A) 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! … that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

B) 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.

C) a) I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men

b) according to their desire,

c) whether it be unto death or unto life

yea, I know that he allotteth unto men,

a) yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable,

b) according to their wills, 

c) whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.

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

a) he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless;

but he that knoweth good and evil,

b) to him it is given according to his desires

c) whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.

B’) Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?

A’) Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?

A) 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.

B) a) I know that which the Lord hath commanded me.

b) and I glory in it.

b) I do not glory of myself,

a) but I glory in that which the Lord hath commanded me.

a) yea, and this is my glory,

b) that perhaps I may be an instrument in the

c) hands of God to bring

d) some soul to repentance;

e) and this is my joy. And behold when I see
many

d) of my brethren truly penitent,

c) and coming to the Lord their God,

b) then is my soul

a) filled with joy;

C) 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 extend towards me.

D) a) Yea and I also remember the captivity of my
fathers;

b) for I surely do know that the Lord

c) did deliver them out of bondage,

d) and by this did establish his church

b) yea, the Lord God, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob,

c) did deliver them out of bondage.

a) Yea, I have always remembered the captivity
of my fathers:

b) and that same God who delivered them out of the hands of the Egyptians

c) did deliver them out of bondage.

d) Yea, and that same God did establish his church among them;

C’) 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.

B’) But I do not joy in my own success alone,

a) but my joy is more full

b) because of the success of my brethren,

c) who have been up to the land of Nephi. Behold, they have labored exceedingly, and have brought forth much fruit; and how great shall be their reward!

b) Now, when I think of the success of these my brethren my soul is carried away,

a) even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy.

A’) 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.

Chiastic Structure of Alma 29:1–7

Quiriguá Stela C

A

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! … that there might not be more sorrow upon all the face of the earth.

A

13.0.0.0.0, 4 Ahau 8 Cumku, the Creation Event took place.

B

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.

B

Three stones were set:

C

a

I ought not to harrow up in my desires the firm decree of a just God, for I know that he granteth unto men

C

a

The Paddler Gods erected a stone,

b

according to their desire,

b

in the First Five Sky place;

c

whether it be unto death or unto life

c

it was the Jaguar Throne Stone.

C

a

yea, I know that he allotteth unto men, yea, decreeth unto them decrees which are unalterable,

C

a

The Black Deity erected a stone,

b

according to their wills,

b

in the Large Town place;

c

whether they be unto salvation or unto destruction.

c

it was the Snake Throne Stone.

C

a

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,

C

a

And then it came to pass that Itzamna set a stone,

b

to him it is given according to his desires

c

the Water Throne Stone,

c

whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.

b

in the Sky place.

B

Now, seeing that I know these things, why should I desire more than to perform the work to which I have been called?

B

This was the First Three Stones

A

Why should I desire that I were an angel, that I could speak unto all the ends of the earth?

A

13 Baktuns were completed, under the supervision of the Six Sky Lord