Book of Mormon Commentary CofC - Odessa, Missouri Community ...

Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 9
If such plain teachings could be brought to the understanding of all men today, a revolution in our
ways of living would soon result.
Alma then discusses "a second death, which is a spiritual death" (28). Those who die in their sins
"shall also die a °spiritual death" in "things pertaining unto righteousness" (29). For such the
judgment will be ''as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames ascend up for ever and ever" (30).
"They shall be as though there had been no redemption made" (32). For such Christ died in vain.
The justice of God requires their punishment, and "they can not die, seeing there is no more
corruption" (32).
ALMA TALKS ON ADAM'S FALL AND REDEMPTION, VER. 33-61
Alma 9:34 But there was one Antionah, who was a chief ruler among them, came forth and said unto
him, What is this that thou hast said, that man should rise from the dead and be changed from this mortal
to an immortal state, that the soul can never die?
From the wording of his question it seems probable that he was trying to confuse the people. He
knew something of the scriptures, how- ever, for he mentioned the cherubim’s and flaming sword
which kept Adam and Eve from the garden after they had sinned, lest they "live for ever" (35). He
clinched his subtle reasoning in these words, “And thus we see that there was no possible chance
that they should live for ever” (36).
Alma 9:39 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.
Antionah had taken the words out of context. Alma explains the scripture. An entirely different set
of conditions would have existed. "There would have been no death”. No conflict in the words of
God exists, nor was Alma caught on the horns of a dilemma. He knew the truth and was able to
use it with skill and conviction.
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;
Alma explained that this life was "a probationary state; a time to prepare to meet God" (41). While
death will come to the physical body of all men, only those who reject their Redeemer will
experience the spiritual or second death. Paul said, “As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all
be made alive” (1 Corinthians 15:22). The stress put on the antiquity of the plan of redemption
here (Alma 9:49) is also given in nineteen other places in the Book of Mormon. It is a significant
doctrine. Alma points out that had our first parents partaken of the fruit of the tree of knowledge of
good and evil (Genesis 2:12) they would have lived forever in a state of misery (Alma 9:44, 45).
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;