CHAPTER 40. 1. Now my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto thee; for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the "resurrection of the dead. 2. Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection; or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on immortality; this corruption does not put on incorruption, until after the coming of Christ. 3. Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries, which are kept, that no one knoweth them, save God himself. But I shew unto you one thing, which I have inquired diligently of God, that I might know; that is concerning the resurrection. 4. Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh, no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed. 5. Now whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case; that there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead. 6. Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death, and the time of the resurrection. 7. And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death, to the time appointed for the resurrection? 8. Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise, it mattereth not; for all do not die at once: and this mattereth not; all is as one day, with God; and time only is measured unto men; 9. Therefore there is a time appointed unto men, that they shall rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. And now concerning this space of time. What becometh of the souls of men, is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know. 10. And when the time cometh when all shall rise, then shall they know that God knoweth all the times which are appointed unto man. 11. Now concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection. Behold, it has been made known unto me, by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body; yea, the spirits of call men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. a, see d, II. Nep. 2. b, Mos. 16: 10. See d, п. Nep. 2. Also j and m, c, vers. 15, 17. Eccle. 12: 7. II. Nep. 9. 12. And then shall it come to pass that the spirits of those who are righteous, are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise; a state of rest; a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow, &c. 13. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil; for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house; and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and this because of their own iniquity; being led captive by the will of the devil. 14. Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked; yea, in 'darkness, and a state of awful, fearful, looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in "paradise, until the time of their resurrection. 15. Now there are some that have understood that this state of happiness, and this state of misery of the soul, before the resurrection, was a first resurrection. Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection; the raising of the spirit or the soul, and their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the words which have been spoken. 16. And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection; a resurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead. 17. Now we do not suppose that this first resurrection which is spoken of in this manner, can be the resurrection of the souls, and their consignation to happiness or misery. Ye cannot suppose that this is what it meaneth. 18. Behold, I say unto you Nay; but it meaneth the 'reuniting of the soul with the body of those "from the days of Adam, down to the resurrection of Christ. 19. Now whether the souls and the bodies of those of whom have been spoken, shall all be re-united at once, the wicked as well as the righteous, I do not say; let it suffice, that I say that they all come forth; or in other words, their resurrection cometh to pass "before the resurrection of those who die after the resurrection of Christ. 20. Now my son, I do not say that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my opinion, that the souls and the bodies are re-united, of the righteous, at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into heaven. 21. But whether it be at his resurrection, or after, do not say; but this much say, that there is a "space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works; 22. Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which have been spoken by the mouths of the prophets. 23. 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. 24. And now my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets : 25. And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God. 26. But behold, an awful "death cometh upon the wicked; for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God; but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors or their works, which have been evil; and they drink the dregs of a bitter cup. CHAPTER 41. 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 p, vers. 6, 9, 11-15. r, see q, Alma 12. q, Alma 11: 41-45. 41: 2. See d, I. Nep. 2. s, Alma 11:37. 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 him for evil; therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order; everything 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; 5. 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. 6. 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. 7. 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. 8. Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared, that whosoever will, may walk therein and be saved. 9. And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offence 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, 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 ye 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. CHAPTER 42. 1. AND now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand, which is concerning the justice of God, in the punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery. 2. Now behold, my son, I will explain this thing unto thee: for behold, after the Lord God sent our first parents forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground, from "whence they were taken; yea, he drew out the man, and he placed at the east end of the garden of Eden, Cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the tree of life. 3. Now we see that the man had become as God, knowing good and evil; and lest he should put forth his hand, and take also of the tree of life, and eat and live for ever, the Lord God placed Cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake of the fruit; 4. And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God. 5. For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand immediately, and partook of the tree of life, he would have lived for ever, according to the word of God, having no space for repentance; yea, and also the word of God would have been avoid, and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated. 6. But behold, it was appointed unto man to die; therefore as they were cut off from the tree of life they should be cut off from the face of the earth, and man became lost for ever; yea, they became fallen man. 7. And now we see by this, that our first parents were cut off both temporally and spiritually, from the presence |