Alma 36

First, Alma spoke with his son Helaman. “Listen to me, my son. I swear to you that if you keep the commandments of God you will prosper in the land. Remember that your ancestors were once held in bondage, and that no one could free them but God. Recall that they were delivered from their trials. I want you to know that anyone who puts their faith in God will be supported in their struggles, and saved. I know this not through my earthly awareness, but through the mind of God. I know this because I was born of God, and was told these things by his holy angel.

“When we were young, Mosiah’s sons and I went about trying to destroy the church of God. But an angel of God was sent down to stop us. He spoke to us as if his voice were thunder, and the whole earth shook beneath our feet. When the fear of God came upon us, we fell to the ground. The voice said to me, ‘Arise.’ When I did so he said, ‘Unless you want to be destroyed yourself, quit trying to harm the church of God.’ For three days after I heard these words I fell into a deep coma where I was racked with the torment of hell, the awareness of my failures, and sins. I had been instrumental in diverting many people away from the church and into their own destruction. At the time I wanted instant extinction. I wanted anything but having to appear before God and be judged for my deeds. For three days I suffered the pains of a damned soul.

“While I was racked with torment I also remembered my father prophesy the coming of Jesus Christ to atone for the sins of the world. As I held onto this thought, I cried out from my heart, ‘Oh Jesus Christ, have mercy on me. I am bound up by the everlasting chains of death.

“As soon as I formulated this thought I was released and couldn’t even remember my previous, interminable pain. The memory of my sins also disappeared. I saw a beautiful light, and my soul was filled with joy as intense as my pains had just been. I thought that I saw our ancestor Lehi1 sitting on a throne with God, surrounded by numberless rows of singing angels, who were praising God. I wanted to be there too. But instead, I opened my eyes and came back to consciousness. I had been born of God.

“From that moment until the present I have labored unrelentingly to bring others to the repentance that I found. I wanted them to taste the sweetness that I had tasted, to also be born again to God, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And now, through my labors I have been rewarded. I personally know of what I speak, and the knowledge is from God. I was supported in my trials, delivered from the prison of my soul, and released from death. When I put my trust in God, he will deliver me to live in glory with him, just as he brought our ancestors out of Egypt, and buried their enemies under the Red Sea. Just as he led our ancestors out of Jerusalem to this promised land, and has also delivered them from slavery here. I never forget our slavery or God’s deliverance of us. I remind you that if you keep God’s commandments you will prosper in the land. If you do not keep his commandments he will cut you off from his presence. All of this is according to his promises to us.” [74 BC]