“Racked with All My Sins”

Jana Reiss

As Alma confronts his past, he feels terrible fear and culpability about his many sins. Here, he is so racked with guilt that he can’t even hear the further words of the angel; Alma “fell to the earth and …did hear no more” (verse 11). But after coming to understand the glorious truth of Christ’s gospel, he is granted a vision of God on his throne (verse 22). Where Alma was once made low by sin, now he is exalted by heavenly grace. Where once he could not even bear to hear the teachings of one angel, now he can hear innumerable angels “singing and praising their God” (verse 22). And where once his “soul was harrowed” by sin and thoughts of hell, now his “soul did long to be there” in heaven with God (verse 22). This last parallel is also made explicit in verses 14–15, when the preconversion Alma cannot bear the thought of one day standing before God for judgment. After discovering Christ’s love, he can hardly wait for that day when he will meet God face-to-face.

The Book of Mormon: Selections Annotated & Explained

References