Watch the video presentation on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/x6we1lPa88s
ICEBREAKER
I like to begin this particular study with an object lesson. So before I teach, I make arrangements with somebody to borrow a horse bridle to bring to my class. I’ve usually been able to find somebody with horses nearby that will lend me one for the day. Now if you don’t have access to an actual bridle, no need to worry, you can always just show a picture of one instead, but it’s fun and a little more interesting if you can actually bring one in.
Ask: Does anybody know what this is or what it’s used for?
Ask: Have you ever ridden a horse before? What was it like?
Ask: Why is it wise to use a bridle when riding a horse?
So that you can control it. The bridle gives the rider, who has less muscle, and speed, and strength, the ability to harness and direct all that power in a desired direction.
TRANSITION
Alma used the imagery of a bridle to teach his son Shiblon about something that we need to control as well.
Ask: According to Alma, what do we need to “bridle”? Alma 38:12
Answer: Our passions.
We need to bridle our passions. What may be some of those passions that we need to learn to control? Our anger, ambition, pride, and our feelings of physical attraction towards other people. Alma chapters 39-42 describes a conversation that Alma has with his son Corianton who, unfortunately, had allowed his passions to control his actions rather than his spirit, and consequently, he commits sexual sin. Alma is going to show us what we can do when this kind of thing happens and how to prevent it from happening in the first place. He’ll show us a way to regain control of our passions or how to help others to regain their control.
TWO APPROACHEs
For you as a teacher, I’d like to give you two possible ways to approach this lesson depending on your audience. You could continue with the approach we used last week of identifying powerful principles of parenting since we are still watching Alma in his role as father. As a parent myself. It’s pretty much inevitable that your children are going to make mistakes and need correction. Now hopefully they aren’t serious mistakes, but undoubtedly you’re going to face this situation. Alma is going to show us how to work with a child who has gone astray or made poor moral decisions. On the other hand. Maybe you won’t be teaching a group of adults or parents. In that case, this is a great opportunity to emphasize the law of chastity and the hazards of sexual sin; being mindful of the age of your audience of course. Both approaches can be effective. And I’ll try to model both but then let you decide which direction you would most like to take it.
PARENTING PRINCIPLE: CORRECT THEM WITH THE TRUTH
Now from the parenting or counseling side of things, our next parenting principle would be to Correct Them with the Truth, and I see four steps here. To teach this, you could count everybody off until everybody has a number of one through four, and depending on their number, have them read Alma 39 looking for evidence of their particular step. Here are the four I see:
Help them understand where they went wrong
Explain the short and long-term consequences
Show how they can prevent future problems
Give them hope
THE LAW OF CHASTITY AND THE HAZARDS OF SEXUAL SIN
Now if you are teaching this from the law of chastity approach you could do the same activity but with the following adjusted categories
The warning signs
Short and long-term consequences
How to prevent sexual sin
Hope for the transgressor
Whichever you choose to emphasize, allow your students to share what they have found after reading the chapter.
Here are some possible answers they could give.
SEARCH
HELP THEM UNDERSTAND WHERE THEY WENT WRONG/THE WARNING SIGNS
Why would you want to start with this? So that they will know what to avoid doing in the future. So that they’ll understand what has led them to their current situation. Consequently, these answers will also work for the warning signs of sexual sin.
In :2 Alma tells him that he did not give so much heed unto his words as his brother had. Problems often arise when we are not giving as much heed or sufficient heed to God’s standards and commandments as we should. For young people, sometimes they fudge a little bit on the standards. Dating too early, dating too seriously, getting too close to each other, spending too much time alone. Pushing the boundaries of our standards is often a gateway to sin. The stripling warriors are a good antithesis of this attitude when the scriptures tell us that they obeyed every word of command with exactness in Alma 57:21. They didn’t fudge on their commands even a little bit. They didn’t push things to the limit. They gave strict heed.
Another problem in vs 2. Corianton did “go on unto boasting” in his own strength and wisdom. This is a common attitude when it comes to those who fall into sexual sin. They feel like they're strong enough. They say things like, "Oh, we’re ok. We won’t have moral problems like other couples do. We can handle it. I don’t need to follow the counsels of parents and prophets. I know better than they do. They just don’t understand. I’m stronger than that. I’m wiser than that.” Unfortunately. They often find out that they were neither as strong nor as wise as they thought they were.
