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Alma 41


Chapter 41

In the Resurrection men come forth to a state of endless happiness or endless miseryWickedness 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.

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.

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.

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.

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—

The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.

And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.

These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out, that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.

Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever will may walk therein and be saved.

And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God upon those points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin.

10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.

11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.

12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?

13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.

14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.

15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.

      • according to (preposition)

        In a way that agrees with.

      • as (adverb)

        Like.

      • B.C. (noun)

        Before the birth of Christ.

      • because of (conjunction)

        By reason of; through.

      • behold (interjection, archaic)

        Look! See! In fact.

      • brother, brethren (noun)

        Peer; neighbor; relative; kinsman.

      • Christ (noun)

        A title for Jesus Christ. The titles Christ and Messiah both mean a king or priest sent by God to save the world.

      • cometh (verb, archaic)

        Comes.

      • concerning (preposition)

        About.

      • continually (adverb)

        Always; without pause.

      • corruption (noun)

        Rot; decay.

      • one’s days (noun)

        One’s life.

      • deliver (verb)

        To help someone escape; to save someone; to set someone free.

      • desire (noun)

        Wish; request.

      • desire (noun)

        Wish; request.

      • desire (verb)

        To want; to wish; to long for.

      • evil (adjective)

        Wicked; unrighteous; morally wrong; sinful; opposed to God’s laws.

      • evil (noun)

        Wickedness; unrighteousness; sin; breaking God’s laws.

      • fall (verb)

        To fail spiritually; to rebel; to lose status and power; to be expelled from God’s presence.

      • for behold (conjunction)

        Because you see.

      • for (conjunction)

        Because.

      • for (preposition)

        As; to be.

      • frame (noun)

        Body.

      • God (proper noun)

        God the Father or His Son, Jesus Christ. God the Father rules all things with perfect justice, mercy, and love. Jesus Christ often speaks and acts for His Father. He suffered so that we could be forgiven of our sins and be resurrected. The Father and Son are separate individuals but are united in purpose.

      • kingdom of God (noun)

        The place where the righteous live in the presence of God in the next life (sometimes called heaven).

      • hath (verb, archaic)

        Has.

      • have (verb)

        To receive; to get; to obtain.

      • heart (noun)

        A person’s thoughts, desires, and feelings.

      • hitherto (adverb)

        Until now; before this.

      • inherit (verb)

        To receive as a right.

      • judge (verb)

        To decide whether someone has done right or wrong; to decide on someone’s reward or punishment.

      • judge (verb)

        To decide whether someone has done right or wrong.

      • justice (noun)

        Fairness; judgment that is righteous; God’s reward for those who do good things and punishment for those who do bad things.

      • kingdom of the devil (noun)

        The dwelling place of Satan and the wicked in the spirit world; all that is under the devil’s influence or that serves his purposes.

      • Lord (noun)

        A term of respect for God the Father or Jesus Christ.

      • man (noun)

        Human beings.

      • men (noun)

        People; humanity.

      • merciful (adjective)

        Kind; forgiving.

      • mercy (noun)

        Kindness; forgiveness.

      • misery (noun)

        Unhappiness; pain, guilt, loss, or discomfort.

      • nature (noun)

        Character; way of living and being.

      • O (interjection, archaic)

        A word placed before the name of someone being addressed, often to show strong feeling.

      • one (pronoun)

        Someone.

      • point (noun)

        Part; detail.

      • prepare (verb)

        To provide.

      • receive (verb)

        To get; to have given to you.

      • redeem (verb)

        To rescue or save someone, often by paying a ransom.

      • repent (verb)

        To feel sorrow for one’s sins, ask to be forgiven, and change one’s life.

      • restore (verb)

        To bring back.

      • resurrection (noun)

        Coming to life after being dead; the body and spirit coming together permanently; becoming immortal.

      • righteous (adjective)

        Good; virtuous; just; consistent with God’s law.

      • righteousness (noun)

        Goodness; morality; obedience to God’s commandments.

      • save (verb)

        To rescue from death and sin.

      • scripture (noun)

        Sacred writings given by God or recording God’s dealings with His children.

      • shall, should (verb)

        Will, would.

      • should (verb)

        May; must; ought to.

      • sin (noun)

        An evil act; disobedience to God’s commandments.

      • soul (noun)

        Spirit; the part of us that exists before birth, that continues after death, and that has awareness and the ability to choose.

      • state (noun)

        Condition; circumstance.

      • suppose (verb)

        To believe.

      • that (conjunction)

        Who.

      • thee (pronoun, archaic)

        You.

      • therefore (adverb)

        For this reason.

      • therefore (adverb)

        Now; so.

      • therein (adverb)

        In it.

      • thy (pronoun, archaic)

        Your.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • unto (preposition)

        To.

      • whosoever (pronoun)

        Whoever.

      • wickedness (noun)

        Evil; wrongdoing; disobedience to God’s commandments.

      • would (verb)

        Desire; hope; wish.

      • would (verb)

        Desire to; want to; would like to.

      • works (noun)

        Actions; deeds.

      • ye (pronoun, archaic)

        You.

      • yea (interjection, archaic)

        Indeed; yes. This is pronounced “yay.”