The title of this post comes from Alma 12:29. This verse encapsulates both a major theme from the temple and a major theme from the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon. It's been on my mind quite a bit lately. This concept helps us connect the teachings of the temple to the scriptures.
After studying Alma 12-13 recently, I noticed something interesting that I had not previously considered:
Angels are the source of the name of Christ.
This principle is taught very clearly in many places in scripture.
- Jacob makes it abundantly clear that an angel revealed to him the name of Christ (see 2 Nephi 10:3).
- Jacob makes it clear that "all the holy prophets" before him "knew of Christ," "had a hope of his glory" and "believed in Christ and worshiped the Father in his name." (See Jacob 4:4-6.)
- Benjamin rehearses the words given to him by an angel, which includes the name of Jesus Christ. (See Mosiah 3:8.)
- Samuel the Lamanite was commanded by the voice of the Lord to "prophesy unto the people whatsoever things should come into his heart." This included the name of Christ, which he received from an angel of the Lord. (See Helaman 13:3, 6-7.)
- In a vision, Lehi is given a book by a divine messenger which "manifests plainly of the coming of a Messiah" (see 1 Nephi 1:19), though we are not certain whether Christ's name was given to him at that time.
- Part of the message Abinadi was sent to deliver "with power and authority from God" included the name of Christ. (See Mosiah 13:6 and Mosiah 15:21.)
- Ammon acted in the role of the angel for King Lamoni and his people. (See Alma 18:29.)
- Interestingly, Alma-2 does not learn the name of Christ from the angel who visits him. Rather, after the visitation of the angel and while he suffered intense agony and pain of spirit, he "remembered also to have heard [his] father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world." (See Alma 36:17.) Thus it seems this verse teaches Alma-2 the importance of earthly messengers -- prophets -- and the need to hearken to their word. (Recall that a central theme in Alma 36 is Alma teaching his son through poetry how his word became God's word through conversion to Jesus Christ. See this post.)
It is that final example that leads us to my next point, which is that priesthood authority is given to man on earth to help the sons and daughters of God be reborn into new creatures, spiritual creatures, who are then able to spread the word and help others in the same way they were helped.
This is taught quote plainly in Alma 12-13. I quoted Alma 12:29 in the title of this post. Here is the very next verse:
30 And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works.
Reiterating an ancient doctrine
Alma-2 certainly isn't breaking new ground here. Rather, he is reiterating a doctrine as old as Adam and Eve. Thankfully, the Book of Moses offers us a glimpse into how this unfolded.
The connections between Alma 12-13 and Moses 4-6 are intriguing. A recent Interpreter article lists numerous connections between the Book of Mormon and Book of Moses in general. Below I'll note a few verses specific to Alma 12-13 which are worth studying.
Compare Alma 12:33 --
33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;
...with Moses 6:23, 52, 62 --
23 And they were preachers of righteousness, and spake and prophesied, and called upon all men, everywhere, to repent; and faith was taught unto the children of men.
...
52 And he also said unto him: If thou wilt turn unto me, and hearken unto my voice, and believe, and repent of all thy transgressions, and be baptized, even in water, in the name of mine Only Begotten Son, who is full of grace and truth, which is Jesus Christ, the only name which shall be given under heaven, whereby salvation shall come unto the children of men, ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, asking all things in his name, and whatsoever ye shall ask, it shall be given you.
...
62 And now, behold, I say unto you: This is the plan of salvation unto all men, through the blood of mine Only Begotten, who shall come in the meridian of time.
The connections don't end there. Alma's sermon in Alma 13 teaches us more about what it means to participate in the "holy order of God." These priests were ordained by God "to teach these things unto the people" (Alma 13:1). Notice what Adam is described as doing right after the account of his baptism and receipt of the Holy Ghost:
1 And it came to pass that Enoch continued his speech, saying: Behold, our father Adam taught these things, and many have believed and become the sons of God... (Moses 7)
Adam learned "these things" at least in part from the angel who came to him and taught him the meaning of sacrifice:
7 And then the angel spake, saying: This thing is a similitude of the sacrifice of the Only Begotten of the Father, which is full of grace and truth.
8 Wherefore, thou shalt do all that thou doest in the name of the Son, and thou shalt repent and call upon God in the name of the Son forevermore. (Moses 5)
It is vital to remember that the account of Adam's baptism by water and the Spirit (at the end of Moses 6) and teaching (at the beginning of Moses 7) comes to us by way of an account of the teachings of Enoch, who was also called and chosen by God to be a teacher of these same things. So all of this is a story within a story, which is very interesting. As if Enoch (the name means "the initiated one") is being taught to understand himself as an Adam of sorts.
Conclusion
The Holy Order of God goes all the way back to Adam. Angels do indeed bring glad tidings. God calls upon men not only to repent but also to "work righteousness" and "teach these things unto the people." (See Alma 13:1, 10.)