Oh that I were an angel, and could have the wish of my heart,
that I might go forth and speak with the shofar of Elohim,
with a voice to shake the earth,
and cry repentance unto every people.
Yes, 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 Elohim,
that there might be no more sorrow

upon all the face of the earth.

But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish,
for I ought to be content with the things

which yhwh has allotted unto me.

I ought not to tear up in my desires the firm decree

of a just Elohim,

for I know that he grants unto men according to their desire,
whether it be unto death or unto life.
Yes, I know that he grants unto men —
yes, decrees unto them decrees which are unalterable —

according to their wills,

whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.¹³⁹

Yes, and I know that good and evil have come before all men,

or he that knows not good from evil is blameless,
but he that knows good and evil, to him it is given

according to his desires,
whether he desires good or evil, life or death,

joy or remorse of conscience.

Now, seeing that I know these things,

why should I desire more than to perform the work

to which I have been called?
Why should I desire that I were an angel,
that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?

For behold, yhwh does grant unto all nations,

of their own nation and tongue, to teach his word,

yes, in wisdom, all that he sees fit that they should have;
therefore, we see that yhwh does counsel in his wisdom,
according to that which is just and true.

I know that which yhwh has commanded me, and I glory in it.
I do not glory of myself, but I glory in that

which yhwh has commanded me;

yes, and this is my glory,
that perhaps I may be an instrument in the hands of Elohim
to bring some soul to repentance;
and this is my joy.
And behold, when I see many of my brothers truly penitent,
and coming to yhwh their Elohim,
then is my soul filled with joy;

then do I remember what yhwh has done for me,
yes, even that he has heard my prayer.
Yes, then do I remember his merciful arm

which he extended towards me.

Yes, and I also remember the captivity of my fathers,
for I surely do know that yhwh did deliver them

out of bondage,

and by this did establish his assembly.
Yes, Adonai yhwh — the Elohim of Avraham,
and the Elohim of Yitz’chak, and the Elohim of Ya’akov¹⁴⁰ —
did deliver them out of bondage.

Yes, I have always remembered the captivity of my fathers;
and that same Elohim who delivered them

out of the hands of the Egyptians

did deliver them out of bondage.

Yes, and that same Elohim did establish his assembly

among them.

Yes, and that same Elohim has called me by a holy calling
to preach the word unto this people,
and has given me much success, in the which my joy is full.
But I do not joy in my own success alone,
but my joy is more full because of the success of my brothers
who have been up to the land of Nefi.

Behold, they have labored exceedingly
and have brought forth much fruit;¹⁴¹
and how great shall be their reward.

Now when I think of the success of these my brothers,
my soul is carried away,
even to the separation of it from the body,
as it were, so great is my joy.

And now, may Elohim grant unto these my brothers
that they may sit down in the kingdom of Elohim,
yes, and also all those who are the fruit of their labor,
that they may go no more out,
but that they may praise him for ever.
And may Elohim grant that it may be done
according to my words, even as I have spoken.
Amen.