Another trouble area comes in verse :3. Thou didst forsake the ministry. Problems often arise when we aren’t doing the positive things that we know should be doing. We start to forsake the simple habits and practices of the righteous. We start to neglect our prayers and our scripture study. We become lax in our church attendance; our media standards deteriorate; we fail to nourish and build up our faith. When we forsake the ministry, we make ourselves more vulnerable to the influence and attacks of the world and the adversary.
The next area where Corianton went wrong is also in verse 3 when we learn that Corianton “did go over into the land of Siron among the borders of the Lamanites after the harlot Isabel”. What’s the problem here? Spending time in the wrong kinds of places with the wrong kinds of people. Those who end up making moral mistakes often choose to put themselves into tempting situations, citing their strength and wisdom. They go to the land of Siron; which I really love that that’s the name of it. In Greek mythology, the Sirens were the creatures that tried to lure Odysseus and his crew to come to them with their enchanting music and beautiful voices so that they could devour them. Odysseus famously commands his crew to bind him to the mast and to refuse to let him go no matter what he might say until they had passed out of earshot of the Sirens. Now I’m sure that this has nothing to do with the Book of Mormon name but it’s a fun coincidence. We too should stay away from the seductive voices of the land of Siron. What’s the land of Siron for us? It could be a certain kind of party; it could be sitting alone in the dark watching a movie with the person you are attracted to, or in a car kissing, or giving the other person a back rub. It could also be the type of person you are with. Somebody who doesn’t share your standards, or who pushes you into becoming physical when you would rather not. Mistakes are often made when we put ourselves into tempting situations with those who might tempt us.
The final way Corianton went wrong comes in verse 4 where Alma reminds his son that he had no excuse to do what he did. Even though Isabel was capable of stealing away many hearts, this was no excuse for him. We often go wrong when we seek to excuse ourselves in certain things. What are some of the excuses people give when it comes to sexual sin? But we were in love. It just happened. Everybody else is doing it. It’s not that big a deal. You can always repent. I know other kids who have done this and they still served a mission and got married in the temple. When we seek to excuse ourselves, we plant ourselves firmly in enemy territory.
So that’s step number one in helping the wayward. Help them to see where they went wrong. Also, these are practices and attitudes that we must avoid if we wish to keep ourselves sexually pure.
THE LONG AND SHORT-TERM CONSEQUENCES OF SEXUAL SIN
What were these for Corianton?
Verse :7 I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good. Sin often harrows up our souls. This is a short-term consequence. Feelings of guilt and deep remorse are often felt by those who are still sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Alma is all too familiar with this feeling as he himself felt the harrow of sin in his youth.
Another short term consequence is found in verse 11. It hampered Alma’s ability to do missionary work amongst the Zoramites. He says: Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they would not believe my words”. Sometimes one of the other excuses we may give for our sins is “Hey, I’m only hurting myself”. I believe that’s wishful thinking. We don’t make decisions in a vacuum. The effects of everything we do ripple out and touch the lives of others. Our decisions might affect the lives of those who look to us as examples like younger siblings, friends, or people in our community. We should consider the effect our current decisions may have on our future relationship or children. The opinions of those who are not members of the church may be influenced by your actions as is the case here with Corianton. I’m sure it made it difficult for Alma to teach the Zoramites when they could point back at him and say, “Look at what your own son is doing Alma. Put your own house in order before you go around telling us to take care of ours”.
Well, what about the long-term consequences? vs. 8 "But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day.” Sometimes people think that no one will ever find out what they've done. But really, no matter what, we always have an audience of at least one; our Heavenly Father. No sins are truly secret. Also, one day we will have to stand before God to account for our actions. If we don’t take care of these things now, they will stand against us in the day of judgment.
Another long-term consequence in verse 9. Alma instructs Corianton to cross himself in these things; “for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God”. Case in point, our exaltation is at stake. It would behoove us to remember that no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God. We may forfeit the kingdom of God if we refuse to repent.
