Alma 41-42Alma 41-42

““ResurrectionResurrection””

There are more than 80 references to There are more than 80 references to the “resurrection” in the Book of the “resurrection” in the Book of Mormon (That is twice as many as the Mormon (That is twice as many as the New Testament).New Testament).

The prophet Brigham Young provided an The prophet Brigham Young provided an interesting sight into one factor influencing interesting sight into one factor influencing the precise time of a given individual’s the precise time of a given individual’s resurrection:resurrection:

We have not, neither can we receive here, We have not, neither can we receive here, the ordinances and the keys of the the ordinances and the keys of the resurrectionresurrection. They will be given to those who . They will be given to those who have passed off this stage of action and have have passed off this stage of action and have received their bodies again…They will be received their bodies again…They will be ordained, by those who hold the keys of the ordained, by those who hold the keys of the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the resurrection, to go forth and resurrect the Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of Saints, just as we receive the ordinance of baptism, then the keys to baptize others for baptism, then the keys to baptize others for the remission of sins. This is one of the the remission of sins. This is one of the ordinances we cannot receive here, and there ordinances we cannot receive here, and there are many more (are many more (JDJD, 15:137)., 15:137).

C.S. LewisC.S. Lewis(In a letter to Mary Willis, Sept. 30, 1958)(In a letter to Mary Willis, Sept. 30, 1958)

“…“…We must both, I’m afraid, recognize that, We must both, I’m afraid, recognize that, as we grow older, we become like old cars – as we grow older, we become like old cars – more and more repairs and replacements more and more repairs and replacements are necessary. We must just look forward to are necessary. We must just look forward to the fine new machines (latest resurrection the fine new machines (latest resurrection model) which are waiting for us, we hope, in model) which are waiting for us, we hope, in the Divine garage!”the Divine garage!”

((The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis The Collected Letters of C.S. Lewis vol. iii, vol. iii, 975)975)

The ResurrectionThe Resurrection11stst Resurrection Resurrection::

a. a. MorningMorning ==

b. b. AfternoonAfternoon ==

22ndnd Resurrection Resurrection:: ==

33rdrd Resurrection Resurrection:: ==

President Brigham Young further explained that President Brigham Young further explained that there are certain “particles” unique to each there are certain “particles” unique to each individual which will form the basis for his or individual which will form the basis for his or her resurrected body:her resurrected body:

““The question may be asked, do not the The question may be asked, do not the particles that compose man’s body, when particles that compose man’s body, when returned to mother earth, go to make or returned to mother earth, go to make or compose other bodies? No, they do not… compose other bodies? No, they do not… Neither can the particles which have comprised Neither can the particles which have comprised the body of man become parts of the bodies of the body of man become parts of the bodies of other men, or of beasts, fouls, fish, insects, or other men, or of beasts, fouls, fish, insects, or vegetables…They are governed by divine law vegetables…They are governed by divine law and though they may pass from the knowledge and though they may pass from the knowledge of the scientific world, that divine law still holds, of the scientific world, that divine law still holds, governs and controls them.governs and controls them.

Man’s body may be buried in the ocean, it may Man’s body may be buried in the ocean, it may be eaten by wild beasts, or it may be burned to be eaten by wild beasts, or it may be burned to ashes, they may be scattered to the four winds, ashes, they may be scattered to the four winds, yet the particles of which it is composed will not yet the particles of which it is composed will not be incorporated into any form of vegetable or be incorporated into any form of vegetable or animal life, to become a component part of animal life, to become a component part of their structure…at the sound of the trumpet of their structure…at the sound of the trumpet of God every particle of our physical structures God every particle of our physical structures necessary to make our tabernacles perfect will necessary to make our tabernacles perfect will be assembled, to be rejoined with the spirit, be assembled, to be rejoined with the spirit, every man in his order. Not one particle will be every man in his order. Not one particle will be lost” (Brigham Young, in lost” (Brigham Young, in Elders’ JournalElders’ Journal, 1 , 1 (1875) 153 in Robert J. Matthews, (1875) 153 in Robert J. Matthews, Selected Selected Writings of Robert J. MatthewsWritings of Robert J. Matthews: Gospel Scholars : Gospel Scholars Series, 518-19).Series, 518-19).

““There is no fundamental principle There is no fundamental principle belonging to a human system that belonging to a human system that ever goes into another in this world ever goes into another in this world or in the world to come; I care not or in the world to come; I care not what the theories of men are. We what the theories of men are. We have the testimony of God that will have the testimony of God that will raise us up, and he has the power to raise us up, and he has the power to do it. If anyone supposes that any do it. If anyone supposes that any part of our bodies, that is, the part of our bodies, that is, the fundamental parts thereof, ever goes fundamental parts thereof, ever goes into another body, he is mistaken” into another body, he is mistaken” (Joseph Smith, (Joseph Smith, HCHC, 5:339)., 5:339).

