Reflection~Mosiah 25-Alma 22

In the past, I have been prompted to speak with someone about the gospel. On too many occasions, I have ignored these promptings, and I still regret that decision. In reality, hardly a day goes by that I do not think of those sons and daughters of God who could have benefited from my sharing the gospel message with them. Even if they would have rejected the restored truths of Jesus Christ, I would have been able to feel the peace from the knowledge that I had at least given them the opportunity to accept it.

It is comforting to know, however, that there are people who are waiting to hear the news of the restored gospel. That serves as motivation to share what I know In Alma 13:25, Alma explains, “And now we only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto us by the mouth of angels, of his coming.” In this particular verse, he is not specifically referring to those who have not yet received the gospel; he is speaking directly about himself and other believers who were awaiting the news of Christ’s mortal birth. Still, I believe this verse can easily apply to those who are waiting for the message of Christ’s Church on the Earth today.

The Lord is constantly preparing people to receive the restored gospel, even if they don’t realize it. They, like Alma and his followers, “only wait to hear the joyful news declared unto [them] by the mouth of angels.” Those of us who are members of the Church covenanted at our baptisms to be those angels. It is a wonderful blessing to be able to share our knowledge with those who seek it.

When I think of it in those terms, my call to be a member missionary seems so much more sacred. Usually when someone thinks of an angel, he or she most likely thinks of the sort of angel that Alma is talking about in this verse. While angels who have already passed on to the other side of the veil are certainly involved in and important to the Lord’s work, those of us who may be considered His mortal angels on Earth can have significant effects on those around us. I think of Laman and Lemuel—they had angels appear to them, yet they relentlessly returned to their wicked ways. On the other hand, Alma the Elder became one of the greatest prophets of the Book of Mormon because of a mortal angel—the prophet Abinadi.

It is my sacred duty, then, to act on the promptings I receive. Surely no matter how many rejections I face, the blessings of touching even one person’s life with the gospel message will be without compare. Although I do not plan on serving a full-time mission, I know that I will come across people who have been or are being prepared to receive the gospel. It is my opportunity to act as an angel in others’ lives as I share my testimony with them and allow myself to learn with them.

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