Alma

Chapter 42

31 verses

My son, I see that there is still something troubling you that you don’t understand—specifically about God’s justice in punishing sinners. You seem to think it’s unfair for sinners to be sent to a state of misery.

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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.

Now, my son, I will explain this to you. After the Lord God sent our first parents out of the garden of Eden to work the ground from which they were taken, he led the man out and placed cherubim and a flaming sword that turned in every direction at the east end of the garden of Eden to guard the tree of life.

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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—

Now we see that the man had become like God, knowing good and evil; and to prevent him from reaching out, taking from the tree of life, eating, and living forever, the Lord God placed cherubim and a flaming sword so he could not eat the fruit.

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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—

So we see that people were given time to repent—a probationary period, a time to turn to God and serve Him.

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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.

If Adam had immediately reached out his hand and eaten from the tree of life, he would have lived forever, according to God's word, without any opportunity for repentance; and God's word would have been made void, and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated.

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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.

But it was appointed for man to die—so, when they were cut off from the tree of life, they were also cut off from the face of the earth—and mankind became lost forever; they became fallen people.

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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.

Now you see that our first parents were separated both physically and spiritually from the presence of the Lord, and they became able to follow their own will.

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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.

It was not wise for people to be saved from physical death, because that would destroy the great plan of happiness.

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Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.

Since the soul could never die, and the fall had brought both spiritual and physical death to all people—that is, they were separated from the presence of the Lord—it was necessary for humanity to be redeemed from this spiritual death.

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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.

Because they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish by nature, this mortal life became a time for them to prepare; it became a time to get ready.

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Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state.

Now remember, my son, if it weren’t for the plan of redemption—if it were set aside—then as soon as they died, their souls would be miserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord.

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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.

Now, there was no way to bring people back from this fallen state, which they had brought upon themselves because of their own disobedience.

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And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience;

So, according to justice, the plan of redemption could only happen if people repent during this time of testing, this time of preparation. Without these conditions, mercy couldn’t have any effect without destroying justice. But justice cannot be destroyed; if it were, God would stop being God.

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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.

So we see that all people had fallen and were under the power of justice—the justice of God, which would have consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.

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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.

The plan of mercy could only happen if an atonement was made; so God himself atones for the sins of the world to fulfill the plan of mercy and satisfy the demands of justice, so that God can be both perfectly just and merciful.

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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.

Repentance could not come to people unless there was a punishment, which was as eternal as the life of the soul, set in opposition to the plan of happiness, which was also as eternal as the life of the soul.

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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.

How could someone repent unless they had sinned? How could they sin if there were no law? How could there be a law without a punishment?

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Now, how could a man repent except he should sin? How could he sin if there was no law? How could there be a law save there was a punishment?

There was a punishment established, and a just law given, which caused people to feel remorse in their conscience.

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Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man.

If there was no law saying that a man who murders should die, would he be afraid of dying if he committed murder?

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Now, if there was no law given—if a man murdered he should die—would he be afraid he would die if he should murder?

And if there were no law given against sin, people would not be afraid to sin.

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And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin.

If no law had been given, then if people sinned, what could justice or mercy do? They would have no claim on the person.

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And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature?

But there is a law given, a punishment assigned, and repentance offered; and mercy claims those who repent. Otherwise, justice claims the person and carries out the law, and the law brings the punishment. If it were not this way, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.

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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.

But God does not stop being God, and mercy claims those who repent, and mercy comes because of the atonement. The atonement brings about the resurrection of the dead, and the resurrection of the dead brings people back into the presence of God. In this way, they are restored to his presence to be judged according to their works, according to law and justice.

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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.

Justice carries out all its demands, and mercy also claims all that belongs to her; so only those who are truly repentant are saved.

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For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.

Do you think that mercy can take away justice? I tell you, no, not at all. If it did, God would stop being God.

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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.

In this way, God accomplishes his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared from the foundation of the world. This is how the salvation and redemption of people happen, as well as their destruction and misery.

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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.

So, my son, anyone who wants to come may come and freely take of the waters of life; and anyone who does not want to come is not forced to come; but in the last day, each person will be rewarded according to their actions.

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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.

If he has wanted to do evil and has not repented during his life, evil will be done to him according to the restoration of God.

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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.

Now, my son, I want you to stop letting these things bother you, and let only your sins trouble you, with the kind of concern that leads you to repent.

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And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.

My son, I want you to stop denying the justice of God. Don’t try to excuse yourself in any way because of your sins by denying God’s justice. Instead, let God’s justice, mercy, and patience work fully in your heart, and let it humble you completely.

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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.

Now, my son, you are called by God to preach the word to this people. So go and declare the word with truth and seriousness, so you can help bring souls to repentance, that the great plan of mercy may apply to them. May God grant you this according to my words. Amen.

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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.

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