36. Now Amulek saith again unto him, Behold thou hast lied, for thou sayest that I spake as though I had authority to command God, because I said he shall not save his people in their sins. 37. And I say unto you again, that he cannot save them in their sins; for I cannot deny his word, and he hath said that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of heaven; therefore, how can ye be saved, except ye inherit the kingdom of heaven? Therefore, ye cannot be saved in your sins. 38. Now Zeezrom saith again unto him, Is the Son of God the "very eternal Father? 39. And Amulek said unto him, Yea, he is the very eternal Father of heaven and of earth, and all things which in them is; he is the beginning and the end, the first and the last; 40. And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation cometh to none else; 41. Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, "except it be the loosing of the bands of death; for behold, the day cometh that all shall rise from the dead and stand before God, and be judged according to their works. 42. Now, there is a death which is called a temporal death and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death; 43. The spirit and the body shall be re-united again in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time; and we shall be brought to stand before God, knowing even as we know now, and have a "bright recollection of all our guilt. 44. Now this "restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous; and even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but all things shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body, and shall be brought and be arraigned before the bar of Christ the Son, and God the Father, and the Holy Spirit, which is one "eternal God, to be judged according to their works, whether they be good or whether they be evil. 45. Now, behold, I have spoken unto you, concerning the death of the mortal body, and also concerning the resurrection of the mortal body. I say unto you that this mortal body is raised to an immortal body; that is from death; even from the first death unto life, that they can "die no P, ver. 39. See a, Mos. 3. q, Mos. 14: 5, 8. r, see g and i, II. s, see g and j, II. Nep. 9. t, see d, II. Nep. 2. u, see n, II. v, see d, II. Nep. 2. w, see k, II. Nep. 31. x, see d, II. y, Alma 12: 18, 20. Nep. 9. Nep. 9. more; their spirits uniting with their bodies, never to be divided; thus the whole becoming spiritual and immortal, that they can no more see corruption. 46. Now, when Amulek had finished these words, the people began again to be astonished, and also Zeezrom began to tremble. And thus ended the words of Amulek, or this is all that I have written. CHAPTER 12. 1. Now Alma, seeing that the words of Amulek had silenced Zeezrom, for he beheld that Amulek had caught him in his "lying and deceiving to destroy him, and seeing that he began to tremble under a consciousness of his guilt, he opened his mouth and began to speak unto him, and to establish the words of Amulek, and to explain things beyond, or to unfold the Scriptures beyond that which Amulek had done. 2. Now the words that Alma spake unto Zeezrom, were heard by the people round about; for the multitude was great, and he spake on this wise: 3. Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only, but thou hast lied unto God; for behold, he knows call thy thoughts, and thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit; 4. And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a "very subtle plan, as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people, that thou mightest set them against us, to revile us and to cast us out. 5. Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto thee, I say unto all. 6. And behold I say unto you all, that this was a snare of the adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his "chains, that he might chain you down to feverlasting destruction, according to the power of his captivity. 7. Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power of God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of him, for he was convinced that they knew the thoughts and intents of his heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the Spirit of prophecy. 8. And Zeezrom began to enquire of them diligently, that he might know more concerning the kingdom of God. a, Alma 11: 20-38. b, Alma 11: 46. c, seer, II. Nep. 9. e, see p, II. Nep. 28. f, see m, Jacob 6. g, ver. 3. 11: 20-38. d, Alma And he said unto Alma, What does this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning the "resurrection of the dead, that all shall rise from the dead, both the just and the unjust, and are brought to stand before God, to be judged according to their works? 9. And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying, It is given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command, that they shall not impart only according to the portion of his word, which he doth grant unto the children of men; according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him; 10. And therefore he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart, to him is given the greater *portion of the word, until it is given unto him to know the mysteries of God, until they know them in full; 11. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word, until they know nothing concerning his mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the "chains of hell; 12. And Amulek hath spoken plainly "concerning death, and being raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and being brought before the bar of God, to be judged according to our works. 13. Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us, then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned; 14. For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us, to hide us from his presence. 15. But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame, that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name, and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance. 16. And now behold I say unto you, then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a "spiritual death; then is a time that whosoever dieth, in his sins, as to a temporal death, h, see d, II. Nep. 2. i, I. Nep. 26: 6-11. Ether 4: 1-7. j, see i. k, see i. 1, see i, 11. Nep. 9. m, see p, 11. Nep. 28. n, Alma 11: 41-45. o, see d, I. Nep. 2. p, ver. 32. Alma 13: 30. See o, II. Nep. 9. Also see k, 1. Nep. 15. Jacob 3: 11. shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness; 17. Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up for ever and ever; and then is the time that they shall be 'chained down to an everlasting destruction, according to the power and captivity of satan; he having subjected them according to his will. 18. Then I say unto you, they shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to God's justice; and they 'cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption. 19. Now it came to pass that when Alma had made an end of speaking these words, the people began to be more astonished; 20. But there was one Antionah, who was a chief ruler among them, came forth and said unto him, What is this that thou hast said, "that man should rise from the dead and be changed from this mortal to an immortal state, that the soul can never die? 21. What does the scripture mean, which saith that "God placed cherubims and a flaming sword on the east of the garden of Eden, lest our first parents should enter and partake of the fruit of the tree of life, and live for ever? And thus we see that there was no possible chance that they should live for ever. 22. Now Alma said unto him, This is the thing which I was about to explain. Now we see that Adam did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see, that by his fall, all mankind became a "lost and fallen people. 23. And now behold, I say unto you, that if it had been possible for Adam to have "partaken of the fruit of the tree of life at that time, there would have been no death, and the word would have been void, making God a liar: for he said, "If thou eat, thou shalt surely die. 24. And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man in which he might repent; therefore this life became a 2 aprobationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state, which has been spoken of by us, which is after the 2'resurrection of the dead. 25. Now if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the 2oresurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken. 26. And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents could have went forth and 24partaken of the tree of life, they would have been for ever miserable, having no preparatory state; and thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of God would have been void, taking none effect. 27. But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto man that they must die; and after death, they must come to judgment; even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is the end. 28. And after God had appointed that these things should come unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them; 29. Therefore he sent angels 2oto converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory. 30. And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God 2/conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance, and their holy works; 31. Wherefore he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good; 32. Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of 2mjustice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God. 33. But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid,) saying, "If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine only begotten Son; 34. Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine only begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest. 2c, see d, II. Nep. 2. 2d, ver. 23. Alma 42: 2-9. 2e, Doc. & Cov. II. Lee. 23, 24. New Translation, Pearl of Great Price, pp. 9, 12. 2f, Pearl of Great Price, p. 12. 2g, see d, Mos. 4. forbidden fruit. 21, II. Nep. 2:16. 2j, Pearl of 12, 16, 17. 2k, vers. 16, 36. Jacob 3:11. Alma 13: 30. See k, 1. Nep. 15. 21, see q. 2m, Mos. 15: 27. 2n, Pearl of Great Price, pp. 10, 12, 16, 17. 42: 13-25. 2h, The law of the Great Price, pp. 10, See o, II. Nep. 9. Alma 34: 15, 16. |