Chapter 40
Christ brings to pass
the resurrection of all men—The righteous dead go to paradise and the wicked to
outer darkness to await the day of their resurrection—All things will be
restored to their proper and perfect frame in the Resurrection. About
74 B.C.
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.
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
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.
4 Behold, there is a
time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time
cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed.
5 Now, whether there
shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time, that men shall come forth
from the dead, it mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it
sufficeth me to know that this is the case—that there is a time appointed that
all shall rise from the dead.
6 Now there must needs
be a space betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection. (Alma 40:1-7)
Alma next discusses the resurrection with Corianton. “Alma2
employs resurrection more than any other speaker, his uses cluster in just
three passages. He uses it three times while preaching in Ammonihah (Alma 12),
once while preaching to the Zoramites, and thirty times while talking to
Corianton (twenty-seven times in Alma 40 alone). This concentrated usage in
Alma 40 is explained by the fact that Corianton’s ‘mind is worried concerning
the resurrection of the dead’ (Alma 40:1), and Alma2 seeks to
resolve this concern.”[1]
Alma tells Corianton there will be no resurrection until
after the coming of Christ. Only at that time will “that this mortal does not
put on immortality [and] this corruption does not put on incorruption” (Alma
49:2).
“Even this mortal shall put on immortality, and this corruption
shall put on incorruption, and shall be brought to stand before the bar of God,
to be judged of him according to their works whether they be good or whether
they be evil—
“If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and
happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being
delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation” (Mosiah
16:10-13).
“Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep [GR die,
sleep in death], but we shall all be changed,
“In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump:
for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we
shall be changed.
“For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this
mortal must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:51-53).
“But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the
firstfruits [GR firstlings] of them that slept.
“For since by man came death, by man came also the
resurrection of the dead.
“For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made
alive.
“But every man in his own order [GR rank]: Christ the
firstfruits [GR firstlings]; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming” (1 Corinthians
15:20-23).
Christ will bring to pass the resurrection, but it is not yet.
He will explain some mysteries, but many will be kept, but only God knows which
are which.
“For he that diligently seeketh shall find; and the
mysteries of God shall be unfolded unto them, by the power of the Holy Ghost,
as well in these times as in times of old, and as well in times of old as in
times to come; wherefore, the course of the Lord is one eternal round” (1 Nephi
10:19).
“Behold, great and marvelous are the works of the Lord. How
unsearchable are the depths of the mysteries of him; and it is impossible that
man should find out all his ways. And no man knoweth of his ways save it be
revealed unto him; wherefore, brethren, despise not the revelations of God” (Jacob
4:8).
“Murmur not because of the things which thou hast not seen,
for they are withheld from thee and from the world, which is wisdom in me in a
time to come” (D&C 25:4).
“For I deign to reveal unto my church things which have been
kept hid from before the foundation of the world, things that pertain to the
dispensation of the fulness of times” (D&C 25:4).
Alma had diligently asked the Lord to know about the resurrection.
There is a time appointed for the resurrection; however, only God knows when
this will happen.
“Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which
all that are in the graves shall hear his voice,
“And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the
resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of
damnation” (John 5:28-29).[2]
If there be one, two, or three times men will rise from the
dead doesn’t matter. “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a
shout [GR a cry of command, a cheer], with the voice of the archangel, and
with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first” (1 Thessalonians
4:16).
“For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me
they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.
“And it shall come to pass that when the second trump shall
sound then shall they that never knew me come forth and shall stand before me”
(Mosiah 26:24-25).
“For the day cometh that the Lord shall utter his voice out
of heaven; the heavens shall shake and the earth shall tremble, and the trump
of God shall sound both long and loud, and shall say to the sleeping nations:
Ye saints arise and live; ye sinners stay and sleep until I shall call again” (D&C
43:18).
God knows all things. “Great is our Lord, and of great
power: his understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5).
“O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge
of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out” (Romans
11:33).
Alma is satisfied to know God knows there is a time for all
to rise from the dead. There must be a space between death and the resurrection.
“When mortals complete their sojourn on earth and pass through
the portal called death, they enter the postmortal spirit world. As part of the
plan of salvation, the Lord set a time between death and the resurrection when
men and women can continue their progression and further learn principles of
perfection before they are brought to the final judgment.”[3]
[1] Who
Uses the Word Resurrection in the Book of Mormon and How Is It Used?, John
Hilton III and Jana Johnson, Journal of
the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 21/2 (2012): 35.
[2] “And shall come forth; they who have done good, in
the resurrection of the just; and they who have done evil, in
the resurrection of the unjust” (JST John 5:29).
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