Unit 63

of

178 occurrences in 72 verses

Alma 39:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19,

Alma 40:1, 2, 3, 6, 7, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26,

Alma 41:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13,

Alma 42:1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 18, 22, 23, 26, 27, 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 39:2

For thou didst not give so much heed unto my words

as did thy brother, among the people of the Zoramites.

Now this is what I have against thee;

thou didst go on unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom.

Alma 39:3

And this is not all, my son.

Thou didst do that which was grievous unto me;

for thou didst forsake the ministry,

and did go over into the land of Siron

among the borders of the Lamanites,

after the harlot Isabel.

Alma 39:4

Yea, she did steal away the hearts of many;

but this was no excuse for thee, my son.

Thou shouldst have tended to the ministry wherewith thou wast entrusted.

Alma 39:5

Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord;

yea, most abominable above all sins

save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost?

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 39:9

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 39:13

That ye turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength;

that ye lead away the hearts of no more to do wickedly;

but rather return unto them, and acknowledge your faults

and that wrong which ye have done.

Alma 39:14

Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world;

for behold, you cannot carry them with you.

Alma 39:15

And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ.

Behold, I say unto you,

that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world;

yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.

Alma 39:16

And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were called,

to declare these glad tidings unto this people,

to prepare their minds;

or rather that salvation might come unto them,

that they may prepare the minds of their children

to hear the word at the time of his coming.

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 39:18

Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known

unto this people as well as unto their children?

Alma 39:19

Is it not as easy at this time

for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings

unto us as unto our children,

or as after the time of his coming?

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 40:6

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 40:9

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 40:11

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.

Alma 40:15

Now, there are some that have understood

that this state of happiness

and this state of misery of the soul, before the resurrection,

was a first resurrection.

Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection,

the raising of the spirit or the soul and their consignation to happiness or misery,

according to the words which have been spoken.

Alma 40:16

And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection,

a resurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be,

down to the resurrection of Christ

from the dead.

Alma 40:17

Now, we do not suppose

that this first resurrection, which is spoken of in this manner,

can be the resurrection of the souls

and their consignation to happiness or misery.

Ye cannot suppose that this is what it meaneth.

Alma 40:18

Behold, I say unto you, Nay;

but it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body,

of those from the days of Adam down to the resurrection of Christ.

Alma 40:19

Now, whether the souls and the bodies of those of whom has been spoken

shall all be reunited at once,

the wicked as well as the righteous,

I do not say;

let it suffice, that I say that they all come forth;

or in other words, their resurrection cometh to pass

before the resurrection of those who die after the resurrection of Christ.

Alma 40:20

Now, my son, I do not say

that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ;

but behold, I give it as my opinion,

that the souls and the bodies are reunited, of the righteous,

at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into heaven.

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 40:22

Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things

of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets.

Alma 40:23

The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul;

yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body;

yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost;

but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.

Alma 40:24

And now, my son, this is the restoration

of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets —

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 41:1

And now, my son, I have somewhat to say

concerning the restoration of which has been spoken;

for behold, some have wrested the scriptures,

and have gone far astray because of this thing.

And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this thing.

But behold, I will explain it unto thee.

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 41:5

The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness,

or good according to his desires of good;

and the other to evil according to his desires of evil;

for as he has desired to do evil all the day long

even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.

Alma 41:6

And so it is on the other hand.

If he hath repented of his sins,

and desired righteousness until the end of his days,

even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.

Alma 41:7

These are they that are redeemed of the Lord;

yea, these are they that are taken out,

that are delivered from that endless night of darkness;

and thus they stand or fall;

for behold, they are their own judges,

whether to do good or do evil.

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 41:12

And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration

to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state,

or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?

Alma 41:13

O, my son, this is not the case;

but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil,

or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish —

good for that which is good;

righteous for that which is righteous;

just for that which is just;

merciful for that which is merciful.

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 42:5

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 42:6

But behold, it was appointed unto man to die —

therefore, as they were cut off from the tree of life

they should be cut off from the face of the earth —

and man became lost forever,

yea, they became fallen man.

Alma 42:7

And now, ye see by this that our first parents were cut off

both temporally and spiritually from the presence of the Lord;

and thus we see they became subjects to follow after their own will.

Alma 42:8

Now behold, it was not expedient

that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death,

for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.

Alma 42:9

Therefore, as the soul could never die,

and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a temporal,

that is, they were cut off from the presence of the Lord,

it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death.

Alma 42:11

And now remember, my son,

if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it aside)

as soon as they were dead

their souls were miserable,

being cut off from the presence of the Lord.

Alma 42:12

And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state,

which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience;

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 42:16

Now, repentance could not come unto men

except there were a punishment,

which also was eternal as the life of the soul

should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness,

which was as eternal also as the life of the soul.

Alma 42:18

Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given,

which brought remorse of conscience unto man.

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 42:26

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 42:27

Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come

may come and partake of the waters of life freely;

and whosoever will not come

the same is not compelled to come;

but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.

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.