Alma — Chapter 42
Alma keeps talking to Corianton.
1 Now, my son, I see that there is something else worrying your mind. I see that you do not understand about God’s justice punishing the sinner. You seem to think it is not fair for a sinner to go to a place of misery.
2 My son, let me explain this to you. After the Lord God sent our first parents out of the Garden of Eden, to farm the ground (out of which they were made) — yes, after he sent the man and woman out, and put cherubim and a sword of fire at the east end of the garden, to protect the tree of life —
3 You see, they had become like God, knowing good and evil. The Lord God put cherubim and a sword of fire there to stop them from eating the fruit of the tree of life and which would have let them live forever.
4 Then life became a time of testing, and now people have time to repent and serve God.
5 If Adam and Eve had eaten the fruit of the tree of life right away, they would have lived forever, as God said. They would not have been able to repent. God’s words would not have come true, and the plan of salvation could not have happened.
6 But it was planned that people would die, so they were cut off from the tree of life, just as they will be cut off from the earth. So people became lost and fallen forever.
7 You see, in this way, our first parents were cut off both body and spirit from the Lord. This way they were able to do whatever they wanted to do.
8 People could not be saved from the death of the body right away, because that would destroy the great plan of happiness.
9 Since the spirit could never die, and since the Fall brought on all people a death of the body and a death of the spirit — that is, being cut off from the Lord — people needed to be saved from this spiritual death.
10 This life became a time to prepare, and a test, since people had become worldly, looking for pleasure, and devilish.
11 Now remember, my son, if there were no plan of salvation, their spirits would be miserable after they died, because they would be cut off from the Lord.
12 There was no way to save people from being fallen, which happened because of their own disobedience.
13 Justice says that the plan of salvation cannot happen unless people repent during this life. Without repentance, mercy cannot work without destroying justice. Now, justice cannot be destroyed, or God would no longer be God.
14 So we see that all people were fallen, and justice had hold on them. God’s justice meant they would be cut off from him forever.
15 The plan of mercy could not happen without an atonement, so God himself would pay for the sins of the world. This way, the plan of mercy could work because justice would be paid, and God would be a perfect and just and merciful God.
16 Repentance could not work for people without a punishment as eternal as the soul. This punishment is the opposite of the plan of happiness, which is as eternal as the soul.
17 Now, how can people repent unless they sin? How can they sin if there is no law? How can there be a law without a punishment?
18 So a punishment was made, and a fair law was given which would make people feel guilty.
19 If there were no law given — for example, if people murder, they will die for it — why would they be afraid they would die for murder?
20 So if there were no laws against sin, people would not be afraid to sin.
21 And if there were no laws given, and people sinned, what could justice do, or mercy either? Neither one would have hold on people.
22 But there is a law given, and a punishment made for breaking the law, and a repentance prepared. Repentance is part of mercy. If it were not so, justice would have hold on people and punish people by the law. If justice could not do its work, it would be destroyed, and God would not be God anymore.
23 But God is still God, and mercy works for those who repent, and mercy comes because of the atonement. The atonement brings the resurrection of the dead. The resurrection of the dead brings people back before God. They are restored to him to have him judge their works by the law and by justice.
24 Justice will be done, and mercy also. Only those who truly repent will be saved.
25 Do you think mercy can rob justice? I tell you, No, not at all. If so, God would not be God anymore.
26 This is how God does his great and eternal work, which was planned from the beginning of the world. And this is how people are saved or destroyed.
27 So, O my son, whoever wants to can come and drink the waters of life freely. Whoever does not want to come will not be forced. But at the last day, people will have what they do restored to them.
28 If they have wanted to do evil, and have not repented, God will restore evil to them.
29 Now, my son, I don’t want you to worry about these things anymore. Worry about your sins only enough to make you repent of them.
30 O my son, I don’t want you to deny God’s justice anymore. Don’t try to excuse yourself or your sins by denying God’s justice, but let God’s justice and mercy and patience rule your heart, and let this make you as humble as the dust.
31 And now, my son, God has called you to teach the gospel to this people. My son, go your way. Teach the gospel seriously, and in truth, so you can bring souls to repentance so mercy can have hold on them. May God bless you just as I have said. Amen.
easyreadbkmormon.com 