Alma was a loving and patient parent and teacher. “Now behold, my son, I will explain this thing unto thee.” To show the justice of God and our own accountability for our actions in mortality, he launched into a full-scale doctrinal exposition—once again—of two of the three pillars of the plan of salvation: the Fall and the Atonement. These teachings are all basic to understanding the purposes of our earth life, and they are the theological rationale behind missionary work, why we go out to try to rescue or save all of our Father’s children.