Gospel Essentials: What Happens When I Die

Gospel Essentials: What Happens When I......... Die?

hile death can be an uncomfortable subject for humans to contemplate, ultimately, the message of how death is, was, and will be affected by Jesus, becomes central to our study of Jesus Christ and the restored gospel. While much of the world subscribes to a notion that 'the good go to heaven, and anyone who didn't know about Jesus,….well, …umm….burns', we will learn that the restored gospel offers hope for the sinner--true hope-- as revealed in the image of our God who is fair and loving.

The true message of life and death is one of the most beautiful and compelling aspects of the gospel of Jesus.

Ultimately, the eternal purpose of Jesus Christ was to alter the outcome of death for human beings.

1. What is death? In the temporal sense? In the spiritual sense? The following definitions will be supported by later scripture:

Temporal Death: Separation of the (our) spirit from our body or flesh.

· Alma 8:99 Now there is a death which is called a temporal death; and the death of Christ shall loose the bands of this temporal death, that all shall be raised from this temporal death;

· Alma 9:29 Then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death: yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness;

· Alma 9:40 And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man, in which he might repent;

· Alma 19:89 Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness;

Spiritual Death: separation of the spirit from God.

· Alma 19:90 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; therefore it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death;

(Ultimately, our temporal body will die. Our souls can never die. Our souls' life and destination is the purpose of our discussion)

2. What does death have to do with the Atonement of Jesus Christ, or in other words, how Jesus died for our sins?

· 91 Therefore as they had been carnal, sensual and devilish, by nature, this probationary state became a state for them to prepare; it became a preparatory state.

· 92 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.

· 93 And now there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state which man had brought upon himself, because of his own disobedience;

· 94 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.

· 97 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 19:105 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;

3. Why is this important?

· Hebrews 2:9 But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

· Hebrews 2:14 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

(The atonement of Christ created the way where the original destiny of death can be reversed. Had the sacrifice of Jesus not occurred, we would've died and been subject to Satan.)

4. Who has had a 'life after death' experience? (trick question) While few may have had a 'near death' experience, we are all living the 'first death', a spiritual separation from God--our temporal life in this world is like a 'life after death experience'.

· DC 28:11a Wherefore, it came to pass, that the Devil tempted Adam and he partook the forbidden fruit, and transgressed the commandment, wherein he became subject to the will of the Devil, because he yielded unto temptation;

· 11b wherefore, I the Lord God caused that he should be cast out from the garden of Eden, from my presence, because of his transgression: wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death, which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when I shall say, Depart ye cursed.

· 11c wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same death, which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wicked when I shall say, Depart ye cursed.

· DC 28:12a But, behold, I say unto you, that I, the Lord God, gave unto Adam and unto his seed, that they should not die as to the temporal death, until I, the Lord God, should send forth angels to declare unto them repentance and redemption through faith on the name of mine only begotten Son;

· DC 28:12c that by his natural death, he might be raised in immortality unto eternal life, even as many as would believe, and they that believed not, unto eternal damnation;

· 2 Nephi 6:36 And it shall come to pass, that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment seat of the Holy One of Israel;

5. Second Spiritual Death. When is it? What is the state of those who suffer the Second death? Who does this apply to?

· Alma 9:28 And now behold I say unto you, then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death; 29 Then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death: yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness;

· Alma 9:52 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;

· Alma 9:59 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 10:30 And may the Lord grant unto you repentance, that ye may not bring down his wrath upon you, that ye may not be bound down by the chains of hell, that ye may not suffer the second death.

· Alma 9:46 But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto man 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.

· DC 63:5b wherefore, I, the Lord, have said that the fearful, and the unbelieving, and all liars, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie, and the whoremonger, and the sorcerer, shall have their part in that lake which burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.

· DC 76:4 4a Thus saith the Lord, concerning all those who know my power, and have been made partakers thereof, and suffered themselves, through the power of the Devil, to be overcome, and to deny the truth, and defy my power; …… they are they who are the sons of perdition, of whom I say it had been better for them never to have been born… 4c for they are vessels of wrath, doomed to suffer the wrath of God, with the Devil and his angels, in eternity, concerning whom I have said there is no forgiveness in this world nor in the world to come;… 4d having denied the Holy Spirit, after having received it, and having denied the only begotten Son of the Father; having crucified him unto themselves, and put him to an open shame:……4e these are they who shall go away into the lake of fire and brimstone, with the Devil and his angels, and the only ones on whom the second death shall have any power; yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath;

6. The plan is to save our spirit, not our temporal body.

· Alma 19:89 Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness; 90 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; therefore it was expedient that mankind should be reclaimed from this spiritual death;

· I Corinthians 15:22 For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive.

