The Lord determines the time of our birth. He hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation (Acts 17:26). But if you had a choice of any time to be born into mortality, when would it be? Would you choose to walk where Jesus walked or to suffer bonds and persecution with Joseph Smith? Would you rather live in the last days, or have been a resident of the city of Enoch? Of all these, the most coveted in the scriptures is to see the ministry of Jesus of Nazareth. The Lord reminded the apostles of this fact when he said, For verily I say unto you, That many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear and have not heard them (Matt 13:17). Alma was one of those many prophets and righteous men.