The Lord has raised up leaders among various nations of the earth to teach and prepare a people to live their lives. Great religious leaders like Mohammed, Confucius, Laotze, and others were sent to inspire and direct the people to the extent of their being able to receive it (v. 8). While some followers of these men may have added to or taken away from the leader’s original message, the leaders were inspired to do what they did. Other great political leaders were also instruments in the Lord’s hand. Cyrus was raised up to enable the Jews to return to Jerusalem from Babylon (see Isaiah 44:28–45:4). Columbus was raised up to discover America (see 1 Nephi 13:12). The founding fathers of the United States of America were sent to establish this “mighty nation among the Gentiles” (1 Nephi 22:7).
To affirm that the men and women of this Church were selected and commanded to come to the earth at this time with a specific mission. We again quote Elder Henry D. Moyle. After quoting Alma 29:6–9, he said:
I have a conviction deep down in my heart that we are exactly what we should be, each one of us, except as we may have altered that pattern by deviating from the laws of God here in mortality. I have convinced myself that we all have those peculiar attributes, characteristics, and abilities which are essential for us to possess in order that we may fulfill the full purpose of our creation here upon this earth.
Once again, that allotment which has come to us from God is a sacred allotment. It is something of which we should be proud, each one of us in our own right, and not wish that we had someone else’s allotment. Our greatest success comes from being ourselves.
I think we can console ourselves best by believing that whatever our allotment is in life, whatever is our call in the priesthood, the Lord has been wise and just, and I might add, merciful, in giving to us that which we need to accomplish the particular purpose of our call (CR, Oct.1952, 72).
Just as Alma saw men coming to the Lord truly penitent (Alma 29:10), we can observe the work of the Lord in our day as well.