29:1 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!
29:2 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.
29:3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be
content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.
29:4 I ought not to harrow up in my desires, the firm decree of a just
God, for I know that he granteth unto men according to their desire,
whether it be unto death or unto life; yea, I know that he allotteth
unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable,
according to their wills, whether they be unto salvation or unto
destruction.
29:5 Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; he
that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good
and evil, to him it is given according to his desires, whether he
desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.
29:6 Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more
than to perform the work to which I have been called?
29:7 Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto
all the ends of the earth?
29:8 For behold, the Lord doth grant unto all nations, of their own
nation and tongue, to teach his word, yea, in wisdom, all that he seeth
fit that they should have; therefore we see that the Lord doth counsel
in wisdom, according to that which is just and true.
29:9 I know that which the Lord hath commanded me, and I glory in it. I
do not glory of myself, but I glory in that which the Lord hath
commanded me; yea, and this is my glory, that perhaps I may be an
instrument in the hands of God to bring some soul to repentance; and
this is my joy.
29:10 And behold, when I see many of my brethren truly penitent, and
coming to the Lord their God, then is my soul filled with joy; then do
I remember what the Lord has done for me, yea, even that he hath heard
my prayer; yea, then do I remember his merciful arm which he extended
towards me.
29:11 Yea, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers; for I
surely do know that the Lord did deliver them out of bondage, and by
this did establish his church; yea, the Lord God, the God of Abraham,
the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, did deliver them out of
bondage.
29:12 Yea, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers; and
that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians did
deliver them out of bondage.
29:13 Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them; yea,
and that same God hath called me by a holy calling, to preach the word
unto this people, and hath given me much success, in the which my joy
is full.
29:14 But I do not joy in my own success alone, but my joy is more full
because of the success of my brethren, who have been up to the land of
Nephi.
29:15 Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth
much fruit; and how great shall be their reward!
29:16 Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is
carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were,
so great is my joy.
29:17 And now may God grant unto these, my brethren, that they may sit
down in the kingdom of God; yea, and also all those who are the fruit
of their labors that they may go no more out, but that they may praise
him forever. And may God grant that it may be done according to my
words, even as I have spoken. Amen.