7. What happens if there wasn't an atonement? (i.e. the whole purpose of Jesus coming and dying on the cross for our sins)

· Alma 9:42 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;

· Mosiah 8:53 For were it not for the redemption which he hath made for his people, which was prepared from the foundation of the world; I say unto you, were it not for this, all mankind must have perished.

· Alma 19:92 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. 93 And now there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state which man had brought upon himself, because of his own disobedience;

· 2 Nephi 6:20 For behold, if the flesh should rise no more, our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more. 21 And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the father of lies, in misery, like unto himself;

8. Because of Jesus' sacrifice on the cross, what IS GOING to happen?

· Mormon 1:72 And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God, when the trump shall sound;

· Mormon 4:72 And because of the redemption of man, which came by Jesus Christ, they are brought back into the presence of the Lord; yea, this is wherein all men are redeemed, because the death of Christ bringeth to pass the resurrection, which bringeth to pass a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God, when the trump shall sound;

· Mormon 4:73 And they shall come forth, both small and great, and all shall stand before his bar, being redeemed and loosed from this eternal band of death, which death is a temporal death;

· II Timothy 1:10 But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel;

· I Corinthians 15:21 for since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead.

· I Corinthians 15:26 The last enemy, death, shall be destroyed.

9. What is the 'sting of death?' referred to in scripture?

· I Corinthians 15:54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin…

· Mosiah 8:57 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them: thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death.

· Alma 9:21 Now this is what is meant by the chains of hell; and Amulek hath spoken plainly concerning death, and being raised from this mortality to a state of immortality, and being brought before the bar of God, to be judged according to our works.

(The "sting", is now eliminated through Christ. The grave can not bind us when we die because through Christ we can come back into the presence of God. Without Christ, we would've been 'stung', or in other words, our sin would have kept us from God for eternity. Also, the term 'bands of death' refer similarly.)

10. Who does the atonement cover?

Those who repent

Alma 13: 46 And since man had fallen, he could not merit anything of himself; but the sufferings and death of Christ atoneth for their sins, through faith and repentance, etc.:

Alma 16:216 This being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

Alma 16:217 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance, is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance, is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.

Those who have Ignorantly Sinned

Mosiah 1: 107 For behold, and also his blood atoneth for the sins of those who have fallen by the transgression of Adam, who have died, not knowing the will of God concerning them, or who have ignorantly sinned.

2 Nephi 6:51 Wherefore he hath given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment;

52 And where there is no punishment, there is no condemnation;

53 And where there is no condemnation, the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them, because of the atonement:

54 For they are delivered by the power of him: for the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone, which is endless torment;

55 And they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.

56 But wo unto him that has the law given; yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation; for awful is his state!

Children are covered by the Atonement

· Mosiah 1:114 And even if it were possible that little children could sin, they could not be saved; but I say unto you, they are blessed; 115 For behold as in Adam, or by nature they fall, even so the blood of Christ atoneth for their sins. 117 For behold, he judgeth, and his judgment is just, and the infant perisheth not, that dieth in his infancy;

· Moroni 8: 9 Behold, I came into the world not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance; the whole need no physician, but they that are sick; wherefore little children are whole, for they are not capable of committing sin; wherefore the curse of Adam is taken from them in me, that it hath no power over them; and the law of circumcision is done away in me.

· 10 And after this manner did the Holy Ghost manifest the word of God unto me; wherefore my beloved son, I know that it is solemn mockery before God, that ye should baptize little children. 11 Behold I say unto you, that this thing shall ye teach, repentance and baptism unto those who are accountable and capable of committing sin; yea, teach parents that they must repent and be baptized, and humble themselves as their little children, and they shall all be saved with their little children: and their little children need no repentance, neither baptism.

· 13 But little children are alive in Christ, even from the foundation of the world; if not so, God is a partial God, and also a changeable God, and a respecter to persons; for how many little children have died without baptism. 14 Wherefore, if little children could not be saved without baptism, these must have gone to an endless hell.

