“Whether to Do Good or Do Evil”

Brant Gardner

Alma is discussing this particular doctrine with Corianton because it must have been one of the apostate ideas that attracted him. Nehor preached “that all mankind should be saved at the last day, and that they need not fear nor tremble, but that they might lift up their heads and rejoice; for the Lord had created all men, and had also redeemed all men; and, in the end, all men should have eternal life” (Alma 1:4). Nehor defines the Creator-God as the Redeemer-God; he will save all human beings, regardless of their action. While it is true that the Creator is also the Redeemer, the first condition does not cause the second; nor does the fact of being created provide a guarantee of redemption. For Nehor, one’s good or evil actions were not significant in the next life. Nehor saw “restoring” good for evil as possible. Alma carefully explains true doctrine to combat this false idea that had apparently seized Corianton’s imagination. (See commentary accompanying Alma 41:3–4 for the doctrine of restoration.)

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

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