KnoWhy #105 - Why did the Angel Speak to Alma with a Voice of Thunder? (Mosiah 27:11)

When the rebellious Alma the Younger was confronted by a messenger from God, the angel “descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder.” That the angel manifested himself in this way makes sense in many contexts, especially from ancient Near Eastern and Mesoamerican perspectives. From an ancient Near Eastern perspective, the voice of the angel signifies the terrifying power of the storm god or divine warrior. From a Mesoamerican perspective, it associates the angel with the dying-resurrecting maize god, whom the Nephites worshiped in the form of Jesus Christ. This shows that the Lord reveals himself to his children according to their culture and understanding.