· 15 Behold I say unto you, that he that supposeth that little children need baptism, is in the gall of bitterness, and in the bonds of iniquity; for he hath neither faith, hope, nor charity; wherefore, should he be cut off while in the thought, he must go down to hell.

· 18 Behold, I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear; and I am filled with charity, which is everlasting love; wherefore all children are alike unto me; wherefore I love little children with a perfect love; and they are all alike, and partakers of salvation.

· 20 Little children can not repent; wherefore it is awful wickedness to deny the pure mercies of God unto them, for they are all alive in him because of his mercy.

· 21 And he that saith that little children need baptism, denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.

· 25 For behold that all little children are alive in Christ, and also all they that are without the law.

· 21 And he that saith that little children need baptism, denieth the mercies of Christ, and setteth at naught the atonement of him and the power of his redemption.

Those not “Capable” of repentance

· Moroni 8:26 For the power of redemption cometh on all they that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, can not repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing.

· Moroni 8:28 Behold, my son, this thing ought not to be; for repentance is unto them that are under condemnation, and under the curse of a broken law.

11. If our souls can never die, but the scriptures say those souls will be 'destroyed' in the lake of fire, what is the definition of 'death of the soul?' (Hint--how much of the presence of God do they experience?)

· Alma 16:233 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance, even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his; 234 Therefore the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

12. Why did this first death come about? What is/was the 'fall' of Adam? What did Adam's fall mean for all mankind?

· Genesis 6:49 And he said unto them, Because that Adam fell, we are; and by his fall came death, and we are made partakers of misery and woe.

· Mosiah 8:80 And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death, that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. 81 But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ.

· Alma 9:38 Now we see that Adam did fall by the partaking of the forbidden fruit, according to the word of God; and thus we see, that by his fall, all mankind became a lost and a fallen people 39 And now behold, I say unto you, that if it had been possible for Adam to have partaken of the fruit of the tree of life at that time, there would have been no death, and the word would have been void, making God a liar: for he said, If thou eat, thou shall surely die. 40 And we see that death comes upon mankind, yea, the death which has been spoken of by Amulek, which is the temporal death; nevertheless there was a space granted unto man, in which he might repent;

13. What would've happened if Adam had eaten of the tree of Life after the forbidden fruit?

· Alma 19:83 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 for ever, the Lord God placed cherubim and the flaming sword, that he should not partake of the fruit;

· 84 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.

· 85 For behold, if Adam had put forth his hand immediately, and partook of the tree of life, he would have lived for ever, according to the word of God, having no space for repentance;

· 86 Yea, and also the word of God would have been void, and the great plan of salvation would have been frustrated.

14. What is probation? Why is this life called a 'probationary state'?

· Alma 9:41 Therefore this life became a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God; a time to prepare for that endless state, which has been spoken of by us, which is after the resurrection of the dead.

· Alma 19:84 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.

· Mormon 4:94 Be wise in the days of your probation; strip yourselves of all uncleanness; ask not, that ye may consume it on your lusts, but ask with a firmness unshaken, that ye will yield to no temptation, but that ye will serve the true and living God.

15. What happens if we waste the days of our probation?

· 1 Nephi 4:52 For the day should come that they must be judged of their works, yea, even the works which were done by the temporal body in their days of probation;

· 1 Nephi 3:33 Therefore remember, O man, for all thy doings thou shalt be brought into judgment. 34 Wherefore, if ye have sought to do wickedly in the days of your probation, then ye are found unclean before the judgment seat of God; 35 And no unclean thing can dwell with God; wherefore ye must be cast off for ever.

· 2 Nephi 6:56 But wo unto him that has the law given; yea, that has all the commandments of God, like unto us, and that transgresseth them, and that wasteth the days of his probation; for awful is his state!

16. What did it mean that 'Christ was the first to rise from the dead?'

· Acts 26:23 That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, (Means that he was the first to receive an immortal body--no one sleeping in graves, but spirits were in paradise or prison.)

17. If my body dies before the Lord's return, will I 'sleep in the grave'?

· DC 85:27c And they who have slept in their graves, shall come forth; for their graves shall be opened, and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven: they are Christ's, the first fruits:

· DC 108:10d And the graves of the saints shall be opened, and they shall come forth and stand on the right hand of the Lamb, when he shall stand upon Mount Zion, and upon the holy city, the New Jerusalem, and they shall sing the song of the Lamb day and night for ever and ever.