SHOW HOW THEY CAN PREVENT FUTURE PROBLEMS
The first thing.
:5 Know ye not that these things re an abomination in the sight of the Lord, yea most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost. And then verse 7 he refers to this sin as “so great a crime”. I know there will be people who are a little uncomfortable with this. Is immorality that serious? Next to murder like Alma suggest here? Someone might argue "OK, I understand that sexual sin isn’t good and that it’s better not to let it happen, but next to murder? Come on. Calling it a crime. Isn’t that stretching it a bit?" My response to that. No. It is serious. And I think that’s one of the barriers that will help us to prevent the mistake from being made again in the future. Understanding the seriousness of the sin. Because that’s what the world is going to tell us. It’s no big deal. Everybody does it. As long as you do it safely, you’ll be ok. Sexual sin is serious though. And why? Well, I think it’s because life is so sacred to our Heavenly Father. That’s why it’s so serious to take life from somebody else. But the power of giving life is equally sacred to him and the rules that govern that power need to be taken seriously. We need to help young people understand that. We need to help all people to understand that. The powers of procreation are sacred and are only to be used at the right time and under the right circumstances.
Another thing that will help. :9 Go no more after the lusts of your eyes. Modern translation? Be careful what you look at. The media we engage with can greatly affect our opinions and actions. Do the movies we watch and the music we listen to and the books and magazines we read, and the websites we visit glorify or encourage immoral behavior? Do they depict casual sexuality and make it look acceptable? Do we indulge in pornography and inflame our lusts? We need to be very careful about what we allow our eyes and ears and minds to be influenced by.
Rather than indulging in these things and making excuses for why it’s ok, we can, as Alma counsels, “cross ourselves in these things”. To cross ourselves means to exert control; to place barriers between us and sin. Yes the natural man or woman inside us may cry out for us to give in to our lusts but we’ve got to cross ourselves. I like that Alma says for him “to take it upon you” to cross yourself in these things. As a parent, I can only do so much to protect my children from the immoral influences of the world. I can put filters on their phones, I can restrict them from watching certain movies, and I can familiarize them with what is good and wholesome so that they will recognize the difference. But when it comes right down to it, they are going to have to make those decisions for themselves. They will need to take it upon themselves to cross themselves, because I’m convinced that, no matter how hard I try as a parent to protect them from it, they will be exposed to the moral depravity of the world. And I hope and pray that they will cross themselves and make that decision for themselves when that time comes.
Remember the verse that we discussed at the beginning of the lesson. Alma used it in the context of his son Shiblon but it really applies well to Corianton. What should we do with our physical passions? Bridle them, so that we can be filled with love. The reason we put bridles on horses is not because they're terrible wicked animals that need to be destroyed. Our sexual passions are not innately evil or wicked. In fact, they were placed there by God to accomplish His divine purposes: to bring children into this world, and to bring spouses closer together. But they need to be controlled. The world says the exact opposite when it comes to sexual passion doesn’t it? They suggest to the vulnerable mind that the best way to show that you love someone, that when people are really in love, they have sex. That message is all around us, especially in our media. Sexual relations will strengthen love. Now we believe that when it’s coupled with eternal commitment. But when there is no union, no commitment, no marriage, I’m afraid that sexual relationships do not strengthen love. In fact, I believe they weaken it.
Gordon B. Hinckley said the following quoting a former Apostle Elder John A. Widstoe
“I heard Elder John A. Widtsoe … say, ‘It is my observation that a young man and a young woman who violate the principles of morality soon end up hating one another.’ I have observed the same thing. There may be words of love to begin with, but there will be words of anger and bitterness later”
Gordon B. Hinckley and John A. Widstoe
(“True to the Faith,” Ensign, June 1996, 5).
This has been my experience as well with individuals and students that I’ve known in the past. BUT, if we bridle our passions the promise is that we will be filled with love. Controlling our passions brings love into our lives.
Bear your testimony of the protection that the law of chastity provides.
In verse 10. Be humble enough and willing enough to take counsel from those that are older and wiser than you.
