Chapter 41
Alma 41:1
1 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has
been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray
because of this thing. And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this
thing. But behold, I will explain it unto thee.
Alma 41:2
2 I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God;
for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is
requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man
should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself.
Alma 41:3
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.
Alma 41:4
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--
Alma 41:5
5 The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to
his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has
desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night
cometh.
Alma 41:6
6 And so it is on the other hand. If he hath repented of his sins, and desired righteousness
until the end of his days, even so he shall be rewarded unto righteousness.
Alma 41:7
7 These are they that are redeemed of the Lord; yea, these are they that are taken out,
that are delivered from that endless night of darkness; and thus they stand or fall; for
behold, they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.
8 Now, the decrees of God are unalterable; therefore, the way is prepared that whosoever
will may walk therein and be saved.
Alma 41:9
9 And now behold, my son, do not risk one more offense against your God upon those
points of doctrine, which ye have hitherto risked to commit sin.
Alma 41:10
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.
Alma 41:11
11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal
state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the
world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state
contrary to the nature of happiness.
Alma 41:12
12 And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural
state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?
Alma 41:13
13 O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring
back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish--good for that which
is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that
which is merciful.
Alma 41:14
14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge
righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive
your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice
restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and
ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.
Alma 41:15
15 For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore,
the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.
Chapter 42
Alma 42:1
1 And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind,
which ye cannot understand--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 state of misery.
Alma 42:2
2 Now behold, my son, I will explain this thing unto thee. For behold, after the Lord God
sent our first parents forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground, from whence they
were taken--yea, he drew out the man, and he placed at the east end of the garden of
Eden, cherubim, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the tree of life--
Alma 42:3
3 Now, we see that the 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 God placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake of the fruit
-
Alma 42:4
4 And thus we see, that there was a time granted unto man to repent, yea, a probationary
time, a time to repent and serve God.
Alma 42:5
5 For behold, 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; yea, and also the word of God would have been void, and the great plan of
salvation would have been frustrated.
Alma 42:6
6 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,
yea, they became fallen man.
Alma 42:7
7 And now, ye see by this that our first parents were cut off both temporally and
spiritually from the presence of the Lord; and thus we see they became subjects to follow
after their own will.
Alma 42:8
8 Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal
death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.
Alma 42:9
9 Therefore, as the soul could never die, and the fall had brought upon all mankind a
spiritual death as well as a temporal, that is, they were cut off from the presence of the
Lord, it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death. 10 Therefore, as they had become carnal, sensual, and devilish, by nature, this
probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state.
Alma 42:11
11 And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it
aside) as soon as they were dead their souls were miserable, being cut off from the
presence of the Lord.
Alma 42:12
12 And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which man had
brought upon himself because of his own disobedience;
Alma 42:13
13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about,
only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory
state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should
destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God
would cease to be God.
Alma 42:14
14 And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice;
yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.
Alma 42:15
15 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.
Alma 42:16
16 Now, repentance could not come unto men 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.
Alma 42:17
17 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?
Alma 42:18
18 Now, there was a punishment affixed, and a just law given, which brought remorse of
conscience unto man.
Alma 42:19
19 Now, if there was no law given--if a man murdered he should die--would he be afraid
he would die if he should murder?
20 And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin.
Alma 42:21
21 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?
Alma 42:22
22 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 inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be
destroyed, and God would cease to be God.
Alma 42:23
23 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 into the presence of God; and
thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according
to the law and justice.
Alma 42:24
24 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.
Alma 42:25
25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If
so, God would cease to be God.
Alma 42:26
26 And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes, which were prepared
from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the
redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery.
Alma 42:27
27 Therefore, O my son, 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 42:28
28 If he has desired to do evil, and has not repented in his days, behold, evil shall be
done unto him, according to the restoration of God.
Alma 42:29
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.
Alma 42:31
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.
Chapter 43
Alma 43:1
1 And now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go forth among the people, to
declare the word unto them. And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, and he also went
forth.
Alma 43:2
2 Now we shall say no more concerning their preaching, except that they preached the
word, and the truth, according to the spirit of prophecy and revelation; and they preached
after the holy order of God by which they were called.
Alma 43:3
3 And now I return to an account of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites, in
the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges.
Alma 43:4
4 For behold, it came to pass that the Zoramites became Lamanites; therefore, in the
commencement of the eighteenth year the people of the Nephites saw that the Lamanites
were coming upon them; therefore they made preparations for war; yea, they gathered
together their armies in the land of Jershon.
Alma 43:5
5 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with their thousands; and they came into
the land of Antionum, which is the land of the Zoramites; and a man by the name of
Zerahemnah was their leader.
Alma 43:6
6 And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than
the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief
captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites. 7 Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites, that he might
bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs.
Alma 43:8
8 For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this
he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over
the Nephites by bringing them into bondage.
Alma 43:9
9 And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and their houses, and
their wives, and their children, that they might preserve them from the hands of their
enemies; and also that they might preserve their rights and their privileges, yea, and also
their liberty, that they might worship God according to their desires.
Alma 43:10
10 For they knew that if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites, that whosoever
should worship God in spirit and in truth, the true and the living God, the Lamanites
would destroy.
Alma 43:11
11 Yea, and they also knew the extreme hatred of the Lamanites towards their brethren,
who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, who were called the people of Ammon--and
they would not take up arms, yea, they had entered into a covenant and they would not
break it--therefore, if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites they would be
destroyed.
Alma 43:12
12 And the Nephites would not suffer that they should be destroyed; therefore they gave
them lands for their inheritance.
Alma 43:13
13 And the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites a large portion of their
substance to support their armies; and thus the Nephites were compelled, alone, to
withstand against the Lamanites, who were a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the
sons of Ishmael, and all those who had dissented from the Nephites, who were
Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests of Noah.
