It is very interesting that the metaphor of being "an instrument" in the hands of the Lord is, with one exception, only used (in Mormon's abridgment of the large plates) in specific descriptions of the conversion and missionary efforts of Alma the younger and the sons of Mosiah (see Mosiah 23:10; 27:36; Alma 1:8, 2:30,17:9,17:11, 26:3, 26:15, 29:9, 35:14). We might, therefore, assume that it was Alma who wrote all the accounts of the conversion and missionary labors of himself and also the sons of Mosiah on the large plates. Additionally, we might wonder to what extent any words attributed to the abridger Mormon respecting the conversion story or missionary labors were either quoted or heavily influenced by reading the accounts of Alma on the large plates. Whatever the case, once again we find the authorship of the Book of Mormon to be exactly as claimed by the book and by Joseph Smith. [For some views on this see John A. Tvedtnes, "The Voice of an Angel," in Book of Mormon Authorship Revisited, pp. 311-319]
The Lord Redeems His Covenant Children
Alma 1 -- Alma 44