“Being Brought Before the Bar of God”

Brant Gardner

As Alma notes, Amulek concentrated on physical death and resurrection. Alma discusses the more spiritual aspects of the atonement, especially the need for repentance. While the physical resurrection is a free gift to all, our ultimate salvation depends upon each individual.

Alma begins his discourse by placing the resurrected persons before God’s judgment bar and how those whose hearts have been hardened against the word will be condemned. As Alma explains later, we cannot hope that the change of location will automatically make a change in our hearts. The state of our soul at death will be unchanged at the resurrection, continuing to demonstrate our learned reaction to the gospel (Alma 34:4). Because Alma’s intent is to focus on the need for repentance and correct belief in this life, he does not discuss the doctrine of the salvation for the dead which does allow for progress between death and the judgment.

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

References