“Alma Became Dumb That He Could Not Open His Mouth”

Bryan Richards

Alma is smitten by the power of God. While laying in a stupor, he feels the pains of a damned soul, receives a remission of sins, and is the recipient of a great vision (See Alma 36). He awakens with a great testimony and a miraculous turn around. While the body of Alma lay useless and limp, his spirit was busy working out his salvation. Elder David B. Haight, similarly, had an out of body experience which occurred while he was very ill. He related the story during the Oct. 1989 General Conference. From the Church News

"Elder David B. Haight expressed deep gratitude Sunday morning for the faith and prayers of countless people in his behalf, and for the divine intervention that spared his life from a serious illness…He recounted his experience the evening of his health crisis, as he pled with his Heavenly Father to spare his life a little longer to have more time to do His work, if it was His will.
"’While still praying,’ he recalled, ’I began to lose consciousness… . I was now in a calm, peaceful setting; all was serene and quiet. I was conscious of two persons in the distance on a hillside… . Detailed features were not discernable. I heard no voices but was conscious of being in a holy presence and atmosphere.’
"During the days that followed, Elder Haight said he was shown a panoramic view of Christ’s earthly ministry. He saw the Savior and His apostles on the eve of His betrayal, where the Lord instructed and prepared the sacrament as a remembrance of His coming sacrifice.
"’It was so impressively portrayed to me - the overwhelming love of the Savior for each,’ Elder Haight said. ’I witnessed His thoughtful concern for significant details - the washing of the dusty feet of each apostle; His breaking and blessing of the loaf of dark bread and blessing of the wine; then His dreadful disclosure that one would betray Him.’
"He said he saw Christ in Gethsemane, where ’in some manner beyond our comprehension,’ the Savior took upon Himself the sins of mankind.
"As he witnessed these events during his days of unconsciousness, Elder Haight said the Holy Ghost blessed him with ‘a more perfect knowledge’ of the Lord’s mission.
“’My soul was taught over and over again,’ he said solemnly. ’I witnessed His struggling up the hill in His weakened condition carrying the cross, and His being stretched upon it…I cannot begin to convey to you the deep impact that these scenes have confirmed upon my soul,” (Church News, Oct. 7, 1989)

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