““We will meet the same identical being We will meet the same identical being that we associated with here in the flesh, that we associated with here in the flesh, not some other soul, some other being, or not some other soul, some other being, or the same being in the same person we the same being in the same person we knew and were associated with in our knew and were associated with in our mortal existence, mortal existence, even to the wounds in even to the wounds in the fleshthe flesh. Not that a person will always . Not that a person will always be marred by scars, wounds, deformities, be marred by scars, wounds, deformities, defects or infirmities, for these defects or infirmities, for these will be will be removed in their courseremoved in their course, , in their proper in their proper time, according to the merciful time, according to the merciful providence of Godprovidence of God. Deformity will be . Deformity will be removed; defects will be eliminated, and removed; defects will be eliminated, and men and women shall attain to the men and women shall attain to the perfection of their spirits to the perfection perfection of their spirits to the perfection that God designed in the beginning.that God designed in the beginning.

Joseph Smith added this important insight Joseph Smith added this important insight about the resurrectionabout the resurrection::

““As concerning the resurrection, I will merely say As concerning the resurrection, I will merely say that all men will come from the grave as they lie that all men will come from the grave as they lie down, whether old or young, down, whether old or young, there will not be there will not be ‘added upon their stature one cubit,’ neither taken ‘added upon their stature one cubit,’ neither taken from itfrom it; all will be raised by the power of God, ; all will be raised by the power of God, having spirit in their bodies of the same stature having spirit in their bodies of the same stature that they had on earth, having been redeemed by that they had on earth, having been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb; they will there enjoy the the blood of the Lamb; they will there enjoy the fullness of that light, glory, intelligence, which is fullness of that light, glory, intelligence, which is prepared in the celestial kingdom. ‘Blessed are prepared in the celestial kingdom. ‘Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from the dead who die in the Lord, for they rest from their labors and their works do follow them’ their labors and their works do follow them’ (Revelation 14:13, (Revelation 14:13, HCHC 4:555-56). 4:555-56).

……What else would satisfy us? What else What else would satisfy us? What else would satisfy the desire of the immortal would satisfy the desire of the immortal soul? Would we be satisfied to be soul? Would we be satisfied to be imperfect? Would we be satisfied to be imperfect? Would we be satisfied to be decrepit? Would we be satisfied to decrepit? Would we be satisfied to remain forever and ever in the form of remain forever and ever in the form of infirmity incident to age? infirmity incident to age?

No!No!... ... From the day of the resurrection, From the day of the resurrection, the body will develop until it reaches the the body will develop until it reaches the full measure of the stature of its spirit full measure of the stature of its spirit whether it be male or femalewhether it be male or female” (Joseph F. ” (Joseph F. Smith, Smith, Gospel DoctrineGospel Doctrine, 23-24). , 23-24).

““Against the medals and Against the medals and monuments of centuries of monuments of centuries of men’s fleeting victories stands men’s fleeting victories stands the only monument necessary the only monument necessary to mark the eternal triumph, to mark the eternal triumph, and empty the garden tomb” and empty the garden tomb” (Howard W. Hunter, (Howard W. Hunter, EnsignEnsign, , May 1986, 15).May 1986, 15).

Alma 41-42Alma 41-42Alma 41:3-5, 10, 13-14Alma 41:3-5, 10, 13-14

““The Law of Restoration”The Law of Restoration”

Self-inflicted scars and infirmities, tattoos, Self-inflicted scars and infirmities, tattoos, piercingspiercings..

President Spencer W. Kimball said:President Spencer W. Kimball said:

The body will be free from all imperfections and scars The body will be free from all imperfections and scars and infirmities which came to it in mortality which were and infirmities which came to it in mortality which were not self-inflictednot self-inflicted. Would we have a right to expect a . Would we have a right to expect a perfect body if we carelessly or intentionally disfigured or perfect body if we carelessly or intentionally disfigured or damaged it? We shall have our resurrected perfected damaged it? We shall have our resurrected perfected bodies through eternities. They were given to us…bodies through eternities. They were given to us…

……We had little to do with getting We had little to do with getting them. It then becomes our duty to them. It then becomes our duty to protect them from hazards, from protect them from hazards, from mutilation, or disfigurement. We mutilation, or disfigurement. We should treat them well building them should treat them well building them with proper foods, proper rest, with proper foods, proper rest, proper exercise, and keep them proper exercise, and keep them strong, robust, beautiful, and strong, robust, beautiful, and undamaged and live on and on till undamaged and live on and on till called home by our Lord” (called home by our Lord” (Teachings Teachings of Spencer W. Kimballof Spencer W. Kimball, 36-37)., 36-37).

