Do to Feel More Joy? (12/15/2019)
- What Are the Roles of Persuasion and Punishment in Motivating Good Behavior? (12/4/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Abraham? (7/20/2019)
- What Should I Do When I Feel Inadequate? (7/12/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Complacency? (5/11/2019)
- Was It a Sin for Alma to Wish He Were an Angel? (2/18/2019)
- Alma Desires to Speak with the Voice of an Angel – Alma 29 (9/10/2018)
- The Success of My Brethren – Alma 29:14-16 (11/9/2017)
- An Instrument in the Hands of God – Alma 29:9-10 (7/12/2016)
- O That I Were an Angel – Alma 29:1 (7/12/2016)
- I Ought to Be Content – Alma 29:3 (7/9/2015)
- Alma 29:1 O That I Were an Angel, and Could Have the Wish of My Heart (11/11/2014)