Alma was speaking some seventy years before the birth of Christ (v. 15). Today, we are even closer to his Second Coming. Our ministry is also to declare the glad tidings or the gospel of salvation to this generation. Our children also need to be prepared (v. 16).
Alma had reasoned with the Lord about the souls of the Zoramites (see Alma 31:35) as he now declares to Corianton (Alma 39:17). The Lord has confirmed the worth of souls to our dispensation, and the joy that will come from bringing them to Christ, as previously discussed under Alma 31:35 (Alma 39:17–18). The keys of the ministering of angels were delivered to Joseph Smith and Oliver Cowdery on 15 May 1829 (D&C 13). Many angels have ministered to our dispensation (see D&C 128:21), and are still ministering, mostly behind the scenes. May we be cognizant of the direction given by those unseen angels to our leaders, and to us. May we also be forgiving of others, “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 6:23). The Lord has said: “Wherefore, I say unto you, that ye ought to forgive one another; for he that forgiveth not his brother his trespasses standeth condemned before the Lord; for there remaineth in him the greater sin. I, the Lord, will forgive whom I will forgive, but of you it is required to forgive all men” (D&C 64:9–10). The following anonymous poem will probably fit all of us.
I dreamed death came the other night,
And heaven’s gate swung wide,
With kindly grace an Angel came,
And ushered me inside,
And there to my astonishment,
Stood folks I’d known on Earth.
Some I’d judged and called “unfit,”
And some of “little worth.”
Indignant words rose to my lips,
But never were set free,
For every face showed stunned surprise,
Not one expected me.