(The reference is to ones body remaining in the grave, not the spirit, which is our conscious part. It is in a state of paradise, prison, or outer darkness. There is no place in which our mind, our consciousness, our soul is ever 'hibernating')

18. OK, so what happens when I finally take my last breath….(i.e. croak, kick the bucket, buy the farm, etc)?

19. Is Peter really the one at the 'pearly gates'? Who do we meet when we finally 'go'?

· Alma 19:43 Behold, it has been made known unto me, by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body; yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken taken home to that God who gave them life.

· 2 Nephi 6:81 Behold, the way for man is narrow, but it lieth in a straight course before him, and the keeper of the gate is the Holy One of Israel: and he employeth no servant there:

20. If I haven't followed Christ now in this life, will I want to on my deathbed?

· Alma 16:227 Yea, I would that ye would come forth and harden not your hearts any longer; for behold, now is the time, and the day of your salvation; and therefore, if ye will repent and harden not your hearts, immediately shall the great plan of redemption be brought about unto you.

· 228 For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God: yea, behold, the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors.

· 229 And now as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore I beseech of you, that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end;

· 230 For after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness, wherein there can be no labor performed.

· 231 Ye can not say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God.

· 232 Nay, ye can not say this; for 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.

· 233 For behold, if ye have procrastinated the day of your repentance, even until death, behold, ye have become subjected to the spirit of the devil, and he doth seal you his;

· 234 Therefore the Spirit of the Lord hath withdrawn from you, and hath no place in you, and the devil hath all power over you; and this is the final state of the wicked.

(The goal of this life is to teach our flesh to be subject to the will of God's spirit; this is not accomplished with a one-time, desperate act of grasping at God, motivated by fear, in the final minutes of ones earthly life.)

21. What is paradise? Is this a permanent place, the final resting-place of souls?

· 2 Nephi 6:31 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the bodies of the righteous;

· Alma 19:44 And then shall it come to pass 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, etc.

· Alma 19:47 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked; yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful, looking for, of 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.

· Moroni 10:31 (Moroni's farewell) And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite, and I am brought forth triumphant through the air, to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen.

22. What is 'the prison house?' Is this a permanent place, the final resting-place of souls?

· Genesis 7:44 Wherefore should not the heavens weep, seeing these shall suffer? But, behold, these which thine eyes are upon shall perish in the floods; and, behold, I will shut them up; a prison have I prepared for them, and he whom I have chosen hath pleaded before my face;

· Genesis 7:64 And as many of the spirits as were in prison came forth and stood on the right hand of God. And the remainder were reserved in chains of darkness until the judgment of the great day.

· D&C 76:6c Behold, these are they who died without law; and also they who are the spirits of men kept in prison, whom the Son visited, and preached the gospel unto them, that they might be judged according to men in the flesh, who received not the testimony of Jesus in the flesh, but afterwards received it; 6d these are they who are honorable men of the earth, who were blinded by the craftiness of men:

23. What is 'outer darkness'?

· Alma 19:45 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil; for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord: for behold they choose evil works, rather than good: therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house;

· Alma 19:46 And these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing and gnashing of teeth; and this because of their own iniquity; being led captive by the will of the devil.

24. What happens at the final judgement? When is the final judgment (before or after the Millennium)?

· 2 Nephi 6:31 O how great the plan of our God! For on the other hand, the paradise of God must deliver up the spirits of the righteous, and the grave deliver up the bodies of the righteous; 32 And the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us, in the flesh; 33 Save it be that our knowledge shall be perfect; 34 Wherefore, we shall have a perfect knowledge of all our guilt, and our uncleanness, and our nakedness; 35 And the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness. 36 And it shall come to pass, that when all men shall have passed from this first death unto life, insomuch as they have become immortal, they must appear before the judgment seat of the Holy One of Israel; 37 And then cometh the judgment; and then must they be judged according to the holy judgment of God. 38 And assuredly, as the Lord liveth, for the Lord God hath spoken it, and it is his eternal word, which can not pass away, that they who are righteous shall be righteous still, and they who are filthy shall be filthy still; 39 Wherefore, they who are filthy are the devil and his angels; 40 And they shall go away into everlasting fire, prepared for them; and their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames ascendeth up for ever and ever; and has no end. 41 O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he executeth all his words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law must be fulfilled.

