Alma 39:16 - 39:19

Alma 39: 16 And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people, to prepare their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at the time of his coming.

Now it was to this subject, that is, telling the Zoramites about the coming of the Messiah and how it would affect them that Corianton was called to do. His admonition was to prepare the minds of the Zoramites to look forward to His coming and what He would teach us all.

Alma 39: 17 And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject. Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?

Alma is going to address some of Corianton’s concerns about gospel principles. First, Alma senses in his son that he is wondering why something that is to take place in the future should be know long before happens. Alma possess the question, are not the people of the present just a precious as folks that will witness these future events?

Alma 39: 18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?

Is not the atonement just as necessary to have knowledge of and take advantage of today as well as folks in the future?

Alma 39: 19 Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?

It is just as easy to send angels to tell us of future events as it is to send angels to remind us of these events after they have occurred?

Knowing the beginning from the end allows the Lord to indeed send angels at any time to inform folks about any event that is to happen in the future as well as reveal events in the past they are not aware of.