“That Rebel Against Him and Die in Their Sins”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet
Those who either ignore or reject the higher counsel from God and his prophets-who choose to remain in their carnal and fallen state-are natural men, enemies to God (see Mosiah 2:37; Mosiah 3:19; Mosiah 16:1-5; Alma 41:10-11); they have come out in open rebellion against God and the plan for the salvation of his children.

“The Lord Redeemeth None Such That Rebel Against Him and Die in Their Sins”

Redemption, in its highest sense, consists in being delivered from death and sin and inheriting exaltation in the celestial kingdom. While salvation is made available to the penitent and the obedient, “the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death” (Alma 11:41); that is, the wicked are redeemed only in the sense that they are delivered from hell, eventually escape the perils of the second death, and come forth to a kingdom of glory in the resurrection.

Those that “rebel against [God] and die in their sins” will not and cannot be redeemed unto salvation, for this would negate the justice of God. The Lord gave Adam and his posterity 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 [persons who continue in sin] the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God” (Alma 12:32).

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

References