Alma the younger is one of the more interesting personalities in all of scripture.

Alma was born the son of a prophet--the son of a very spiritual, energetic, and dedicated prophet.  Yet, somehow in his youth, his father's teachings, training, and example failed to sink in or to impress him.

Why?  We can't know, but as evidenced by his father's prayers, it certainly wasn't because Alma the elder didn't care or didn't try to teach him.

Alma's conversion required the intervention of an angel.  Other young men on the divergent path that Alma was on are not so favored as to have angels intervene to stop their destructive behavior.  Why was Alma so favored?  It was not only because of his father's faith and prayers, but surely also because of his premortal foreordination.  He had been selected and set apart to become a prophet before he was ever born.  Perhaps the adversary knew that.  Perhaps Alma was the adversary's particular target because of that foreordination.

Perhaps we should take a different view of our own wayward youth.  Perhaps their rebellions are because of their specialness.  Perhaps we should redouble our prayers in their behalf, and perhaps we should seek and expect miracles as President Russell M. Nelson has counseled.

Alma heard his father preach and teach about Jesus Christ.  He had his ears closed, but the message was there.  When the crisis came, the thought was able to surface because it had been implanted.  He remembered to have heard his father teach about one Jesus Christ who would come to atone for the sins of the world.  When that thought entered his head, his mind seized upon it as he realized that Jesus Christ was his only hope for delivery from the hell that he found himself in.

The pains of hell that Alma experienced and described in Alma 36:11-18 is the most accurate and most graphic description of hell to be found anywhere in scripture.  Others describe the pains of hell as being like a lake of fire and brimstone, which has led to a worldwide misunderstanding of what hell really is.  Hell is not a physical lake of sulfurous magma.  Rather, it is a state of mental regret and torture not unlike being in a lake of magma.  Alma experienced it, described it to his son, Helaman, and left this priceless record as a warning to every unrepentant soul.

Alma said that he "was racked with eternal torment," that his "soul was harrowed up to the greatest degree and racked with all (his) sins," and that the thought of "coming into the presence of God did rack (his) soul with inexpressible horror."  (Alma 36:12, 14).

He said that "there could be nothing so exquisite and bitter as were (his) pains."  (Alma 36:21).

Alma was there.  Alma knew what hell entails.  Alma's testimony needs to be heard by every soul.  Alma was immediately blessed just as soon as he cried out to Jesus for help and was willing to change his life and to become a disciple of the Lord.  Suddenly he could remember his pains no more (Alma 36:19), and his soul was flooded with peace and joy.  He stated, "There can be nothing so exquisite and sweet as was my joy."  (Alma 36:21).

Alma plainly lays out the choice which is before us.  Everyone needs to be made aware of Alma's testimony.  We are free to choose either exquisite misery or exquisite joy.

Alma's seven-chapter exhortations to his three sons are his tender and effective attempts to put his boys firmly on the path of discipleship.  He spent the most time and words on the most wayward of his sons, and was successful in bringing him to repentance and a lifetime of righteousness and service.

Those seven chapters are tender and touching.  As this caring father teaches his boys, he pauses to say, "My son," 56 times.  He tenderly teaches his boys, and tenderly left those exhortations for the benefit of all mankind.

Alma had an unusual wish.  He desired to be an angel so that he could share his testimony with every soul.  He said, "O that I were an angel and could have the wish of mine heart, that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!

"Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth."  (Alma 29:1-2).

What an interesting desire!

And he got his wish!  He said that "I know that (God) granteth unto man according to their desire."  (Alma 29:4).

Alma left a blessing upon his sons, a blessing upon "the earth for the righteous' sake," a blessing upon the church and upon those "who should stand fast in the faith from that time henceforth," and disappeared.  He was "never heard of more."  (Alma 45:18).  It was supposed that he was translated as was Moses.  If so he is now an angel, and is still declaring "repentance and the plan of redemption" to every people.

Alma went from being a foreordained prophet, to being a wayward youth, to being "the very vilest of sinners" (Mosiah 28:4), to being struck dumb and helpless by the appearance of an angel, to becoming a tender parent, to becoming the head of his country and of the church, and to finally becoming a translated being and an angel to the nations.