There are four main points in Alma’s spontaneous prayer. The first point is a question that has been asked of other prophets: how long will the Lord allow such wickedness (vv. 26–30). For example, the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk asked a similar question:
2 O LORD, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save!
3 Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention.
4 Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth. [Habakkuk 1:2–4; see also Jeremiah 12:1–12]
The Prophet Joseph Smith cried unto the Lord concerning the suffering of the Saints in Missouri:
1 O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?
2 How long shall thy hand be stayed, and thine eye, yea thy pure eye, behold from the eternal heavens the wrongs of thy people and of thy servants, and thine ear be penetrated with their cries?
3 Yea, O Lord, how long shall they suffer these wrongs and unlawful oppressions, before thine heart shall be softened toward them, and thy bowels be moved with compassion toward them?
4 O Lord God Almighty, maker of heaven, earth, and seas, and of all things that in them are, and who controllest and subjectest the devil, and the dark and benighted dominion of Sheol—stretch forth thy hand; let thine eye pierce; let thy pavilion be taken up; let thy hiding place no longer be covered; let thine ear be inclined; let thine heart be softened, and thy bowels moved with compassion toward us.
5 Let thine anger be kindled against our enemies; and, in the fury of thine heart, with thy sword avenge us of our wrongs.
6 Remember thy suffering saints, O our God; and thy servants will rejoice in thy name forever. [D&C 121:1–6]
The Lord answered the prayers just mentioned above (see Habakkuk 2:2; D&C 121:7), and he answered Alma, as we shall see.
The second point of Alma’s prayer is a request for strength to bear his infirmities. He does not ask for the infirmities to be removed, but that he might have patience in his afflictions (Alma 31:30–31). What a great example he has given us to follow, as we experience the trials of mortality.
Alma asks for success in the third point of the prayer. He is not looking for his own commendation, but success for his other six companions as well (vv. 32–34). He is looking at the whole picture, the solution to the problem.
Alma’s last point in his prayer is perhaps the most important— the recognition of the worth of a soul. Again his motives are pure. He asks for the power and the wisdom to return the apostate souls unto the Lord. Alma knew the principle the Lord later taught Oliver Cowdery and David Whitmer:
9 And now, Oliver Cowdery, I speak unto you, and also unto David Whitmer, by the way of commandment; for, behold, I command all men everywhere to repent, and I speak unto you, even as unto Paul mine apostle, for you are called even with that same calling with which he was called.
10 Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God;
11 For, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him.
12 And he hath risen again from the dead, that he might bring all men unto him, on conditions of repentance.
13 And how great is his joy in the soul that repenteth! [D&C 18:9–13]
The joy that comes to those who bring souls to Christ (D&C 18:14–16) was discussed previously in chapter 9.