Unit 63

God

54 occurrences in 38 verses

Alma 39:1, 6, 7, 8, 9, 12, 17,

Alma 40:3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 14, 21, 25, 26,

Alma 41:2, 3, 4, 8, 9, 11,

Alma 42:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 13, 14, 15, 22, 23, 25, 26, 28, 30, 31

Alma 39:1

And now, my son, I have somewhat more to say unto thee

than what I said unto thy brother;

for behold, have ye not observed the steadiness of thy brother,

his faithfulness, and his diligence in keeping the commandments of God?

Behold, has he not set a good example for thee?

Alma 39:6

For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had place in you,

and ye know that ye deny it,

behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable;

yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God,

it is not easy for him to obtain forgiveness;

yea, I say unto you, my son,

that it is not easy for him to obtain a forgiveness.

Alma 39:7

And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime.

I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul,

if it were not for your good.

Alma 39:8

But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God;

and except ye repent

they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day.

Alma 39:9

Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins,

and go no more after the lusts of your eyes,

but cross yourself in all these things;

for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

Oh, remember, and take it upon you,

and cross yourself in these things.

Alma 39:12

And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me:

Command thy children to do good,

lest they lead away the hearts of many people to destruction;

therefore I command you, my son, in the fear of God,

that ye refrain from your iniquities;

Alma 39:17

And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject.

Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand.

Behold, I say unto you,

is not a soul at this time as precious unto God

as a soul will be at the time of his coming?

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 40:8

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 40:10

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 40:14

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.

Alma 40:21

But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say;

but this much I say,

that there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body,

and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery

until the time which is appointed of God

that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body,

and be brought to stand before God,

and be judged according to their works.

Alma 40:25

And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God.

Alma 40:26

But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked;

for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness;

for they are unclean,

and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God;

but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors

or their works, which have been evil;

and they drink the dregs of a bitter cup.

Alma 41:2

I say unto thee, my son,

that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God;

for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order.

Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ,

that the soul of man should be restored to its body,

and that every part of the body should be restored to itself.

Alma 41:3

And it is requisite with the justice of God

that men should be judged according to their works;

and if their works were good in this life,

and the desires of their hearts were good,

that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.

Alma 41:4

And if their works are evil

they shall be restored unto them for evil.

Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order,

every thing to its natural frame —

mortality raised to immortality,

corruption to incorruption —

raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God,

or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil,

the one on one hand, the other on the other —

Alma 41:8

Now, the decrees of God are unalterable;

therefore, the way is prepared

that whosoever will

may walk therein and be saved.

Alma 41:9

And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God

upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin.

Alma 41:11

And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature,

or I would say, in a carnal state,

are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity;

they are without God in the world,

and they have gone contrary to the nature of God;

therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.

Alma 42:1

And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more

which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand —

which is concerning the justice of God in the punishment of the sinner;

for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice

that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery.

Alma 42:2

Now behold, my son, I will explain this thing unto thee.

For behold, after the Lord God sent our first parents forth from the garden of Eden,

to till the ground, from whence they were taken —

yea, he drew out the man,

and he placed at the east end of the garden of Eden, cherubim,

and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the tree of life —

Alma 42:3

Now, we see that the man had become as God, knowing good and evil;

and lest he should put forth his hand,

and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live forever,

the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword,

that he should not partake of the fruit —

Alma 42:4

And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent,

yea, a probationary time,

a time to repent and serve God.

Alma 42:5

For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand immediately,

and partaken of the tree of life,

he would have lived forever, according to the word of God,

having no space for repentance;

yea, and also the word of God would have been void,

and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated.

Alma 42:13

Therefore, according to justice,

the plan of redemption could not be brought about,

only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state,

yea, this preparatory state;

for except it were for these conditions,

mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice.

Now the work of justice could not be destroyed;

if so, God would cease to be God.

Alma 42:14

And thus we see that all mankind were fallen,

and they were in the grasp of justice;

yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever

to be cut off from his presence.

Alma 42:15

And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about

except an atonement should be made;

therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world,

to bring about the plan of mercy,

to appease the demands of justice,

that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.

Alma 42:22

But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted;

which repentance, mercy claimeth;

otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law,

and the law inflicteth the punishment;

if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed,

and God would cease to be God.

Alma 42:23

But God ceaseth not to be God,

and mercy claimeth the penitent,

and mercy cometh because of the atonement;

and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead;

and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God;

and thus they are restored into his presence,

to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.

Alma 42:25

What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice?

I say unto you,

Nay; not one whit.

If so, God would cease to be God.

Alma 42:26

And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes,

which were prepared from the foundation of the world.

And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men,

and also their destruction and misery.

Alma 42:28

If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days,

behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God.

Alma 42:30

O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more.

Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins,

by denying the justice of God;

but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy,

and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart;

and let it bring you down to the dust in humility.

Alma 42:31

And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people.

And now, my son, go thy way,

declare the word with truth and soberness,

that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance,

that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them.

And may God grant unto you even according to my words.

Amen.