““We should look upon this body as We should look upon this body as something that shall endure in the something that shall endure in the resurrected state…Be not afraid of soiling resurrected state…Be not afraid of soiling its hands; be not afraid of scars that may its hands; be not afraid of scars that may come to it won in earnest effort, or in come to it won in earnest effort, or in honest fight, but beware of scars that honest fight, but beware of scars that disfigure, that have come to you in places disfigure, that have come to you in places where you ought not have gone, that where you ought not have gone, that have befallen you in unworthy have befallen you in unworthy undertakings; undertakings; beware of the wounds of beware of the wounds of battles in which you have been fighting battles in which you have been fighting on the wrong sideon the wrong side” (James E. Talmage, ” (James E. Talmage, C.R., Oct. 1913, 117).C.R., Oct. 1913, 117).

Alma 41:7Alma 41:7

How will wicked people feel when “they are their How will wicked people feel when “they are their own judgeown judge?”?”

““The great misery of departed spirits in the world The great misery of departed spirits in the world of spirits, where they go after death, is to know of spirits, where they go after death, is to know that they come short of the glory that others that they come short of the glory that others enjoy and that they might have enjoyed enjoy and that they might have enjoyed themselves, and they are their own accusers…themselves, and they are their own accusers…

““A man is his own tormenter and his own A man is his own tormenter and his own condemner…The torment of disappointment in condemner…The torment of disappointment in the mind of man is as exquisite as a lake burning the mind of man is as exquisite as a lake burning with fire and brimstone” (Joseph Smith, with fire and brimstone” (Joseph Smith, TeachingsTeachings, 310, 357)., 310, 357).

Alma 41:2, 12Alma 41:2, 12

How long will it take for deformities in the How long will it take for deformities in the flesh to be removed in the resurrectionflesh to be removed in the resurrection??

““President Joseph F. Smith said that the President Joseph F. Smith said that the same person, in the same form and likeness, same person, in the same form and likeness, will come forth ‘even to the wounds in the will come forth ‘even to the wounds in the flesh….’flesh….’

“…“….These changes will come naturally, of .These changes will come naturally, of course, but almost instantly” (Joseph Fielding course, but almost instantly” (Joseph Fielding Smith, Smith, Doctrines of SalvationDoctrines of Salvation, 2:293-4)., 2:293-4).

Alma 41:10Alma 41:10

““Wickedness never was happinessWickedness never was happiness!!””

““You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is You cannot do wrong and feel right. It is impossible” (Ezra Taft Benson, impossible” (Ezra Taft Benson, New EraNew Era, June , June 1986, 5).1986, 5).

““Wickedness never did, never does, never Wickedness never did, never does, never will bring us happiness. Violation of the laws will bring us happiness. Violation of the laws of God brings only misery, bondage, and of God brings only misery, bondage, and darkness” (Ezra Taft Benson, darkness” (Ezra Taft Benson, TeachingsTeachings, 71)., 71).

Alma 42Alma 42

““Justice vs. MercyJustice vs. Mercy””

PrerequisitePrerequisite = = “law”“law”

Perhaps the greatest scriptural exposition Perhaps the greatest scriptural exposition on justice and mercy! on justice and mercy!

Justice and Mercy are united through the Justice and Mercy are united through the Atonement of Jesus Christ.Atonement of Jesus Christ.

Elder McConkie wrote, “We know that is some way, Elder McConkie wrote, “We know that is some way, incomprehensible to us, his suffering satisfied the incomprehensible to us, his suffering satisfied the demands of justice” (McConkie, “demands of justice” (McConkie, “Purifying PowerPurifying Power,” 9).,” 9).

The word mercy occurs 396 times in the standard works.The word mercy occurs 396 times in the standard works.

Grace is the offspring of mercy and is mentioned 252 Grace is the offspring of mercy and is mentioned 252 times in the standard works.times in the standard works.

In other words, we contribute to our salvation, but we do In other words, we contribute to our salvation, but we do not earn it.not earn it.

Thus works alone cannot save us; grace is an absolute Thus works alone cannot save us; grace is an absolute prerequisite.prerequisite.

Alma 42:8Alma 42:8 “ “The Plan of The Plan of HappinessHappiness””

What precious perspective we obtain from What precious perspective we obtain from the gospel of Jesus Christ concerning things the gospel of Jesus Christ concerning things that really matter --- against which we that really matter --- against which we measure the disappointments of the day! measure the disappointments of the day! (Neal A. Maxwell, (Neal A. Maxwell, EnsignEnsign, November 1982, , November 1982, 66).66).

There is…no other “plan of happiness,” There is…no other “plan of happiness,” only multiple-choice misery (Neal A. only multiple-choice misery (Neal A. Maxwell, Maxwell, EnsignEnsign, November 1980, 15)., November 1980, 15).

