In his tormented state, Alma’s mind turned to his father’s prophecy of Christ and his coming to atone for the sins of the world (v. 17). The Atonement of Christ was the pivotal or central message of the chiasmus pattern quoted above. Of course, it was the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus Christ as well. As Alma cried for mercy, the pains of his sins ceased (vv. 18–19). Apparently his sins were forgiven at this time. He was being spiritually adopted as a son of Christ. The three days and nights of torment were his cleansing by the Holy Ghost, or baptism of fire (see Moroni 6:4; 2 Nephi 31:17). The joy that followed (Alma 36:20) was the baptism of the Holy Ghost, or the Comforter that “filleth with hope and perfect love” (Moroni 8:26). The contrast of the exquisite and bitter pains with the exquisite and sweet joy was a mighty change of heart spoken of by King Benjamin’s subjects (Mosiah 5:2).
Alma’s startling vision of God sitting on his throne (Alma 36:22) equates with the king’s subjects having “great views of that which is to come,” as manifested to them by the Spirit (Mosiah 5:3). Alma was seeing the kingdom of God (see John 3:3). The essential elements of a rebirth have been described.