Monday, October 13, 2014

Alma 40




This chapter describes wickedness in very plain language.  Alma taught Corianton that the wicked are evil because they chose evil over good.  The devil has taken possession of their house and led them to captivity (v. 13).  They will be taken home to God at death (v. 11) where they will be cast out and suffer because of their own iniquity (v. 13), not because of any judgment rendered by God.  Their choosing evil over good will have removed all influence of the Holy Ghost from them.  Then, after they are resurrected, being unclean, they die again, as it were, being cast out to partake of the fruits of their labors.”  This is an awful death (v. 26).

Contrast that with the words Alma uses to describe the righteous at death.  Like the wicked, they return to God upon death, but “they 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” (v. 12).  Then upon their resurrection they shall “shine forth in the kingdom of God” (v. 25).  Hmmm.  It really makes you want to choose to do good, doesn't it?

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