“And it shall be made known unto just and holy men, by the mouth of angels, at the time of his coming, that the words of our fathers may be fulfilled, according to that which they have spoken concerning him, which was according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.”
Here is a simple, but compound thought. Alma is saying this:
There were “fathers” who recorded words of prophecy.
The “fathers” had the “spirit of prophecy which was in them.”
These words of the prophetic fathers promised that “the mouths of angels” will declare Christ’s birth into the world.
The declaration of Christ’s birth will come to “just and holy men” by these angels.
So, Alma is assured that the promises will be fulfilled.He knows this because the fathers who revealed the promises were trustworthy and had the spirit of prophecy.
Now comes the real question: What does it mean that “just and holy men” will be the ones to whom the angels will come and make the declaration?
Is this a description of those who hold the same priesthood as Melchizedek discussed by Alma? If so, then does access to that priestly order after the order of the Son of God put the possessors into contact with heavenly messengers? Can a person hold that authority and not receive messages from angels from time to time? Who is it among us who begins an address by referring to the angel who visited the them the preceding night? (See, e.g., 2 Ne. 10: 3; also 3 Ne. 7: 15.)
I have to assume that this is the kind of information that would be generally known among faithful followers of Christ’s Gospel. After all, Alma is speaking to apostates, non-believers and critics who hold a false and abominable religion. One would expect that such things are not really so sacred that they can’t be preached. Why would it be “off limits” to us and be something freely declared as part of a missionary effort in the Book of Mormon? So assuming it ought to be known, if it is occurring, is this among us? Where? Who has received these angelic messengers? Where are these “just and holy” men who entertain angelic ministers?
Or is it that we don’t expect angels, so we don’t entertain them? Perhaps they come and we don’t notice them? Perhaps we are blind that we cannot see, deaf because we will not hear, and our minds are darkened because we will not abide the teachings of the Book of Mormon? What is going on with us, when we compare and measure ourselves against this message from Alma?
Should I be concerned?
Is all well?
Will we endure sound doctrine? (Cf. 2 Tim. 4: 3.)