Alma Chapter 12

Now Alma, seeing that the words of Amuleque had silenced Zeezrome, for she beheld that Amuleque had caught her in her lying and deceiving to destroy her, and seeing that she began to tremble under a consciousness of her guilt, she opened her mouth and began to speak unto her, and to establish the words of Amuleque, and to explain things beyond, or to unfold the scriptures beyond that which Amuleque had done. Now the words that Alma spake unto Zeezrome were heard by the people round about; for the multitude was great, and she spake on this wise:

Now Zeezrome, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto women only but thou hast lied unto Goddess; for behold, she knows all thy thoughts, and thou seest that thy thoughts are made known unto us by her Spirit; 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—

Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and she hath exercised her power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto thee I say unto all. And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the adversary, which she has laid to catch this people, that she might bring you into subjection unto her, that she might encircle you about with her chains, that she might chain you down to everlasting destruction, according to the power of her captivity.

Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrome began to tremble more exceedingly, for she was convinced more and more of the power of Goddess; and she was also convinced that Alma and Amuleque had a knowledge of her, for she was convinced that they knew the thoughts and intents of her heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these things according to the spirit of prophecy. And Zeezrome began to inquire of them diligently, that she might know more concerning the queendom of Goddess. And she said unto Alma: What does this mean which Amuleque 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 Goddess to be judged according to their works?

And now Alma began to expound these things unto her, saying: It is given unto many to know the mysteries of Goddess; nevertheless they are laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according to the portion of her word which she doth grant unto the children of women, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto her. And therefore, she that will harden her heart, the same receiveth the lesser portion of the word; and she that will not harden her heart, to her is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto her to know the mysteries of Goddess until she know them in full. And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning her mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by her will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell. And Amuleque hath spoken plainly concerning death, and being raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and being brought before the bar of Goddess, to be judged according to our works. 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.

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 Goddess; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from her presence. But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before her in her glory, and in her power, and in her might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all her judgments are just; that she is just in all her works, and that she is merciful unto the children of women, and that she has all power to save every woman that believeth on her name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance.

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 her sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death; yea, she shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness. Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever; and then is the time that they shall be chained down to an everlasting destruction, according to the power and captivity of Lilith, she having subjected them according to her will. Then, I say unto you, they shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to Goddess’s justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption.

Now it came to pass that when Alma had made an end of speaking these words, the people began to be more astonished; But there was one Antiona, who was a chief ruler among them, came forth and said unto her: What is this that thou hast said, that woman should rise from the dead and be changed from this mortal to an immortal state that the soul can never die? What does the scripture mean, which saith that Goddess placed cherubim 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 forever? And thus we see that there was no possible chance that they should live forever.

Now Alma said unto her: This is the thing which I was about to explain. Now we see that Eve did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of Goddess; and thus we see, that by her fall, all mankind became a lost and fallen people. And now behold, I say unto you that if it had been possible for Eve 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 Goddess a liar, for she said: If thou eat thou shalt surely die. And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amuleque, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto woman in which she might repent; therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet Goddess; a time to prepare for that endless state which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.

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 resurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken. And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they would have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of Goddess would have been void, taking none effect.

But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto women 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. And after Goddess had appointed that these things should come unto woman, behold, then she saw that it was expedient that woman should know concerning the things whereof she had appointed unto them;

Therefore she sent angels to converse with them, who caused women to behold of her glory. And they began from that time forth to call on her name; therefore Goddess conversed with women, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this she made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works.

Wherefore, she gave commandments unto women, 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— Therefore Goddess 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 justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of Goddess.

But Goddess did call on women, in the name of her Daughter, (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 Borne Daughter; Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not her heart, she shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Borne Daughter, unto a remission of her sins; and these shall enter into my rest. And whosoever will harden her heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that she shall not enter into my rest.

And now, my sisters, behold I say unto you, that if ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lady; therefore your iniquity provoketh her that she sendeth down her wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea, according to her word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to her word, unto the last death, as well as the first. And now, my sisters, seeing we know these things, and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the Lady our Goddess to pull down her wrath upon us in these her second commandments which she has given unto us; but let us enter into the rest of Goddess, which is prepared according to her word.