25. What if we've chosen 'mercy?' What if we've chosen 'justice?' What is the difference?

· Alma 16:216 This being the intent of this last sacrifice, to bring about the bowels of mercy, which overpowereth justice and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance.

· Alma 16:217 And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircles them in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance, is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice; therefore, only unto him that has faith unto repentance, is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption.

· Alma 14:101 Behold, he did not exercise his justice upon us, but in his great mercy hath brought us over that everlasting gulf of death and misery, even to the salvation of our souls.

(To choose Mercy means that you've chosen the way of Christ, and because of this, it can over come the 'Justice' required that your sins be punished. Without choosing Christ, we are exposed to the requirement that we be justly punished for our sins (i.e. justice). Much of Alma 16 and Alma 19 discuss this topic in detail.)

26. What is the difference between those who choose Christ and those who don't as far as the resurrection is concerned?

· Alma 8:97 Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death;

27. What does the term 'resurrection' mean?

· Alma 8:100 The spirit and the body shall be reunited again, in its perfect form; both limb and joint shall be restored to its proper frame, even as we now are at this time;

· Alma 8:102 Now this restoration shall come to all, both old and young, both bond and free, both male and female, both the wicked and the righteous;

· Alma 8:103 And even there shall not so much as a hair of their heads be lost; but all things shall be restored to its perfect frame, as it is now, or in the body,

· Alma 19:58 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost, but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.

· Alma 19:59 And now my son, this is the restoration of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets. And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God.

28. How does the term 'restoration' apply to the resurrection?

· 2 Nephi 6:29 And the grave must deliver up its captive bodies, and the bodies and the spirits of men will be restored, one to the other;

· 2 Nephi 6:32 And the spirit and the body is restored to itself again, and all men become incorruptible, and immortal, and they are living souls, having a perfect knowledge like unto us, in the flesh;

· 2 Nephi 6:55 And they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel.

· Mosiah 8:59 And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord.

· Alma 19:62 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. 64 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.

· Alma 19:65 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. 66 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 19:67 And if their works are evil, they shall be restored unto him for evil: therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order; everything 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;

· Alma 19:73 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness.

· Alma 19:76 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? 77 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 19:79 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; 80 And ye shall have good rewarded unto you again; 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.

· Alma 19:106 And thus they are restored into 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.

· Alma 19:110 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. 111 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.

29. Is Resurrection the same as a person 'being raised from the dead?' What is the difference?

30. Who was Lazarus in the New Testament? Was Lazarus 'resurrected' or 'raised from the dead?' Did Lazarus eventually die again? If so, then what does this tell us about the type of body he was raised to?

31. What is the 'First Resurrection'? Who comes forth (or in other words, who has part in the first resurrection)? When does the first resurrection occur? Will death continue in the Millennium (i.e. during the First Resurrection)?

· Mosiah 8:54 But behold, the bands of death shall be broken, and the Son reigneth, and hath power over the dead; therefore, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. 55 And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ: for so shall he be called. 56 And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection. 57 They are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them: thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death. 58 And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came, in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. 59 And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord. 60 And little children also have eternal life.

· Mosiah 11:129 For behold, this is my church: whosoever is baptized, shall be baptized unto repentance. 130 And whosoever ye receive, shall believe in my name; and him will I freely forgive: 131 For it is I that taketh upon me the sins of the world; for it is I that hath created them; and it is I that granteth unto him that believeth in the end, a place at my right hand. 132 For behold, in my name are they called; and if they know me, they shall come forth, and shall have a place eternally at my right hand.

· DC 98:5e And in that day Satan shall not have power to tempt any man. And there shall be no sorrow because there is no death.

(See D&C 76 & 85 for much discussion on resurrections. The First Resurrection is called the 'Resurrection of the Just.' It occurs when Christ comes in his glory to this world, at the beginning of the Millennium. The Second Resurrection is called the 'Resurrection of the UnJust' and occurs at the end of the Millennium)

32. Second Resurrection: who comes forth (or in other words, who has part in the second resurrection)? When does the second resurrection occur? What is 'the second trump'?

