“The Day Cometh That All Shall Rise from the Dead”

Brant Gardner

In 1 Corinthians, Paul introduces Christ as being risen from the dead. The term “firstfruits” is Paul’s recognition that Jesus is the first person ever to rise from the dead. His counterpart, Adam, was the first to die, and all men follow Adam in dying. Therefore, all will follow Christ’s example and rise, or “be made alive.”

This exact reversal of elements is intentional. Paul emphasized both the resurrection and the universality of the resurrection. Christ broke the bands of death for all. There are no conditions attached, just as death was the only option for mortals, Adam’s descendants. Amulek calls the death of the body the temporal (related to time) death. He also recognizes that there is a complete and unconditional atonement for this death.

However, he also recognizes the second aspect—sin. Amulek declares (v. 41) that the body’s resurrection does not have any effect on the sins the soul accumulated while in that body.

Second Witness: Analytical & Contextual Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 4

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