In Alma 40, Corianton, the son of Alma, is concerned about what happens with the Resurrection of the dead, so Alma talks to him a little bit about it. He tells him that the Resurrection comes after the return of Christ and only God knows when the Resurrection will be. He tells him about a time after death and before the resurrection.
Then the soul will be in a state of happiness or misery until the reuniting of the Physical body with the Soul. At that time they will stand before God with their body and soul reunited and be judged by their works. Every limb and joint will be restored and not one hair will be lost! The righteous will enter into the Kingdom of God and the wicked will not inherit the Kingdom of God because no unclean thing can dwell with God (Revelations 21:27).
When I read Alma 41, I was actually re-taught by the Holy Spirit. I have read the Book of Mormon before many times but for some reason, this doctrinal truth always seemed to slight me and my ADD brain. I always supposed that when we die, all we take with us is LOVE. That when we die a veil is removed from our remembrance and that we remember fully who we are and that we see things from an eternal perspective. That when we die, the sins of this life are replaced with a repentant heart and we are forgiven based on our desires because of our new understanding. Apparently, I got it WRONG! Holy Cow! I am feelings pretty basic about now.
Alma clearly teaches Corianton that when we are reunited body and soul, and every bit of our physical body is restored completely, so will our desires, passions, and who we were in this physical life. If we were good continually we resurrect to be good continually, and if we were wicked, evil, or sinful, that also is restored unto us. That we are judged based on this complete restoration. This is why it is so important to take the opportunity to repent and practice right living. Our character, attributes, and goodness or evil is restored to us and we are judged from it! Wherever our hearts are in this life, at death remain with us. Wow! This changes so much of my perspective on how much more important repentance is, and why it was so emphasized in the Book of Mormon by the Prophets.
I have heard this verse in Alma often, but it hit different tonight. Alma 41:10 states, "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."
This is an explanation of repentance once someone enters Spirit Prison to be taught and repent before accepting or rejecting the Gospel. https://askgramps.org/why-is-it-harder-to-repent-in-the-spirit-world/ It is a very good explanation. The term "Restoration" is to restore evil for evil and good for good. We are judged accordingly.
Alma 41:14-15 says,
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.
15For 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."
This all reminds me of the "Our Father" prayer in the bible that Jesus gave us to show us how to pray. In the Our Father, it says, "Forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors". That we are to be merciful and just unto others so that God can do the same for us.
I really do want to emphasize how much more I understand repentance now. Why the Prophets taught it continually. Why it is so important. If you take anything from this 90-day journey with me through the Book of Mormon I would imagine that this is one of the most poignant points: the most important parts. This was not an easy read for me tonight, not because I haven't repented and come unto Christ because I absolutely have, but because I have a heart for those who suffer and I realize and recognize that repentance is harder to do in the next life and there are people who will have to do their repenting in Spirit Prison. It seems it is much easier to do here.
I feel like I had a spiritual wake up call with that last Chapter and need to do some reflection before moving on. I was supposed to read chapter 42 tonight but I think I will post this without Chapter 42 and sit in my feelings and ponder and pray, then I will return in the morning to finish the last Chapter and do my day 54 Chapters tomorrow evening! Yes, that is what I will do. You can at least read these first 2 chapters tonight and come back and read the rest in the day tomorrow. This post will be a cliff hanger but you can read ahead with me tonight and then reflect with me on it tomorrow because I know Chapter 42 will give answers. I just have to sit in these teachings a little more tonight.
I want to say this. I did not sugar coat any of what Alma taught his son. I wanted to. I wanted to skim over some of it and maybe even give some assurance that it sounds more dire than it does. Evil is restored to evil and good to good. Period. And we are judged on it. I will sit with this and then read Chapter 42 which I am hoping brings redeeming comfort in the morning. If not, I will pray tonight going to bed that I will be ready to learn hard truths tomorrow. This is the thing about this blog. I committed to share my reflections and be 100% transparent. I will continue to keep that commitment. You will experience of me how I feel about what I read. My takeaway so far is that repentance and having a good heart with good intentions and love of all men is pertinent to Salvation.
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