Alma’s Words to Antionah and the People

The Plan of Redemption

Alma 12:25

The plan of redemption enables the resurrection of the dead.

Now, if it had not been for the plan of redemption, which was laid from the foundation of the world, there could have been no resurrection of the dead; but there was a plan of redemption laid, which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of which has been spoken.

Alma 12:26

If Adam had hypothetically eaten of the fruit of the tree of life, they would be sealed in their probationary state, and the plan of redemption would be disrupted.

And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents could have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they would have been forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and thus the plan of redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of God would have been void, taking none effect.

Alma 12:27

Death became a necessary part of the plan; and death is followed by judgement.

But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto men that they must die; and after death, they must come to judgment, even that same judgment of which we have spoken, which is the end.

Alma 12:28–29

God sent angels unto men so they could see God’s glory and know the things that God had appointed.

And after God had appointed that these things should come unto man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should know concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them; Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold of his glory.

Alma 12:30

From then on, people began to call on God’s name, and God taught the plan of redemption to the people by conversing with them.

And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works.

Alma 12:31

God gave commandments to humanity, who had gained the capacity to discern good and evil.

Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good—

Alma 12:32

The commandments prohibited doing evil, and the penalty for doing evil is the second death (a separation from goodness) which disables to power of the redemption.

Therefore God gave unto them 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 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 12:33–34

Those who repent, and obtain mercy through the Only Begotten Son of God will obtain a remission of sins, all others will not.

But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying:

“If ye will repent and harden not your hearts,
then will I have mercy upon you,
through mine Only Begotten Son;”

Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest. And whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest.

Alma 12:36

Hardening your hearts will lead to the destruction of your souls, including the second death.

And now, my brethren, behold I say unto you, that if ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lord; therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down his wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea, according to his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first.

Alma 12:37

Let us repent, not harden our hearts, and enter into the rest of God.

And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his second commandments which he has given unto us; but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word.