Like the temple, the Book of Mormon has many layers of meaning. On the surface, Alma appears to be talking about being born again. Yet, when taken as a whole, this chapter indicates that Alma had his calling and election made sure. He admits to having seen God (v. 22). It is not improbable that Alma’s description of seeing eye to eye is the same as Moses description of his interaction with the Lord, And the Lord spake unto Moses face to face, as a man speaketh unto his friend (Ex 33:11). The meaning of Alma’s solemn statement, the knowledge which I have is of God, seems to indicate more than impressions from the Holy Spirit. Later, Alma declares, I know that he will raise me up at the last day, to dwell with him in glory (v. 28).
Let’s examine how closely these concepts correlate with Joseph Smith’s teachings on the doctrine of the calling and election, “After a person has faith in Christ…then let him continue to humble himself before God, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, and living by every word of God, and the Lord will soon say unto him, Son, thou shalt be exalted….when any man obtains this last Comforter, he will have the personage of Jesus Christ to attend him, or appear unto him from time to time, and even He will manifest the Father unto him, and they will take up their abode with him, and the visions of the heavens will be opened unto him, and the Lord will teach him face to face, and he may have a perfect knowledge of the mysteries of the Kingdom of God.” (Teachings of the Prophet Joseph Smith, p. 149-50, italics added) Alma had received the promise of eternal life, he had spoken with the Lord face to face, and he had received knowledge directly of God. This is the blessing which he had tasted. Remarkably, this privilege was not given just to the main prophet, as Alma said, many…have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen.