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CHAPTER 42Mortality is a probationary time to enable man to repent and serve God—The fall brought temporal and spiritua. death upon all mankind—Redemption comes through repentance—God himself atoneth for the sins of the world—Mercy is for those who repent—All others are subject to God's justice—Mercy cometh because of the atonement—Only the truly penitent are saved. [About 73 B.C.] |
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1 And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry
your mind, which ye cannot
understanda—which is
concerning the ajustice of God in the
bpunishment of the
sinner; for ye do try to suppose that it is cinjustice that
the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery.
~ Punishment of the Sinner |
1a which ye cannot understand Comprehension is understanding. If one does not comprehend or does not have full comprehension of a matter, they are in a state of ignorance. And man cannot be saved in ignorance. He must come to understand the gospel plan of redemption, of salvation. Part of the problem with Corianton and why he fell into sin was that he did not have a deep understanding of the plan of salvation of God. It is one thing to simply say sin is wickedness. It is quite another to come to an understanding that if one persues after the life style of wickedness, then he will be raised up to an eternal punishment and not to the kingdom of God's glory. He will reap the reward of his life style of wickedness and suffer great messery, lose of eternal glory and not be able to return back to the presence of God. Alma had also once been in a state of 'ignorance' when he went about with the sons of king Mosiah pursecuting the members of the church. But his mind was enlightened as to the plan of redemption, the atonement, the ressurrection, mercy and justice. |
1a
Mosiah 15:27;
TG
God, Justice of b TG Punishment c Rom. 3:5; 2 Ne. 26:7; TG Injustice
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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
aEden, to till the bground, from whence
they were taken—yea, he drew out the man, and he placed at the east end
of the garden of Eden, ccherubim, and a flaming sword which
turned every way, to keep the tree of life—
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 [in his sins], the Lord God placed acherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake of the fruit—
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2a
TG
Eden b Jacob 2:21; Mosiah 2:25; Morm. 9:17 c Gen. 3:24; Alma 12:21; Mosiah 4:31 3a TG Cherubim
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4 And thus we see, that there was a atime granted
unto man to repent, yea, a bprobationary time, a time to
repent and serve God.
5 For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand immediately, and apartaken of the btree of life, he would have lived forever [in his sins], 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.
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4a
Jacob 5:27 b Alma 34:32; TG Earth, Purpose of; TG Probation 5a Alma 12:23; Moses 4:28 b Gen. 2:9; Gen. 3:24 (22-24); 1 Ne. 8:10-12; Moses 3:9
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6 But behold, it was appointed unto man to
adie—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
blost forever, yea, they became cfallen
man.
7 And now, ye see by this that our first parents were acut off both temporally and spiritually from the bpresence of the Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow after their own cwill.
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6a
TG
Death b 2 Ne. 9:7; Mosiah 16:4-7; Alma 11:45; Alma 12:36 c TG Fall of Man 7a 2 Ne. 2:5; 2 Ne. 9:6-15; Hel. 14:16 (15-18) b TG God, Presence of c TG Agency
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8 Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from
this atemporal death, for that would destroy the great
bplan of happiness.
9 Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the afall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual bdeath 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. 10 Therefore, as they had become acarnal, sensual, and devilish, by bnaturea, this cprobationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state.
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10a they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature This condition is that of the temporal natural body which did now house the spirit of man. And it was for the spirit to learn to govern and control this creature of the physical world that man might become exalted even as God is. |
8a
Gen. 3:22-24 b Alma 12:26 (22-33); Alma 34:9 (8-16); Moses 6:62 9a TG Fall of Man b Moses 5:4; TG Death, Spiritual, First 10a TG Carnal Mind b TG Man, Natural, Not Spiritually Reborn c TG Mortality; TG Probation
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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
amiserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord.
12 And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which aman had brought upon himself because of his own bdisobedience;
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11a
2 Ne. 9:9 (7-9) 12a 1 Cor. 15:22 b TG Disobedience
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13 Therefore, according to justice, the aplan of
bredemption 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 ccease to be God.
14 And thus we see that all mankind were afallen, and they were in the grasp of bjustice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.
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13a
TG
Salvation, Plan of b TG Redemption; TG Repentance c 2 Ne. 2:13-14 14a Eph. 2:8-9; Alma 22:14 (13-14) b Rom. 7:5; 2 Ne. 2:5 (4-10); 2 Ne. 25:23
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15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an
atonement should be made; therefore God himself aatoneth
for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of
bmercy, to appease the demands of
cjustice, that God might be a dperfect,
just God, and a emerciful God also.
16 Now, repentance could not come unto men except there were a apunishment, which also was beternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed copposite to the plan of happiness, which was as deternal also as the life of the soul.
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15a
2 Ne. 9:10;
Mosiah 16:8 (7-8); TG Atonement; TG Jesus Christ, Redeemer b TG Jesus Christ, Mission of c Alma 12:32; TG Justice d TG God, Perfection of e TG God, Mercy of 16a TG Punishment b D&C 19:11 (10-12) c TG Opposition d TG Eternity
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17 Now, how could a man repent except he should asin?
How could he sin if there was no blaw? How could there be
a law save there was a punishment?
18 Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of aconscience unto man.
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17a
Rom. 7:8 (1-25);
TG
Sin b Rom. 4:15; Rom. 5:13; 2 Ne. 9:25 18a TG Conscience
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19 Now, if there was no law given—if a man amurdered he should
bdie—would he be afraid he would die if he should
murder?
20 And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin. 21 And if there was ano law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature?
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19a
TG
Murder b TG Blood, Shedding of 21a 2 Ne. 9:26 (25-26); Mosiah 3:11; Alma 9:16 (15-16)
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22 But there is a law given, and a apunishment
affixed, and a brepentance granted; which repentance, mercy
claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the
claw, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the
works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.
23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and amercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the batonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the cresurrection of the dead; and the dresurrection of the dead bringeth eback men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be fjudged according to their works, according to the law and justice.
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22a
TG
Punishment b TG Repentance c Gal. 3:13; D&C 76:48 23a TG God, Mercy of b TG Jesus Christ, Atonement through c 2 Ne. 2:8; Alma 7:12; Alma 12:25 (24-25) d 2 Ne. 9:4; Alma 11:41-45; Hel. 14:15-18; Morm. 9:13 e Alma 40:21-24 f TG Jesus Christ, Judge
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24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also
amercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but
the truly penitent are saved.
25 What, do ye suppose that amercy can rob bjustice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God. 26 And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal apurposes, which were prepared bfrom the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery.
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24a
TG
God, Mercy of 25a TG Mercy b TG Justice 26a Matt. 5:48; Rom. 8:17 (14-21); 2 Ne. 2:15 (14-30); D&C 29:43-44; Moses 1:39; TG Earth, Purpose of b Alma 13:3, 5, 7-8; 3 Ne. 1:14
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27 Therefore, O my son, awhosoever 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
brestored unto him according to his
cdeeds.
28 If he has desired to do aevil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be done unto him, according to the restoration of God.
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27a
Alma 5:34;
Alma 41:7-8;
Hel. 14:30; TG Agency b Alma 41:15 c Isa. 59:18; Alma 36:15; D&C 1:10 (9-10) 28a Alma 41:4 (2-5)
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29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things
atrouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you,
with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.
30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the ajustice 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 bmercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in chumility.
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29a
2 Cor. 7:10 (8-11);
Morm. 2:13 30a TG Justice b TG God, Mercy of c TG Humility
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31 And now, O my son, ye are called of God to
apreach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy
way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest
bbring 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.
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31a
D&C 11:15 b TG Mission of Early Saints
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