- Angels are sent.
- They call men to repentance.
- They "fulfill" and "do the work of the covenants" of the Father.
- This is accomplished by declaring "the word of Christ" ...
- ...unto "chosen vessels of the Lord."
- The chosen vessels bear testimony of Him.
- By so doing, God "prepareth a way" for the residue of men to have faith in Christ...
- ...so that the power of the Holy Ghost can have place in their hearts.
In this post, we'll look at Alma 13, which contains part of the words Alma-2 delivered to priesthood holders in Ammonihah. This relatively short excerpt contains almost all of the pieces of this pattern. I'll color code each detail. Understanding this pattern has helped me draw a lot of new meaning from Alma-2's words:
22 Yea, and the voice of the Lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare it unto all nations; yea, doth declare it, that they may have glad tidings of great joy; yea, and he doth sound these glad tidings among all his people, yea, even to them that are scattered abroad upon the face of the earth; wherefore they have come unto us.
23 And they are made known unto us in plain terms, that we may understand, that we cannot err; and this because of our being wanderers in a strange land; therefore, we are thus highly favored, for we have these glad tidings declared unto us in all parts of our vineyard.
24 For behold, angels are declaring it unto many at this time in our land; and this is for the purpose of preparing the hearts of the children of men to receive his word at the time of his coming in his glory.
25 And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming; for the time cometh, we know not how soon. Would to God that it might be in my day; but let it be sooner or later, in it I will rejoice.
26 And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.
27 And now, my brethren, I wish from the inmost part of my heart, yea, with great anxiety even unto pain, that ye would hearken unto my words, and cast off your sins, and not procrastinate the day of your repentance;
28 But that ye would humble yourselves before the Lord, and call on his holy name, and watch and pray continually, that ye may not be tempted above that which ye can bear, and thus be led by the Holy Spirit, becoming humble, meek, submissive, patient, full of love and all long-suffering;
29 Having faith on the Lord; having a hope that ye shall receive eternal life; having the love of God always in your hearts, that ye may be lifted up at the last day and enter into his rest.
30 And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death. (Alma 13)
This sermon starts in Alma 12 and continues through the end of chapter 13. There are many more examples of these elements throughout. I'll highlight a few additional examples below:
29 Therefore he sent to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory. ...
33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the which was laid) saying: If ye will , and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;
34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a of his sins; and these shall enter into my . ...
37 And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his second commandments which he has given unto us; but let us enter into the of God, which is prepared according to his word. (Alma 12)