Alma 42:10Alma 42:10 ““A Probationary A Probationary StateState””

The word probation if found only ten times The word probation if found only ten times in the Standard Works, and nine of those in the Standard Works, and nine of those references are in the Book of Mormonreferences are in the Book of Mormon. . What an essential doctrine in understanding What an essential doctrine in understanding the Fall and the Atonement, a doctrine of the Fall and the Atonement, a doctrine of prolonged opportunity for mortal men and prolonged opportunity for mortal men and women in which the gospel can be taught to women in which the gospel can be taught to and accepted by them, a doctrine gleaned and accepted by them, a doctrine gleaned almost exclusively from the Book of Mormon almost exclusively from the Book of Mormon (Jeffrey R. Holland, (Jeffrey R. Holland, Christ and the New Christ and the New CovenantCovenant, 209)., 209).

Alma 42:3-13, 22-25Alma 42:3-13, 22-25

JustificationJustification: By Grace or Works?: By Grace or Works?

What must one do to stand justified before God? What must one do to stand justified before God? Does one seek God’s favor through fasting, Does one seek God’s favor through fasting, prayer, and rituals? Or are such to be eschewed prayer, and rituals? Or are such to be eschewed in favor of the doctrine that “the just shall live by in favor of the doctrine that “the just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17)? Such was the issue over faith” (Romans 1:17)? Such was the issue over which the Roman Catholic Church and Martin which the Roman Catholic Church and Martin Luther did battle. Of this struggle one noted Luther did battle. Of this struggle one noted scholar wrote: “scholar wrote: “This doctrine of justification by This doctrine of justification by faith has divided the old unity of Christendom; faith has divided the old unity of Christendom; has torn asunder Europe, and especially has torn asunder Europe, and especially Germany; has made innumerable martyrs; has Germany; has made innumerable martyrs; has kindled the bloodiest and most terrible wars of the kindled the bloodiest and most terrible wars of the past; and has deeply affected European history past; and has deeply affected European history and with it the history of humanityand with it the history of humanity” (Joseph F. ” (Joseph F. McConkie, McConkie, Book of Mormon, Keystone ScriptureBook of Mormon, Keystone Scripture).).

Alma 42:14-15, 21-25, 30Alma 42:14-15, 21-25, 30

How do the laws of justice and mercy work How do the laws of justice and mercy work togethertogether??

““Justice requires that God must be a God of order Justice requires that God must be a God of order and that he must be just and impartial…and that he must be just and impartial…““The law of mercy agrees entirely with the law of The law of mercy agrees entirely with the law of justice. However, the law of mercy introduces the justice. However, the law of mercy introduces the possibility of vicarious payment of the laws that possibility of vicarious payment of the laws that have been transgressed…Whenever a law is have been transgressed…Whenever a law is transgressed (or broken), a payment (or suffering transgressed (or broken), a payment (or suffering or atonement) must be made; however, the person or atonement) must be made; however, the person who transgressed the law does not need to make who transgressed the law does not need to make the payment if he will repent and if he can find the payment if he will repent and if he can find someone else who is both able and willing to make someone else who is both able and willing to make payment” (Daniel H. Ludlow, payment” (Daniel H. Ludlow, CompanionCompanion, 176)., 176).

Alma 42:16, 22Alma 42:16, 22

““Repentance could not come…except there Repentance could not come…except there were a punishment.”were a punishment.”

““There can be no forgiveness without real There can be no forgiveness without real and total repentance, and there can be no and total repentance, and there can be no repentance without punishment. This is as repentance without punishment. This is as eternal as is the soul… It is so easy to let our eternal as is the soul… It is so easy to let our sympathies carry us out of proportion; and sympathies carry us out of proportion; and when a man has committed sin, he must when a man has committed sin, he must suffer. It is an absolute requirement” suffer. It is an absolute requirement” (Spencer W. Kimball, (Spencer W. Kimball, EnsignEnsign, May 1975, 78)., May 1975, 78).

Alma 42:29-31Alma 42:29-31

Four last bits of counselFour last bits of counsel!!

““This one last thing I do, This one last thing I do, forgetting those things which forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are unto those things which are before” (Philippians 3:13).before” (Philippians 3:13).

Paul’s healthy attitude toward his Paul’s healthy attitude toward his own past in which he had own past in which he had relentlessly persecuted the relentlessly persecuted the Christians was his meek realization Christians was his meek realization that had been forgiven. that had been forgiven. He did not He did not intend to let his yesterday hold his intend to let his yesterday hold his tomorrow hostagetomorrow hostage; instead, he ; instead, he pressed forward and forgot that pressed forward and forgot that which was past” (Neal A. Maxwell, which was past” (Neal A. Maxwell, Meek and LowlyMeek and Lowly, 93-94)., 93-94).