Mosiah 16:1-8

Chapter 16

God redeems men from their lost and fallen state—Those who are carnal remain as though there was no redemption—Christ brings to pass a resurrection to endless life or to endless damnation. About 148 B.C.

1  AND now, it came to pass that after Abinadi had spoken these words he stretched forth his hand and said: The time shall come when all shall see the salvation of the Lord; when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.
2  And then shall the wicked be cast out, and they shall have cause to howl, and weep, and wail, and gnash their teeth; and this because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord; therefore the Lord redeemeth them not.
3  For they are carnal and devilish, and the devil has power over them; yea, even that old serpent that did beguile our first parents, which was the cause of their fall; which was the cause of all mankind becoming carnal, sensual, devilish, knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil.

Mosiah 16:1-3 (Emphasis mine))

At the time of salvation, everyone will confess before God that the judgments that they receive are just.  They will know they have been cast out because they have not listened to and followed the commandments of the Lord; through their choices, they have subjected themselves to devil.

Hugh Nibley wrote:

"The next chapter begins by repeating the theme of universality 'when every nation, kindred, tongue, and people shall see eye to eye and shall confess before God that his judgments are just.' Well, that will be Zion indeed when it's universal. "\'And then shall the wicked be cast out.' It will be a purged society then, and they will be of one heart and one mind. Those who would not participate will be simply wild at being left out, but what could they expect 'because they would not hearken unto the voice of the Lord.' He wanted to redeem them, but it all depended on their agency.

"Even becoming carnal, sensual, and devilish, you are not completely sunk in evil ... It was just a bluff, "knowing evil from good, subjecting themselves to the devil." You do that freely ...Well, this is the normal declination of human nature, and it would have been final. After all, if you are carnal, sensual, and devilish, where are you going? You are not going to pull yourself up by your own bootstraps. What can you do then?" (Emphasis mine) 

Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Chapters 15-16, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed July 10, 2011.

11  God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God.
12  Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work.

Psalms 62:11-12 (Emphasis mine)

10  Whoso causeth the righteous to go astray in an evil way, he shall fall himself into his own pit: but the upright shall have good things in possession.

Proverbs 28:10 (Emphasis mine)

6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.
7  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no bend, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the LORD of hosts will perform this.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (Emphasis mine)

5  Who shall give account to him that is ready to judge the quick and the dead.
6  For for this cause was the gospel preached also to them that are dead, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, but live according to God in the spirit.

1 Peter 4:5-6 (Emphasis mine)

9  If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 John 1:9 (Emphasis mine)

4  Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.
5  But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and the devil hath all power over him.  Therefore, he is as though there was no redemption made, being an enemy to God; and also is the devil an enemy to God.

Mosiah 16:4-5 (Emphasis mine)

Through the Fall, we were all lost.  Had it not been for the atonement, would would have remained lost.  

There are those that choose not to accept the atoning sacrifice of Christ.  These people remain in their fallen state; they are in the power of the devil.

Once again, the words of Hugh Nibley.

"Man has long been in a condition where he makes his own selection—natural selection "ceased" a long time ago with the human family. We do our own selection now, and it's a deliberate selection. How long has that been the case? Verse 4 says that mankind would have been lost, but God redeemed his people. 'But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature [that's your vicious circle; he makes himself worse; it's an obsession, like the paranoid, etc., he is not going to get out of it], and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remainethHe has declared himself for the other side ... When redemption is made, how could he possibly be lost? Well, it happens. It's a fact." (Emphasis mine) 

Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Chapters 15-16, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed July 10, 2011.

23  For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 3:23 (Emphasis mine)

5  For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6  For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
7  Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
8  So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.

Romans 8:5-8 (Emphasis mine)

6  And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption.
7  And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.
8  But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

Mosiah 16:6-8 (Emphasis mine)

It all comes down to Christ.  Without Him, there is no redemption.  Without Him, the grave keeps its victory and there is no resurrection.  Abinadi paints a very bleak picture and future for us without Christ.

But Christ came to Earth; He died and was resurrected; the grave no longer has victory and death is swallowed up in Christ.  

So, it all comes down to Him.  Without Him, we're nothing.  Because of His sacrifice, we can have eternal life in our Father's presence.

Hugh Nibley continues.

"Notice that the time is relative here. He hadn't come yet, but ... the plan was working and had been going on all along. Those who follow the prophets are qualified for it, just as those who would be here in the time of Christ. Christ had to come personally here to make it possible—to loose the bands of death. Now that is the bottom line, again. 'And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection.' "  (Emphasis mine) 

Teachings of the Book of Mormon, Chapters 15-16, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed July 10, 2011.

14  I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death: O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction: repentance shall be hid from mine eyes.

Hosea 13:14 (Emphasis mine)

8  He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from off all faces; and the rebuke of his people shall he take away from off all the earth: for the LORD hath spoken it.

Isaiah 25:8 (Emphasis mine)

53  For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
54  So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.
55  O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?
56  The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

1 Corinthians 15:53-56 (Emphasis mine)