· Mosiah 11:133 And it shall come to pass that when the second trump shall sound, then shall they that never knew me come forth, and shall stand before me;

· 134 And then shall they know that I am the Lord their God, that I am their Redeemer; but they would not be redeemed.

· 135 And then will I confess unto them, that I never knew them; and they shall depart into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels.

(Second resurrection is after the Millennium of peace on earth)

33. What does mortal mean? What does 'immortal' mean? Is 'eternal life' the same as 'immortality?'

34. What determines our final state? Not 'pre-destination.

· Alma 15:56 Yea, and I know that good and evil have come before all men; or he that knoweth not good from evil is blameless; but he that knoweth good and evil, to him it is given according to his desires; whether he desireth good or evil, life or death, joy or remorse of conscience.

· Alma 19:66 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 19:68 The one on the one hand, the other on the other; 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.

35. If I live until Christ comes, what happens then?

· DC 63:13d… and he that liveth when the Lord shall come, and has kept the faith, blessed is he; nevertheless it is appointed to him to die at the age of man; 13e wherefore children shall grow up until they become old, old men shall die; but they shall not sleep in the dust, but they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye;

36. What does it mean to be 'changed in the twinkling of an eye?'

· DC 43:7d and he that liveth in righteousness, shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye;

· DC 63:13e wherefore children shall grow up until they become old, old men shall die; but they shall not sleep in the dust, but they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye;

· DC 98:5f In that day an infant shall not die until he is old, and his life shall be as the age of a tree, and when he dies he shall not sleep (that is to say in the earth), but shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, and shall be caught up, and his rest shall be glorious.

37. If you partake of the 1^st resurrection, will you suffer the second death?

· DC 42:12f And it shall come to pass that those that die in me shall not taste of death, for it shall be sweet unto them; and they that die not in me, woe unto them, for their death is bitter.

· DC 76:5h wherefore, as it is written, they are God's, even the sons of God; wherefore all things are theirs, whether life or death, or things present, or things to come, all are theirs, and they are Christ's, and Christ is God's; and they shall overcome all things;

· DC 85:35f This is the glory of God and the sanctified; and they shall not any more see death.

· DC 63:13d they shall rise from the dead and shall not die after, and shall receive an inheritance before the Lord, in the holy city…

· Revelations 20:6 Blessed and holy are they who have part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Just a thought: the three Nephites had a change wrought in them so that Satan couldn't tempt them. Does the same thing, perhaps happen to those who have part in first resurrection, who have already proven themselves?

38. Did every single person who has lived experience the 'death' of the body?

John the Beloved:

· John 21:20 Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me. 23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren that that disciple should not die; yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but if I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? 24 This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things; and we know that his testimony is true.

· Matthew 16:31 Verily, I say unto you, There be some standing here, which shall not taste of death, till they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom.

· Mark 8:44 And he said unto them again, Verily I say unto you, That there be some of them that stand here, which shall not taste of death, till they have seen the kingdom of God come with power.

· Luke 9:27 Verily, I tell you of a truth, there are some standing here who shall not taste of death, until they see the kingdom of God coming in power.

· DC 7:1b And I said unto him, Lord, give unto me power over death, that I may live and bring souls unto thee.

Three Nephites

· 3 Nephi 13:18 Therefore more blessed are ye, for ye shall never taste of death, but ye shall live to behold all the doings of the Father, unto the children of men, even until all things shall be fulfilled, according to the will of the Father, when I shall come in my glory, with the powers of heaven;

· 3 Nephi 13:19 And ye shall never endure the pains of death; but when I shall come in my glory, ye shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye, from mortality to immortality; and then shall ye be blessed in the kingdom of my Father.

· 3 Nephi 13:50 But behold, since I wrote, I have inquired of the Lord, and he hath made it manifest unto me, that there must needs be a change wrought upon their bodies, or else it needs be that they must taste of death;

· 3 Nephi 13:51 Therefore that they might not taste of death, there was a change wrought upon their bodies, that they might not suffer pain nor sorrow, save it were for the sins of the world.

Translation (of body)

· Genesis 14:32 And men having this faith, coming up unto this order of God, were translated and taken up into heaven.

· II Kings 2:11 And it came to pass, as they still went on, and talked, that, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire, and horses of fire, and parted them both asunder; and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven.

· Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him; for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.