12:1 Now Alma, seeing that the words of Amulek had silenced Zeezrom,
for he beheld that Amulek had caught him in his lying and deceiving to
destroy him, and seeing that he began to tremble under a consciousness
of his guilt, he opened his mouth and began to speak unto him, and to
establish the words of Amulek, and to explain things beyond, or to
unfold the scriptures beyond that which Amulek had done.
12:2 Now the words that Alma spake unto Zeezrom were heard by the
people round about; for the multitude was great, and he spake on this
wise:
12:3 Now Zeezrom, seeing that thou hast been taken in thy lying and
craftiness, for thou hast not lied unto men only but thou hast lied
unto God; for behold, he knows all thy thoughts, and thou seest that
thy thoughts are made known unto us by his Spirit;
12:4 And thou seest that we know that thy plan was a very subtle plan,
as to the subtlety of the devil, for to lie and to deceive this people
that thou mightest set them against us, to revile us and to cast us
out—
12:5 Now this was a plan of thine adversary, and he hath exercised his
power in thee. Now I would that ye should remember that what I say unto
thee I say unto all.
12:6 And behold I say unto you all that this was a snare of the
adversary, which he has laid to catch this people, that he might bring
you into subjection unto him, that he might encircle you about with his
chains, that he might chain you down to everlasting destruction,
according to the power of his captivity.
12:7 Now when Alma had spoken these words, Zeezrom began to tremble
more exceedingly, for he was convinced more and more of the power of
God; and he was also convinced that Alma and Amulek had a knowledge of
him, for he was convinced that they knew the thoughts and intents of
his heart; for power was given unto them that they might know of these
things according to the spirit of prophecy.
12:8 And Zeezrom began to inquire of them diligently, that he might
know more concerning the kingdom of God. And he said unto Alma: What
does this mean which Amulek hath spoken concerning the resurrection of
the dead, that all shall rise from the dead, both the just and the
unjust, and are brought to stand before God to be judged according to
their works?
12:9 And now Alma began to expound these things unto him, saying: It is
given unto many to know the mysteries of God; nevertheless they are
laid under a strict command that they shall not impart only according
to the portion of his word which he doth grant unto the children of
men, according to the heed and diligence which they give unto him.
12:10 And therefore, he that will harden his heart, the same receiveth
the lesser portion of the word; and he that will not harden his heart,
to him is given the greater portion of the word, until it is given unto
him to know the mysteries of God until he know them in full.
12:11 And they that will harden their hearts, to them is given the
lesser portion of the word until they know nothing concerning his
mysteries; and then they are taken captive by the devil, and led by his
will down to destruction. Now this is what is meant by the chains of
hell.
12:12 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.
12:13 Then if our hearts have been hardened, yea, if we have hardened
our hearts against the word, insomuch that it has not been found in us,
then will our state be awful, for then we shall be condemned.
12:14 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn
us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn
us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God;
and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the
mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.
12:15 But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in
his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion,
and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are
just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto
the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that
believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance.
12:16 And now behold, I say unto you then cometh a death, even a second
death, which is a spiritual death; 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.
12:17 Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire
and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever; and then is
the time that they shall be chained down to an everlasting destruction,
according to the power and captivity of Satan, he having subjected them
according to his will.
12:18 Then, I say unto you, they shall be as though there had been no
redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to God’s
justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption.
12:19 Now it came to pass that when Alma had made an end of speaking
these words, the people began to be more astonished;
12:20 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?
12:21 What does the scripture mean, which saith that God placed
cherubim and a flaming sword on the east of the garden of Eden, lest
our first parents should enter and partake of the fruit of the tree of
life, and live forever? And thus we see that there was no possible
chance that they should live forever.
12:22 Now Alma said unto him: This is the thing which I was about to
explain, 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 fallen people.
12:23 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 shalt surely die.
12:24 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; 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.
12:25 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; but there was a plan of redemption laid,
which shall bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, of which has
been spoken.
12:26 And now behold, if it were possible that our first parents could
have gone forth and partaken of the tree of life they would have been
forever miserable, having no preparatory state; and thus the plan of
redemption would have been frustrated, and the word of God would have
been void, taking none effect.
12:27 But behold, it was not so; but it was appointed unto men 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.
12:28 And after God had appointed that these things should come unto
man, behold, then he saw that it was expedient that man should know
concerning the things whereof he had appointed unto them;
12:29 Therefore he sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to
behold of his glory.
12:30 And they began from that time forth to call on his name;
therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of
redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world;
and this he made known unto them according to their faith and
repentance and their holy works.
12:31 Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first
transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal,
and becoming as Gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a
state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their
wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good—
12:32 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; for on such the plan
of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not
be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God.
12:33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the
plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent and harden
not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only
Begotten Son;
12:34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he
shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a
remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.
12:35 And whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold,
I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest.
12:36 And now, my brethren, behold I say unto you, that if ye will
harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lord;
therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down his wrath
upon you as in the first provocation, 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.
12:37 And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they are
true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the
Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his second
commandments which he has given unto us; but let us enter into the rest
of God, which is prepared according to his word.