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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 10
Conscience is the monitor of Christian conduct when guided by the word of the lord. Whenever it
tells one he has sinned, by doing or failing to do as God has directed, it is time to repent. However,
the timetable of salvation or the coming of the Savior no man could know, unless it was revealed
to him from on high. Alma testified, "The voice of the lord, by the mouth of angels, doth declare
it, unto all nations" (Alma 10:19; see also 24; D. and C. 49:2b).
Alma 10:23 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.
The drawing power of the Holy Spirit seeks out the honest in heart (John 4:44; 12:32; D. and C.
85:16b; 2 Nephi 11:96; 3 Nephi 12:26-28). Alma must have rejoiced to know that this power was
at work in his land. Without it his labors with prayers and fasting would have failed.
What seems hardest for many readers to accept is the ministering of angels. These people accept
the testimony of scriptural writers that angels visited the earth to converse with its inhabitants in
Bible times, but for some unexplained reason there was a cut-off period after the New Testament
days. Is this reasoning sound? If it is not, why do not more angelic visits occur in our day? This is
a basic question and deserves profound consideration.
There are two assumptions in this position which need to be examined at the outset.
1. Can any man be certain that angelic visits have ceased?
2. Are men less worthy or less needy of such ministrations today than in biblical times?
Obviously no one can know what is going on allover this planet. It would require omniscience to
answer that question. Because of the disbelief and ridicule of others, men who have had such visits
are not apt to give them much publicity .Some testimonies have affirmed such experiences, and
they have been published, but their currency was limited to the inner circle who had faith in them.
All we can be certain of are our own experiences, even though we accept the testimony of others
who say they have been visited by heavenly messengers. One thing we need to assure ourselves of
is that God is unchangeable. Malachi affirmed, “I am the Lord, I change not; therefore ye sons of
Jacob are not consumed" (Malachi 3:6).
This being true, it is certain that if angels no longer visit the earth, it is because men have changed.
Are men less worthy now than in ancient times? Some may be, but it seems probable from the
records available to us that the good men of today will com- pare favorably with those in the days
of Noah, Abraham, Moses, and Paul. Could it be then that our need is not so great as that of the
ancients, and therefore God has left man to his own de- vices? It is true that some of our needs
may differ, but not all people are as well off in materials or culture as those in America or Europe.
Moroni asked, "Have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men? Or has he withheld the
power of the Holy Ghost from them? Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand?
...I say unto you, Nay. ...Wherefore, if these things have ceased, wo be unto the children of men,
for it is because of unbelief" (Moroni. 7:38-42).
The writer of the Epistle to the Hebrews asked, " Are they [angels] not all ministering spirits, sent
forth to minister for them who shall be heirs of salvation?" (Hebrews 1:14). It would seem logical
to say, then, that as long as there are in this world those who shall be heirs of salvation, there will
be ministering angels.