And now my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind-which is concerning the justice of God in the punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a (everlasting) state of misery. Now behold my son, I will expound this thing unto thee. For behold, after the Lord God sent our first parents out from the garden of Eden, He placed at the east end of the garden a cherubim and a flaming sword which turned every way to keep the tree of life. -Now you see that man had become as God, knowing good and evil; and lest he should put forth his hand and take also of the tree of life and eat and live forever, the Lord placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that man should not partake of the fruit-. And thus we see that there was a time granted unto man to repent,yes, a probationary time, a time to repent and serve God. For if Adam had put forth his hand immediately and partaken of the tree of life, he would have lived forever,according to the word of God, having no space for repentance; yes , and also the word of God(that if Adam eats the forbidden fruit..he will die) would have been void and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated. But behold it was appointed unto man to die-therefore as they were cut off from the tree of life they should be cut off from the face of the earth-and man became lost forever, yes, they became fallen man. And now, u see by this that our first parents were cut off both physically and spiritually from the presence of the Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow after their own will. Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this physical death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness. Therefore, as the soul could never die and the fall had brought upon all mankind a spiritual death as well as a physical, it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death. And now there was no means to reclaim man from this fallen state which man has brought upon himself because of his disobedience. Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state......for except it were for this conditions, mercy could not take effect except it(mercy) should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so God would cease to be God . And thus we see that all mankind were fallen and they were in the grasp of justice, yes, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence. And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God and a merciful God also. Now repentance could not come unto man except there were a punishment, which also was eternal as the life of the soul should be, affixed opposite to the plan of happiness, which was as eternal also as the life of the soul. Now how could a man repent except he should sin? how could he sin if there was no law? how could there be a law save there was a punishment? Now there was a punishment affixed and a just law given, which brought remorse of conscience unto man. And also, if there was no law given against sin, men would not be afraid to sin. And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either? for they would have no claim upon the creature. But there is a law given and a punishment affixed...and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth, otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicted the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed and God would cease to be God. But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men unto the presence of God; and thus they are restored unto his presence to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice. For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved. What, do u suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto u, No, not one whit. If so God would cease to be God. And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes which were prepared from the foundation of the world and thus cometh about the (eternal)salvation/redemption of men and also their destruction/misery(eternal). Therefore, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come, but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds. Alma 42
Posted on: Tue, 27 Aug 2013 11:02:21 +0000
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