As you read through the seven chapters that are Alma's last instructions to his three boys (Alma 36-42), one is struck by their very personal tone. That personal tone comes because of Alma pausing, sometimes almost with every sentence, and saying, "My son." It is obvious that he loves his sons, that he wants them to hearken to his words, and that these words are important. They are the things that he wants them to remember when he is no longer with them.

In those seven chapters Alma says, "My son," 56 times.

It is noteworthy that God does the same thing when talking to those that He loves. In Moses, chapter 1, He begins that interview with Moses by saying, "behold, thou art my son" (Moses 1:4). To underscore the fact that Moses is His son, He says, "Moses, my son" again in verses 6 and 7.

Then comes Satan who attempts to undermine that message by saying, "Moses, son of man ..."

But Moses got the Lord's message. He responded to Satan by saying, "I am a son of God, in the similitude of his Only Begotten, and where is thy glory that I should worship thee?" (Verse 13).

The Lord used that same personal technique when He taught Abraham. Abraham's report says, "And he said unto me: My son, my son ..." (Abraham 3:12).

He used that same introduction when He spoke to Orson Hyde (D&C 34:1), to Thomas B. Marsh (D&C 31:1), to Oliver Cowdery (D&C 9:1), to the Apostle John ("John, my beloved," D&C 7:1), and to Emma Smith ("Emma Smith, my daughter," D&C 25:1).

Very significantly the Lord says that we "may become the sons of God, even one in me as I am one in the Father ..." (D&C 35:2).

He also says that "they who ... believe in me, have power to become my sons." (D&C 42:52).

Just think of all which that implies. The oath and covenant of the Priesthood says that "all that my Father hath shall be given unto (them)." (D&C 84: 38).

To have the Lord say to me, "James, my son" would be an ultimate experience, and one that I should work toward and seek after.