All segment titles and their associated verse designations are derived from the section headings that appear in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, Maxwell Institute Study Edition - edited by Grant Hardy and published by the BYU Maxwell Institute. Verses are organized into sense lines that are parallel to the verse texts in The Book of Mormon: the Earliest Text - as edited by Royal Skousen and published by Yale. Audio clips are derived from Book of Mormon chapter mp3 audio recordings provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints at the official Church website.


Unit 63

Segment 3 of 8 [#401]

The State of the Soul between Death and the Resurrection

Alma 40:1 - Alma 40:14

Duration: 3:22

contextual study / concordance



Alma 40:1

Now my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto thee;

for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of the dead.


Alma 40:2

Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection —

or, I would say, in other words,

that this mortal does not put on immortality,

this corruption does not put on incorruption —

until after the coming of Christ.


Alma 40:3

Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead.

But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet.

Now, I unfold unto you a mystery;

nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept,

that no one knoweth them save God himself.

But I show unto you one thing

which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know —

that is concerning the resurrection.


Alma 40:4

Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead.

Now when this time cometh no one knows;

but God knoweth the time which is appointed.


Alma 40:5

Now, whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time,

that men shall come forth from the dead,

it mattereth not;

for God knoweth all these things;

and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case —

that there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead.


Alma 40:6

Now there must needs be a space

betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection.


Alma 40:7

And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men

from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection?


Alma 40:8

Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise

it mattereth not;

for all do not die at once,

and this mattereth not;

all is as one day with God,

and time only is measured unto men.


Alma 40:9

Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead;

and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection.

And now, concerning this space of time,

what becometh of the souls of men is the thing

which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know;

and this is the thing of which I do know.


Alma 40:10

And when the time cometh when all shall rise,

then shall they know that God knoweth all the times

which are appointed unto man.


Alma 40:11

Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection —

Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel,

that the spirits of all men,

as soon as they are departed from this mortal body,

yea, the spirits of all men,

whether they be good or evil,

are taken home to that God who gave them life.


Alma 40:12

And then shall it come to pass, that

the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness,

which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace,

where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.


Alma 40:13

And then shall it come to pass, that

the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil —

for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord;

for behold, they chose evil works rather than good;

therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them,

and take possession of their house —

and these shall be cast out into outer darkness;

there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth,

and this because of their own iniquity,

being led captive by the will of the devil.


Alma 40:14

Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked,

yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for

the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them;

thus they remain in this state,

as well as the righteous in paradise,

until the time of their resurrection.



The End of Unit 63 - Segment 3