And then in verse 13. Turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength. Fill your life with good things. If you have forsaken the ministry, return to those simple habits. Pray, study your scriptures, attend church, frequent the temple, strengthen and nourish your faith. Repentance isn’t just about the elimination of the bad, it's equally about filling that space with the good. Be anxiously engaged in a good cause, and the adversary will have very little space to work against you.
GIVE THEM HOPE/HOPE FOR THE TRANSGRESSOR
Now, after all of that, it is absolutely critical that you not skip this last step. When a child has gone astray or transgressed, be sure to give them hope. It is very possible that when you teach this, there may be individuals within your class who have committed serious moral errors. You don’t want to leave them solely with the preceding message. The gospel is a gospel of hope and redemption and mercy. Those who have committed serious sin, even sexual sin, have much to hope for. Yes, it is serious. Yes, there are consequences. Yes, repentance and a change of heart are necessary. But there is no cause for despair. There is no condemnation. There is no being cast off. Remember Jesus and the woman taken in adultery. He did not condemn her, he instructed her to "Go and sin no more". The Lord welcomes the repentant with open arms and endless mercy.
Look at verse 15.
15 And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.
So, Corianton, Christ comes to take sins, and to bring the repentant gladness, and salvation. Yes, you need to change. But the atonement is there for you and will work for you.
And though the context of this next verse isn't necessarily directed at Corianton, I can’t help but feel that Alma is alluding to the worth of Corianton’s soul when he says in verse 17 “ is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming”. Underlying message. Corianton, souls are precious. All souls. Yours too!
And then Alma is going to spend the next 3 chapters trying to help Corianton understand the plan of salvation and Christ’s role within it. It’s an awesome example of how the doctrines of the gospel can be applied in a relevant way to our lives. He’s going to help Corianton see the eternal perspective of his decisions by examining the plan as a whole. And after all that he ends with the following message:
29 And now, my son, I desire that ye should let these things trouble you no more, and only let your sins trouble you, with that trouble which shall bring you down unto repentance.
30 O my son, I desire that ye should deny the justice of God no more. Do not endeavor to excuse yourself in the least point because of your sins, by denying the justice of God; but do you let the justice of God, and his mercy, and his long-suffering have full sway in your heart; and let it bring you down to the dust in humility.
31 And now, O my son, ye are called of God to preach the word unto this people. And now, my son, go thy way, declare the word with truth and soberness, that thou mayest bring souls unto repentance, that the great plan of mercy may have claim upon them. And may God grant unto you even according to my words.
Amen.
See how he ends that. I only want you to be troubled insomuch as it will lead you to repentance. And then accept his mercy, and his long-suffering, and let that troubling feeling go. Don’t hold on to the guilt. Rejoice in the purity and virtue that Christ’s atonement can restore to you.
And then, he doesn’t tell him that’s he’s blown it. He doesn’t send him home in shame. He doesn’t tell him that he is forever stained and untrusted. Instead, he tells him that he is still called to preach the gospel unto this people. And he refers again to the plan of salvation, and we know there are many different names he uses for the plan. The plan of happiness, the plan of redemption. But how does he refer to it here at the end of his talk to his son? He calls it the great plan of mercy.
DID CORIANTON CHANGE? YES!
Alms leaves his son with hope for the future. He can repent, he can still preach, he can obtain mercy. And you may wonder if it worked or not? Did Corianton change? Yes, he does! There is a verse that shows this. Alma 49:30
30 Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and exceedingly great prosperity in the church because of their heed and diligence which they gave unto the word of God, which was declared unto them by Helaman, and Shiblon, and Corianton, and Ammon and his brethren, yea, and by all those who had been ordained by the holy order of God, being baptized unto repentance, and sent forth to preach among the people.
Corianton is included in the list of those who are preaching the gospel among the people. Corianton repented and became a powerful instrument in the hands of God once again. Those that commit serious sin are not hopeless, or doomed to be second class citizens in Zion, but continue to have great potential for good and leadership and influence in God's kingdom.
LIKEN THE SCRIPTURES
Well here are a few questions that you might consider asking as you teach these principles:
Have you ever found any of these principles helpful as a parent or leader?
Which could you improve on?
How has God’s law of chastity blessed you?