Alma 43:14
14 Now those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as were the Nephites; and thus the
Nephites were obliged to contend with their brethren, even unto bloodshed.
Alma 43:15
15 And it came to pass as the armies of the Lamanites had gathered together in the land
of Antionum, behold, the armies of the Nephites were prepared to meet them in the land
of Jershon.
16 Now, the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had been appointed to be the chief
captain over the Nephites--now the chief captain took the command of all the armies of
the Nephites--and his name was Moroni;
Alma 43:17
17 And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their wars. And he was
only twenty and five years old when he was appointed chief captain over the armies of
the Nephites.
Alma 43:18
18 And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of Jershon, and his
people were armed with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war.
Alma 43:19
19 And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni,
had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to
defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing--
Alma 43:20
20 Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing; they had only
their swords and their cimeters, their bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings;
and they were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins; yea, all were
naked, save it were the Zoramites and the Amalekites;
Alma 43:21
21 But they were not armed with breastplates, nor shields--therefore, they were
exceedingly afraid of the armies of the Nephites because of their armor, notwithstanding
their number being so much greater than the Nephites.
Alma 43:22
22 Behold, now it came to pass that they durst not come against the Nephites in the
borders of Jershon; therefore they departed out of the land of Antionum into the
wilderness, and took their journey round about in the wilderness, away by the head of the
river Sidon, that they might come into the land of Manti and take possession of the land;
for they did not suppose that the armies of Moroni would know whither they had gone.
Alma 43:23
23 But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the wilderness Moroni sent
spies into the wilderness to watch their camp; and Moroni, also, knowing of the
prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should inquire of the
Lord whither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the
Lamanites.
Alma 43:24
24 And it came to pass that the word of the Lord came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers of Moroni, that the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the message unto Moroni.
Alma 43:25
25 Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means a
part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the
remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti.
Alma 43:26
26 And he caused that all the people in that quarter of the land should gather themselves
together to battle against the Lamanites, to defend their lands and their country, their
rights and their liberties; therefore they were prepared against the time of the coming of
the Lamanites.
Alma 43:27
27 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his army should be secreted in the valley
which was near the bank of the river Sidon, which was on the west of the river Sidon in
the wilderness.
Alma 43:28
28 And Moroni placed spies round about, that he might know when the camp of the
Lamanites should come.
Alma 43:29
29 And now, as Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites, that it was their intention to
destroy their brethren, or to subject them and bring them into bondage that they might
establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land;
Alma 43:30
30 And he also knowing that it was the only desire of the Nephites to preserve their
lands, and their liberty, and their church, therefore he thought it no sin that he should
defend them by stratagem; therefore, he found by his spies which course the Lamanites
were to take.
Alma 43:31
31 Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the valley, and concealed
them on the east, and on the south of the hill Riplah;
Alma 43:32
32 And the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and
so down into the borders of the land Manti.
33 And thus having placed his army according to his desire, he was prepared to meet
them.
Alma 43:34
34 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north of the hill, where a part
of the army of Moroni was concealed.
Alma 43:35
35 And as the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah, and came into the valley, and began
to cross the river Sidon, the army which was concealed on the south of the hill, which
was led by a man whose name was Lehi, and he led his army forth and encircled the
Lamanites about on the east in their rear.
Alma 43:36
36 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, when they saw the Nephites coming upon
them in their rear, turned them about and began to contend with the army of Lehi.
Alma 43:37
37 And the work of death commenced on both sides, but it was more dreadful on the part
of the Lamanites, for their nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites
with their swords and their cimeters, which brought death almost at every stroke.
Alma 43:38
38 While on the other hand, there was now and then a man fell among the Nephites, by
their swords and the loss of blood, they being shielded from the more vital parts of the
body, or the more vital parts of the body being shielded from the strokes of the
Lamanites, by their breastplates, and their arm-shields, and their head-plates; and thus the
Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites.
Alma 43:39
39 And it came to pass that the Lamanites became frightened, because of the great
destruction among them, even until they began to flee towards the river Sidon.
Alma 43:40
40 And they were pursued by Lehi and his men; and they were driven by Lehi into the
waters of Sidon, and they crossed the waters of Sidon. And Lehi retained his armies upon
the bank of the river Sidon that they should not cross.
Alma 43:41
41 And it came to pass that Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in the valley, on the
other side of the river Sidon, and began to fall upon them and to slay them.
Alma 43:42
42 And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of Manti; and they
were met again by the armies of Moroni.
43 Now in this case the Lamanites did fight exceedingly; yea, never had the Lamanites
been known to fight with such exceedingly great strength and courage, no, not even from
the beginning.
Alma 43:44
44 And they were inspired by the Zoramites and the Amalekites, who were their chief
captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, who was their chief captain, or their chief
leader and commander; yea, they did fight like dragons, and many of the Nephites were
slain by their hands, yea, for they did smite in two many of their head-plates, and they did
pierce many of their breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus the
Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger.
Alma 43:45
45 Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting
for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their
wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.
Alma 43:46
46 And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God;
for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not
guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by
the hands of your enemies.
Alma 43:47
47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed.
Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend
themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their
religion.
Alma 43:48
48 And it came to pass that when the men of Moroni saw the fierceness and the anger of
the Lamanites, they were about to shrink and flee from them. And Moroni, perceiving
their intent, sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts--yea, the thoughts of
their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom from bondage.
Alma 43:49
49 And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they cried with one
voice unto the Lord their God, for their liberty and their freedom from bondage.
Alma 43:50
50 And they began to stand against the Lamanites with power; and in that selfsame hour
that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them;
and they fled even to the waters of Sidon.
51 Now, the Lamanites were more numerous, yea, by more than double the number of