There is great joy in being an instrument in the hands of God. Great satisfaction comes from investing our gifts and talents in full measure to the building up of the kingdom of God. Mormon preserves for us Alma’s intimate expressions as he processes his spiritual feelings of being a valiant and committed missionary servant of the Lord. Alma has a great desire to preach the gospel to the whole world, and thus allows himself for a moment to wish for extramortal powers to reach others with overwhelming impact and effectiveness: “O that I were an angel… .” (verse 1).