How would you use these chapters to help someone who felt hopeless because of a moral transgression?
CONCLUSION
So, parents. When you have a child that strays or errs, remember the example set by Alma. He doesn’t condemn, he doesn’t shame, he doesn’t despair. Rather, with love, help them to understand where they went wrong. Explain to them the consequences of their decisions, long and short-term. Teach them how they can prevent those things from happening again in the future, and be sure to give them hope.
Also, I hope we can learn from Corianton’s mistakes. I encourage us all to follow the Lord’s plan for love in your life. Remember that it’s bridling your passions that will fill you with love not giving in to them. And if you have already faltered, if you’ve already gone too far down the path of immorality, remember how precious your soul is to your Father in heaven. There is a way back, and he will welcome you if you take it.
ONE MORE POWERFUL PARENTING PRINCIPLE
Take a look at the very first verse of each of these chapters and see if you notice a pattern. What do they all have in common and what does that teach us about parenting? There is a specific phrase that appears in each.
In 40:1 I perceive that thy mind is worried
In 41:1 I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this thing
In 42:1 I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind
Alma is obviously in tune with the Spirit. He's cultivated the gift of discernment in perceiving Corianton’s worries. A parent needs to be perceiving and discerning. They can pray for that discerning spirit and the ability to know what to say. Then they need to have the courage to trust that spirit and approach their child because children don’t always ask for help when they need it; especially teenagers. Parents need to be discerning and aware; conscious of their child’s needs, worries, and questions that they may be hesitant to vocalize. Obviously, this principle requires faith. You’re going to have to trust in God enough to take action without knowing for sure how they’re going to react.
ALMA 40-42
ICEBREAKER
Now, Alma chapters 40-42 are deeply doctrinal chapters and I'd like to give you a way to teach them if your desire is to focus more on their doctrinal content. For an icebreaker on this section, I would begin by saying that one of the greatest blessings we enjoy as members of Christ’s restored church is the knowledge we have of God’s plan for us and we most frequently refer to it as the plan of salvation, but it’s not the only title we have in the Book of Mormon for that plan. See if you can find all 5 of the different titles Alma uses for the plan by studying the following verses. I encourage you to mark them and pick which one is your favorite.
41:2 The plan of restoration
42:5 The plan of salvation
42:8 The plan of happiness
42:11 The plan of redemption
42:31 The plan of mercy
Well, which is your favorite description of the plan? Share yours.
TRANSITION
These chapters revolve around the doctrines of the plan, particularly those of the Spirit World, Resurrection, Judgment, and the Atonement. And if we wanted to, we could add one more point to our powerful parenting principles. Teach your children correct doctrine. Of course, in order to teach correct doctrine, we need to know it. Why is it so important to teach our children correct doctrine? Because a bad understanding of doctrine can often lead to bad behavior. That’s apparently what happened to Corianton. Alma perceives that he has some misunderstandings about the plan, which may help to explain why Corianton may have made some of the decisions that he did. In 41:1 Alma says that some have "wrested the scriptures and gone far astray because of this thing”. Their misunderstandings have led them astray. Far astray. 41:10 tells us what one of those misunderstandings was. Do not suppose because it has been spoken concerning restoration that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. That’s where he is in error. People have told him that resurrection brings happiness to everyone, regardless of how they lived their lives; that you can be restored from sin to happiness. It sounds like he’s been influenced a bit by the doctrine of Nehor. All are saved regardless of how they lived. And you can see why that is such a seductive doctrine. It means it doesn’t matter what you do, it doesn’t matter if you sin, eventually, you will be eternally happy because of the resurrection. Alma is going to try and correct that misunderstanding.
