Alma Instructs His Son Corianton

Alma continued, “My son, Corianton, I perceive that there is still more that worries you because you do not understand how God’s justice punishes the sinner. You are thinking that it is not fair for a sinner to be consigned to a state of misery, so I will explain this to you.

“The Lord God sent our first parents out of the east end of the Garden of Eden to till the earth. Then He placed an angel, wielding a flaming sword, to guard the tree of life.

“At that time, (by eating of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of good and evil), Adam and Eve had become like God, knowing good from evil. If they had eaten of the fruit of the tree of life, they would have become immortal and would have lived forever in their sins.

“But instead, Adam and Eve became mortal—subject to death. The time of their mortality became a time of probation—a time for them to repent and learn to serve God. According to God’s word, if they had eaten of the fruit of the tree of life before being sent out of the garden, they would not have had a time to repent. Then God’s word would have been void, and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated.

“But men and women were appointed to die. So just as they were cut off from the tree of life, they would be cut off from the face of the earth. In this natural state, they and their children were lost and fallen from God forever, being cut off from His presence, both temporally and spiritually. This is how we became beings who follow after our own will. In their fallen state, it was not necessary for Adam and Eve to be spared from a temporal death, for that would have destroyed the great plan of happiness. But since their souls were immortal, and their fall had cut them off from the Lord’s presence, it was essential for them to be spiritually reclaimed. And since they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish by nature, their probationary state became a time for them to prepare and improve.

“Remember my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, then as soon as we die, our souls would be miserable, being cut off from the Lord’s presence forever. Adam and Eve had no way to save themselves from their fallen state—a state they brought upon themselves and their descendants by disobeying God. Without an Atonement, mercy alone could not have redeemed Adam and Eve, for mercy could only redeem them after they repented and relied on the Atonement. Otherwise, mercy would have destroyed justice (which cannot be destroyed), and God would have ceased to be God.

“Now we see that Adam, Eve, and all their descendants were in the grasp of God’s justice, which required them be cut off from His presence forever. But the plan of mercy could save them if an Atonement were made. This is why God Himself atones for the sins of the world—to bring about the plan of mercy—to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just, and merciful God. Now, there would be no need for men and women to repent unless their eternal happiness were threatened by an eternal punishment, for the life of the soul is eternal. People can only repent after they sin, which is to break a law that requires the sinner to be punished. These punishments are affixed to just laws, and breaking just laws bring feelings of guilt. For example, if there was no law that said a murderer would be put to death, then potential murderers would have no fear of death.

“With no laws against sin, there would be no fear of sinning. And with no laws, justice and mercy would have no purpose, and there could be no misery nor happiness. This is why laws are given to man by God. Punishments are given by justice while repentance is granted by mercy. Otherwise, everyone would be punished, for without perfect justice, God would cease to be God.

“But God lives, and because of His Atonement, His mercy claims those who repent. His Atonement also makes possible the resurrection, which brings us all back into His presence, to be judged by our works, according to the law and justice (the application of the law).

“For justice exercises all its demands and mercy claims all who are worthy of it. This is why only those who truly repent will be saved from spiritual death. Do you think that mercy can rob justice? No, not even one bit. If so, God would cease to be God, for His justice brings about His great, eternal purposes, which were prepared before the world was created. Through His justice, all people are resurrected, and either redeemed from their sins or condemned in their sins.

“Remember my son, that all who come may drink the waters of life freely. Those who will not come are not forced, but when they are resurrected at the last day, their works will be restored to them. If they wanted to do evil, and did not repent during their mortal life, then evil will be restored to them by God’s justice. My son, do not let these things trouble you any longer. Only let your sins trouble you until they bring you to repentance. Do not make the smallest excuse for your sins, for doing this denies God’s justice. Instead, let a realization of God’s justice, and His mercy and patience fill your heart and bring you to the depths of humility. Oh my son, you are called of God to preach the word to this people. Now go do this in truth and in soberness. May you bring souls to repentance, that the great plan of mercy may claim them, and you. May God grant this according to my words. Amen.”