Chapter 41
In the Resurrection
men come forth to a state of endless happiness or endless misery—Wickedness
never was happiness—Carnal men are without God in the world—Every person
receives again in the Restoration the characteristics and attributes acquired
in mortality. About 74 B.C.
1 And now, my son, I
have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for
behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of
this thing. And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this
thing. But behold, I will explain it unto thee.
2 I say unto thee, my
son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it
is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold,
it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ,
that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the
body should be restored to itself.
3 And it is requisite
with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and
if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were
good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is
good.
4 And if their works
are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall
be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality
raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness
to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of
the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other. (Alma 41:1-4)
Alma continues to teach Corianton about the resurrection and
restoration.
Some have distorted scriptures and have gone far astray. “Knowing
this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation”
(2 Peter 1:20).[1]
“As also in all [Paul’s] epistles, speaking in them of these
things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are
unlearned and unstable wrest [GR twist, distort], as they do also the other
scriptures, unto their own destruction” (2 Peter 3:16).
“Now I need not rehearse the matter; what I have said may
suffice. Behold, the scriptures are before you; if ye will wrest them it shall
be to your own destruction” (Alma 13:20).
Because of this, they have gone astray “I marvel that ye are
so soon removed from him that called you into the grace of Christ unto another
gospel” (Galatians 1:6).
“And it came to pass that there arose a mist of darkness;
yea, even an exceedingly great mist of darkness, insomuch that they who had
commenced in the path did lose their way, that they wandered off and were lost”
(1 Nephi 8:23).
He senses Corianton’s worries about this. He tells him he
will explain it to him.
The plan of restoration is essential to God’s justice. It is
essential all thing be restored to their proper. The soul will be restored to
the body and the body will be restored. “The soul shall be restored to the
body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored
to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things
shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame” (Alma 40:23).
“The assurance of resurrection also gives us a powerful
incentive to keep the commandments of God during our mortal lives. Resurrection
is much more than merely reuniting a spirit to a body held captive by the
grave. We know from the Book of Mormon that the resurrection is a restoration
that brings back ‘carnal for carnal’ and ‘good for that which is good’ (Alma
41:13).
The prophet Amulek taught, ‘That same spirit which doth
possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit
will have power to possess your body in that eternal world’ (Alma 34:34). As a result, when persons leave
this life and go on to the next, ‘they who are righteous shall be righteous
still’ (2 Ne. 9:16) and ‘whatever principle of intelligence we attain unto in
this life … will rise with us in the resurrection’ (D&C 130:18).”[2]
It is also essential to God’s justice men should be judged according
to their works. “Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy
and truth shall go before thy face” (Psalm 89:14).
“O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he executeth
all his words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law must be
fulfilled” (2 Nephi 9:17).
“For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ;
that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he
hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10).
“Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man
soweth, that shall he also reap” (Galatians 6:7).
If their works and the desires of their hearts were good,
that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good. “According
to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompence
to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompence” (Isaiah 59:18).
“He hath given unto
you that ye might know good from evil, and he hath given unto you that ye might
choose life or death; and ye can do good and be restored unto that which is
good, or have that which is good restored unto you; or ye can do evil, and have
that which is evil restored unto you” (Helaman 14:31).
“It seems, then, that the phrase, ‘good works,’ as used in
the Book of Mormon is a term of art. It does not simply mean a work that is
beneficial to others. Carnal men do such beneficial works all the time. Rather,
a ‘good work’ can only be done by a ‘good man.’ And no man is good while in his
fallen state. Mankind, in its fallen and carnal state, is possessed of a nature
which is ‘evil continually,’ and therefore incapable of doing good works. Why?
Because, to use Mormon’s analogy, ‘a bitter fountain cannot bring forth good
water’ (Moroni 7:11).”[3]
If their works are evil, they will be restored to evil. “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” (Alma 42:28).
All things will be restored to its natural frame. “O how
great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must
deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the body of
the righteous; and the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all
men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a
perfect knowledge like unto us in the flesh, save it be that our knowledge
shall be perfect” (2 Nephi 9:13). They will be raised to endless
happiness.
“The Book of Mormon makes it clear that happiness is our
destiny … Words such as reap, restored, and desire imply that happiness is a
consequence, not a reward. We are restored to a state of happiness when we have
chosen to live according to the plan of happiness. Our joy in God’s kingdom
will be a natural extension of the happiness we cultivate in this life.”[4]
The wicked will inherit endless misery. “Wherefore, men are
free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient
unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the
great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the
captivity and power of the devil; for he seeketh that all men might be
miserable like unto himself” (2 Nephi 2:27).
Mortality will be raised to immortality, corruption to
incorruption. “For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal
must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:53).
They will inherit the kingdom of the devil.
[1] Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scriptures
is given
of any private will of man. (JST 2 Pet. 1:20)
[2] Resurrection,
President Dallin H. Oaks, April 2000 General Conference.
[3] Cry
Redemption: The Plan of Redemption as Taught in the Book of Mormon, Corbin
T. Volluz, Maxwell Institute website.
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