The Collected Works. Joseph Smith Jr.
forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not easy for
him to obtain a forgiveness.
Alma 39:7
7 And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of
so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow
up your soul, if it were not for your good.
Alma 39:8
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.
Alma 39:9
9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your
sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross
yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in
nowise inherit the kingdom of God. Oh, remember, and take it
upon you, and cross yourself in these things.
Alma 39:10
10 And I command you to take it upon you to counsel with your
elder brothers in your undertakings; for behold, thou art in thy
youth, and ye stand in need to be nourished by your brothers.
And give heed to their counsel.
Alma 39:11
11 Suffer not yourself to be led away by any vain or foolish
thing; suffer not the devil to lead away your heart again after
those wicked harlots. Behold, O my son, how great iniquity ye
brought upon the Zoramites; for when they saw your conduct they
would not believe in my words.
Alma 39:12
12 And now the Spirit of the Lord doth say unto me: Command thy
children to do good, lest they lead away the hearts of many
people to destruction; therefore I command you, my son, in the
fear of God, that ye refrain from your iniquities;
Alma 39:13
13 That ye turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and
strength; that ye lead away the hearts of no more to do wickedly;
but rather return unto them, and acknowledge your faults and that
wrong which ye have done.
Alma 39:14
14 Seek not after riches nor the vain things of this world; for
behold, you cannot carry them with you.
Alma 39:15
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.
Alma 39:16
16 And now, my son, this was the ministry unto which ye were
called, to declare these glad tidings unto this people to prepare
their minds; or rather that salvation might come unto them, that
they may prepare the minds of their children to hear the word at
the time of his coming.
Alma 39:17
17 And now I will ease your mind somewhat on this subject.
Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long
beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time
as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?
Alma 39:18
18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be
made known unto this people as well as unto their children?
Alma 39:19
19 Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel
to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as
after the time of his coming?
Alma 40 Chapter 40
Alma 40:1
1 Now my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto thee; for I
perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of
the dead.
Alma 40:2
2 Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection—or, I
would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on
immortality, this corruption does not put on incorruption—until
after the coming of Christ.
Alma 40:3
3 Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But
behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto
you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are
kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto
you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I
might know—that is concerning the resurrection.
Alma 40:4
4 Behold, there is a time appointed that all shall come forth
from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God
knoweth the time which is appointed.
Alma 40:5
5 Now, whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a
third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth
not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to
know that this is the case—that there is a time appointed that
all shall rise from the dead.
Alma 40:6
6 Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death and
the time of the resurrection.
Alma 40:7
7 And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from
this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection?
Alma 40:8
8 Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to
rise it mattereth not; for all do not die at once, and this
mattereth not; all is as one day with God, and time only is
measured unto men.
Alma 40:9
9 Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall
rise from the dead; and there is a space between the time of
death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space of
time, what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have
inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of
which I do know.
Alma 40:10
10 And when the time cometh when all shall rise, then shall they
know that God knoweth all the times which are appointed unto man.
Alma