SEARCH
So let’s see how well you understand the doctrines of the plan. For an activity, I’m going to give you a true/false handout. Go through each of the statements and mark them as TRUE or FALSE first without looking at the scripture references. Then, go through and correct your own answers based on the identified verses. Here’s what the handout looks like:
True/False
Nobody was resurrected before Jesus Christ was resurrected. (40:2)
Only the righteous are resurrected. The wicked will remain as spirits throughout eternity. (40:4)
When they die, the righteous will continue to be tested and challenged by temptation and trial until they are resurrected.(40:12)
When they die, the wicked are received into a state of darkness and fear. (40:14)
The righteous that lived and died before Christ’s resurrection were resurrected directly following Christ’s resurrection. (40:16-20)
The resurrection will restore people’s bodies to their perfect state; without scars, ailments, or disabilities. (40:23)
The resurrection will bring happiness to everyone regardless of how they lived their lives. (41:3-4, 10)
The resurrection will also purify our desires to perfect ones. (41:5-6)
It’s fair that not all of God’s children will receive exaltation. (Alma 42:1,4, 12, 15, 18-21)
And I’ll walk you through the answers with some commentary.
1. Nobody was resurrected before Jesus Christ was resurrected. TRUE (40:2)
There is no resurrection until after the coming of Christ. Jesus was the first.
2. Only the righteous are resurrected. The wicked will remain as spirits throughout eternity. FALSE (40:4)
Behold there is a time appointed that ALL shall come forth from the dead. Resurrection will come to all. Bad or good.
3. When they die, the righteous will continue to be tested and challenged by temptation and trial until they are resurrected. FALSE (40:12)
We learn from this chapter that:
"the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.” This is what we would call spirit paradise.
4. When they die, the wicked are received into a state of darkness and fear. TRUE (40:14)
Verse 14 tells us that: 14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.
5. The righteous that lived and died before Christ’s resurrection were resurrected directly following Christ’s resurrection. TRUE? (40:16-20)
Now, this is an interesting one because Alma doesn’t seem to know all the particulars about exactly when the righteous from before Christ’s lifetime are resurrected. He’s not sure if it happens immediately after, or if it happens at some later time, or if the wicked are involved in some way. So he just gives us his opinion. Now, his opinion turns out to be right, the righteous who had died before Christ’s lifetime are resurrected directly following Christ’s resurrection, so we can mark this as true, but Alma had not had that revealed to him yet. I think this reveals something very fascinating about seeking truth. Alma is a prophet and he doesn’t have a perfect understanding of all doctrine. I just love the phrases that are used in this chapter to describe the different facets of his gospel knowledge.
“I unfold unto you a mystery” (40:3)
“I have inquired diligently of God that I might know” (40:3)
“No one knoweth them save God himself” (40:3)
“it mattereth not” (40:5)
“this is the thing of which I do know” (40:9)
“behold, I give it as my opinion” (40:20)
Now many religious people want certainty on all points. But the fact of the matter is, we have to admit that we do not have a perfect understanding of all of God’s truth at this time. There are some things that nobody but God knows, there are things that don’t really matter, and there are times when all we can give is our opinion. And you know, I think that’s healthy. I believe that God wants us to wrestle and inquire diligently and work things out in our minds and come up with opinions and even express them as long as we admit that they are opinions. The discovery of truth and revelation is a process which I’m sure will continue into the next life. Article of Faith #9 “We believe all that God has revealed, all that He does now reveal, and we believe that he will yet reveal many great and important things pertaining to the Kingdom of God”.
6. The resurrection will restore peoples’ bodies to their perfect state; without scars, ailments, or disabilities. TRUE (40:23)
The words used in verse 23 are proper and perfect.
7. The resurrection will bring happiness to everyone regardless of how they lived their lives. FALSE (41:3-4, 10)
Now, this is the big question of chapter 41. The big misunderstanding that Corianton has. Alma tells us that:
3 And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.
4 And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame—mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption—raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other—
And then we have the very well known message of verse 10
10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.
Let’s also include the next question with this discussion
8. The resurrection will also purify our desires to perfect ones. FALSE (41:5-6)
Also false. Why do we think that resurrection is going to change the nature of our spirits? Yes. Physical and mental scars and disabilities associated with our mortal bodies will be eliminated. But our spirits are eternal. The desires and knowledge we’ve cultivated while in this life will remain with us. As Alma taught back in 34:34 "that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world”.
