This is my second entry in an effort to record what I've gleaned from a little study of angelic visitations in the scriptures.
Hagar
We open again with Hagar (and we will again later; it's one of the best angel stories in scripture). Hagar had been ejected from Abraham's household and was wandering in the desert with her son Ishmael. They were out of water were so near death that Hagar had left Ishmael under a bush so that should wouldn't see him die.
In the midst of this the scriptures tell us that "God heard the voice of the lad." And he sends an angel. An angel appears to Hagar and tells her
Fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
The angel shows her where to find water but before he does that he assures her that she has been heard and is known.
Many of the angels in the scriptures repeat this message.
Zacharias
When the angel Gabriel appeared to Zacharias the soon-to-be father of John the Baptist the first thing he said was
Fear not, Zacharias: for thy prayer is heard.
Cornelius
When the angel visited the devout centurion Cornelius, in preparation for the preaching of the gospel to the Gentiles, the angel says
Thy prayers and thine alms are come up for a memorial before God.
King Benjamin
In the Book of Mormon, the angel that visited King Benjamin in the night before his great address greets him
Awake, and hear the words which I shall tell thee; for behold I am come to declare unto you glad tidings of great joy. For the Lord hath heard thy prayers, and hath judged of thy righteousness.
He follows this greeting with a long and revelatory discourse on the mission and coming of the Messiah.
Alma
Alma the Younger gets a much less happy greeting. In fact, the angel does not tell him that his prayers are heard. After ordering him to stop persecuting the church the angel tells him why God has sent an angel to him:
Behold, the Lord hath heard the prayers of his people, and also the prayers of his servant, Alma, who is thy father.
Even though Alma the Younger has not prayed, the angel still takes time to tell him that God has heard the prayers of others.
Why do these angels take time to tell the recipients of their message that God has heard their prayers? Shouldn't that be obvious from the rest of their message, or from their very presence?
One benefit of the repetition of the message is that we, as readers, can learn from the lesson. It is easy to feel at times like prayers go nowhere or are unheard. I'm not smart enough to know why some prayers are answered right away and some never, but it is without doubt that God hears prayers. He instructs his angels to tell it to people over and over.
My takeaway: I should remind my loved ones more often that God hears prayers remind each other as well. Alma the Elder never got direct angelic confirmation that his prayers were heard, but it must have been just as sweet to hear it from his son.
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