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.

Review of Alma(2)'s Sermon to the Church in Gideon

After preaching to the church in Zarahemla, Alma(2) left to check on the status of the church in Gideon.  While there, he gave a powerful sermon.

He explains to the church in Gideon he was not able to come sooner because of his responsibilities as the chief judge.  He is there because he resigned the chief judge position.

He came hoping the church would be strong in Gideon, unlike Zarahemla, which had many problems.  He expresses his joy that they are a righteous people. 

Alma(2) changes subjects by talking about the coming of the Savior.  He said that the time is soon coming when the Redeemer will come among his people.

He tells them he will not come among the Nephites at this time. He teaches that Christ will be born in the old world, the land from which they came. 

He would be born of a virgin, named Mary.  He would suffer both hardship and temptations.  He would die, and through His death, He would defeat death.  Through his death, we will be able to obtain forgiveness of our sins.

He tells the people they must repent, be baptized, and born again, if they hope to inherit the kingdom of heaven. Through repentance and baptism they will cleans their sin.  The result will be that they will have eternal life.

During this sermon, Alma(2) frequently testifies as to the truthfulness of his words.  He had received these words from the Holy Spirit.  He bears testimony based on his experiences and knowledge.

He testifies that the Lord cannot walk in crooked paths.  The paths of the Lord are straight.  He does not dwell in unholy temples.  No unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God.  All must remove their filthiness or remain forever in their filthiness.

He tells the people to be humble, submissive, gentle, willing to help those in need, be patient and long-suffering, temperate in all things, diligent in keeping the commandments of God.  They are to have faith, hope, and charity, and constantly have good works.

He leaves them with the peace of God according to their faiths and good works, now and forever.

Alma(2) ends his visit and leaves to preaching in Melek.

In the October 1998 General Conference, Elder Joseph B. Wirthlin emphasized the importance of faith, hope, and charity.

“These divine attributes should become fixed in our hearts and minds to guide us in all of our actions … Charity can be the outward expression of faith and hope. If sought and obtained, these three foundation elements of celestial character will abide with us in this life and beyond the veil into the next life. Remember that the ‘same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that [you] go out of this life … will have power to possess your body in [the] eternal world.’ (Alma 34:34)  We should not wait a single day to intensify our personal efforts to strengthen these virtuous, lovely, and praiseworthy attributes.

“When we keep the Lord’s commandments, faith, hope, and charity abide with us ...  we prepare ourselves to stand with confidence before our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, ‘without blemish and without spot.’ (1 Peter 1:19)

“… I see that developing faith, hope, and charity within ourselves is a step-by-step process. Faith begets hope, and together they foster charity … These three virtues may be sequential initially, but once obtained, they become interdependent. Each one is incomplete without the others. They support and reinforce each other …

“These are the virtuous, lovely, praiseworthy characteristics we seek …”

In the April 2002 General Conference, Elder M. Russell Ballard discussed the peace of God.

“At one time or another I believe everyone yearns for the ‘peace of God, which passeth all understanding’ (Philip. 4:7). That peace for our troubled hearts only comes to us as we follow the Light of Christ …  it leads us to repent of sins and seek forgiveness … In every home, neighborhood, and community, we ought to strive for peace and never be party to stirring up contention or division.

“Throughout scriptural history, the Lord has promised peace to His followers … Just hours before He was to begin that glorious yet awful process of the Atonement, the Lord Jesus Christ made this significant promise to His Apostles: ‘Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you’  (John 14:27).

“Was He promising His beloved associates the kind of peace the world recognizes—safety, security, with the absence of contention or tribulation? Certainly the historical record would suggest otherwise. Those original Apostles knew much of trial and persecution throughout the remainder of their lives, which is probably why the Lord added this insight to His promise: ‘Not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid’ (John 14:27) …

“Peace—real peace, whole-souled to the very core of your being—comes only in and through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When that precious truth is discovered and gospel principles are understood and applied, great peace can distill in the hearts and souls of our Heavenly Father’s children. …”

These are powerful words.  The promises and teachings of Alma(2) are every bit applicable to us today as they were to the people of Gideon.  He tells of things we must do; he tells us of ways we must live; all he teaches us he does under the commandment of God. 

He bears testimony as to the truthfulness of his words.  If we “listen with our spiritual ears,” we will also learn the truthfulness of Alma(2)’s words.