I always think it’s interesting when people say “Is it really fair that people get to repent in the Spirit World? Won’t everybody repent because they’ll know that there is an afterlife, that there’s a God? And I say, why? Knowledge is not the same as desire. If we don’t like spiritual things in this life; if scriptures and church and service and kindness don’t appeal to our desires here, what makes us think that we’re going to feel any differently in the next life? Now people will change and repent, but it’s going to require the same amount of effort and change of heart as it would in this life. So no, I don’t think it will be easier or that there will be mass repentance in the next life. People are the same there as they are here. If their desires were evil and self-centered and rebellious and full of anger and hate, and therefore misery, then that is what they will be restored to in the next life, albeit with an immortal body. The righteous and therefore happy will be restored to the same happiness that they enjoyed here. That’s why Alma reminds us, wickedness never was happiness. As long as I possess a wicked (or disobedient, or selfish spirit, I will reap the proper or natural consequences that accompany that attitude). As verse 41 tells us, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.
Resurrection doesn’t change your spirit, it changes your body. Restoration or resurrection is a beautiful word to the righteous. It restores them to all that goodness that they enjoyed in life, not just in spirit, but in body as well. Resurrection really is no blessing to the wicked. They are restored spirit and body to their natural state of misery. When Alma was in a state of misery because of his sins, he expressed that the very thought of standing before God filled his soul with inexpressible horror; that he wished that the could somehow become extinct. He wished to cease to exist. Therein lies a part of the misery of the wicked. They will be restored, they will be brought before God, and it will not be a pleasant experience.
It’s the boomerang principle we find in verse 15. For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored.
9. It’s fair that not all of God’s children will receive exaltation. TRUE (Alma 42:1,4, 12, 15, 18-21)
The entirety of Alma 42 is the answer to that question. God is fair, he is a just God. If he weren’t, he would cease to be God. Alma is going to give us a number of reasons for why it's fair. Corianton doesn’t seem to feel it is. He supposes “that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery.” Here’s why it’s not injustice.
REASON 1
:4, 10 There is a time granted for people to repent. God doesn’t just condemn you to spiritual death forever after you mess up once. Your sentence is not definite, it’s not a final sentence. You have time. He uses Adam and Eve as an example. They broke a law. They were cast out of the garden and physical and spiritual death were passed upon them. But that wasn't it. They had time to make things right. God gave that to Adam and Eve, and he is giving it to you. What kind of time?
-Probationary and preparatory. What does it mean to be on probation? The sentence has been passed but it can be commuted if we prove that we have changed. It is also preparatory. We prepare ourselves to meet God, to show him that we have done enough to meet his demands, which are easier than the demands of justice itself.
REASON 2
:12 It’s fair because we brought it upon ourselves. Nobody forces us to commit sin. We make our decisions of our own free will and choice. Therefore, it’s fair.
REASON 3
:16-22 There has to be a punishment affixed to the breaking of law. This is explained in verses 16-22. If there wasn’t some kind of punishment or consequence for breaking God’s laws, then they wouldn’t really be laws at all. It’s like the rules of my classroom that I know some of my students are inevitably going to test. If I have a no cell phone rule, and somebody brings one out, but I don’t say anything about it or don’t confront them, or have some consequence, then it’s not really a rule, is it? So a consequence is affixed to it. For God to be just, then there must be justice.
Then, we have REASON 4
The biggest reason of all. Verse :15 It’s also fair because God is merciful. He extends mercy freely to whoever will come to Christ. Christ’s atonement will satisfy the demands of justice. Christ is willing to take upon himself the punishment, the justice for our sins, as long as we are willing to accept HIS conditions, which are easier than those of cold and simple justice. What are the conditions? :13 the conditions of repentance. We need to develop a repentant soul, and then mercy will have claim on us. It sounds very fair to me. Merciful and just at the same time. That’s the miracle of the Atonement and the great plan of happiness.
CONCLUSION
Well I know that was a lot of doctrine to cover, but does it help you to see why it’s so important to have a good grasp of the plan and its purposes? Once Corianton understood the doctrine, he was much better prepared and able to change. He was motivated to change. He understood why he needed to repent, and why it was fair. I also encourage you to study and know the plan of salvation. It guides us, blesses us, and helps us to make the right choices. It’s the great plan of happiness and I encourage you to choose happiness by choosing righteousness.
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