Alma 7:21-27

²¹ And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God; therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness.  ²² And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received.

Alma 7:21-22 (Emphasis mine)

The Lord “doth not dwell in unholy temples.”  We must be righteous to have the Lord’s spirit with us.  Paul wrote, “[k]now ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are” (1 Corinthians 3:16-17).

Neither can any filthiness or unclean thing dwell in the kingdom of God.  Here, Alma(2) is emphasizing the words of King Benjamin when he said “that the man that doeth this [transgress and go contrary to that which has been spoken], the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness; therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples” (Mosiah 2:37).

Those that do not repent at the last day will “remain in his filthiness.”  Forgiveness will not be available at that time.  Nephi(1) taught this concept to Laman and Lemuel. 

³³ Wherefore, if they should die in their wickedness they must be cast off also, as to the things which are spiritual, which are pertaining to righteousness; wherefore, they must be brought to stand before God, to be judged of their works; and if their works have been filthiness they must needs be filthy; and if they be filthy it must needs be that they cannot dwell in the kingdom of God; if so, the kingdom of God must be filthy also.

³⁴ But behold, I say unto you, the kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God; wherefore there must needs be a place of filthiness prepared for that which is filthy.

³⁵ And there is a place prepared, yea, even that awful hell of which I have spoken, and the devil is the preparator of it; wherefore the final state of the souls of men is to dwell in the kingdom of God, or to be cast out because of that justice of which I have spoken.

1 Nephi 15:33-35 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) tells them he is there to “awaken [them] to a sense of [their] duty to God, that [they] may walk blameless before him.” 

“The Book of Mormon teaches that a person must be morally perfect and without sin in order to gain eternal life. Nephi said, ‘The kingdom of God is not filthy, and there cannot any unclean thing enter into the kingdom of God’ (1 Nephi 15:34). Alma(2) put it this way: ‘And [God] doth not dwell in unholy temples, neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God’ (Alma 7:21). The resurrected Savior commanded the Nephites to ‘be perfect even as I, or your Father who is in heaven is perfect’ (3 Nephi 12:48).

“The perfection required by God extends not just to one's acts. According to the Book of Mormon, improper thoughts and desires can also prohibit one from entering into the presence of God.” [1] (Emphasis mine)

What are the qualities of a follower of Christ?

²³ And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive. ²⁴ And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

Alma 7:23-24 (Emphasis mine)

A follower of Christ should be humble (Before destruction the heart of man is haughty, and before honour is humility [Proverbs 18:12]), submissive (Submit yourselves therefore to God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you [James 4:7)]), gentle, easy to be entreated, full of patience and long-suffering, being temperature in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God; have faith, hope, and charity; always abound in good works.

Much is expected from the disciple of Christ; the reward is eternal life and living in the kingdom of God for all eternity.

²⁵ And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out.  ²⁶ And now my beloved brethren, I have spoken these words unto you according to the Spirit which testifieth in me; and my soul doth exceedingly rejoice, because of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye have given unto my word. ²⁷ And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever.  And thus I have spoken.  Amen.

Alma 7:25-27 (Emphasis mine)

Alma(2) closes by telling the people to “keep your garments spotless.”  May they “be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”  He blesses them with “the peace of God.” 

“After further words of encouragement and counsel, Alma closes with a warm expression of his joy and a tender benediction: ‘My soul doth exceedingly rejoice, because of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye have given unto my word. And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever’ (Alma 7:26–27). If Alma were counseling us today, he would undoubtedly urge us to give similar ‘diligence and heed’ to the words of the Book of Mormon.” [2] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Cry Redemption: The Plan of Redemption as Taught in the Book of Mormon, Corbin T. Volluz, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 22, 2012.

[2] "Know the Covenants of the Lord" - Sermons, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed March 22, 2012.