This is part of a painting by Veronique Stefanica, which I love. 

Do you ever wish you had a bigger microphone? Wanted to declare something to the whole world that you thought there was something they needed to know? Wished you had a church calling that gave you more influence? 

I used to wonder why Alma would say that he sinned in his wish, but as I’ve gotten older I’ve begun to recognize that God gives each of us the voice and influential power to do exactly the work assigned to us. He has his reasons and we need to be diligent in doing the labor we are called to do. As we magnify our talents, he will magnify us. After all,  look how Alma’s words are spreading out to the world now! His voice joins with others in scripture to declare the divinity of Jesus Christ,  and it is as though he were the angel he had wished he could be. 

Alma 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! 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. 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.”

https://www.lds.org/scriptures/bofm/alma/29?verse=1-3&lang=eng#p1