The Spirit World and the Resurrection of the Dead
READ Alma 40:1-5
Who holds the keys to the resurrection of the dead?
READ Alma 40:6-7
Why must there be a space between death and the
resurrection; why can’t it be immediate or almost immediate?
READ Alma 40:8
With regards to time, how would you describe the difference
between what God experiences and what man experiences?
What is the implication on understanding God – when He reveals
things to men?
What is the implication for how we should live each day on earth?
READ Alma 40:11-14
What happens to the spirits of all mankind at death?
Who is the God who gave our spirits life?
Why does Alma tell us that an angel told him that “as soon as” all
people die, their spirits are taken to God to be sorted into paradise or hell,
when this is not the current doctrine of the Church?
What does Alma mean by “outer darkness” here and how does it
differ from how the term is used in the Church?
If the righteous are
received into paradise, what defines "righteous"?
Who then is righteous?
Who then are the
"wicked" and what happens to them?
Can people move from
hell to paradise prior to the resurrection and if so, how?
READ Alma 40:15
Why would Alma say
that the initial judgement and consignment to paradise or hell can be termed a
"resurrection"?
READ Alma 40:16-21
What is the
implication of Alma's admitting there are things about the resurrection that he
does not know?
Why is the doctrine
of a literal resurrection difficult for most Christian sects?
If we don't have a
physical resurrection, what would we be in the eternities?
The Doctrine of
Restoration
READ Alma 40:22-26
and Alma 41:2-7, 12-13
What is the doctrine
of Restoration?
Given that God
follows the doctrine of Restoration, why is an atonement necessary?
What is required of
us to be restored to good?
What does it mean
that these who are restored to good are "taken out" or
"delivered from that endless night of darkness"?
READ Alma 41:14-15
How should the
doctrine of Restoration shape our behavior in mortality?
READ Alma 41:1
What does it mean to
wrest the scriptures and how does this happen?
READ Alma 41:8
Why are the decrees
of God unalterable?
What is the Way and
where does it lead?
What does it mean “that
whosoever will may walk therein and be saved”?
READ Alma 41:9
What is the
relationship between understanding true points of doctrine and committing sin?
READ Alma 41:10-11
What does
"wickedness never was happiness" mean in the context of the doctrine
of Restoration?
What does it mean to
be in a state of nature?
Why is the natural
man without God in the world?
The Great Plan of Happiness
READ Alma 42:1
Why would Corianton feel it was unjust to consign a sinner to a
state of misery?
READ Alma 42:2-5
What would have happened if Adam had eaten the fruit of the Tree
of Life after he had partaken of the fruit of the Tree of Knowledge, but before
he had repented?
What is the role of the Cherubim?
READ Alma 42:6-10
What happens if one does not partake of the fruit of the Tree of
Life?
So, why would it have been injustice to allow man to partake of
the Tree of Life after falling, as enabling this would consign a man to be lost
forever – which we deserve?
So why is the probationary nature of this mortal life so
important?
What is the
"great plan of happiness" that Alma explains to Corianton?
Can man follow his
own will while in God's presence?
Why was it not
expedient that man be reclaimed from temporal death but it was expedient that s/he
be reclaimed from spiritual death?
The Law of Justice
READ Alma 42:11-14
Why would God cease
to be God if He violated the Law of Justice?
Given that mankind
chose to fall and continue to sin, what justice do we deserve?
Why could mercy not
be brought about except through repentance; can't mercy be decreed by God upon
whomever He chooses?
READ Alma 42:15-16
What does justice
require?
How are mercy and
justice both served?
READ the Parable of
the Mediator: a man wanted something very much and went into debt to get
it. While he made token payments over
time, he was vastly short of paying back the money when the loan fell due. The creditor required justice, which meant
losing all the man had to begin to pay off the debt. The debtor begged for mercy. The creditor told the debtor that mercy would
serve only the debtor; didn't the debtor believe in justice? The debtor looked around for someone, anyone,
to save him. The debtor had a
friend. The friend, who was debt-free,
came to the creditor and offered to pay the whole amount. He reminded the creditor that it wouldn't be
just to refuse the offer. He went to the
debtor and asked if he would take himself as the debtor's new creditor. The friend told the debtor that they would
restructure the loan so that it would be possible for the debtor to meet the
new terms of the contract. The debtor
wholeheartedly agreed. The friend went
to the creditor and paid off the debt, freeing the debtor from bondage and
beginning a new relationship with the debtor.
How is the Mediator
able to extend mercy?
READ Alma 42:17-21
So why isn’t this the answer to all our problems: God, don’t give
us a Law that must be obeyed, because if you don’t there is nothing for justice
to condemn and no need for Christ to suffer or us to repent or anyone to be
lost?
READ Alma 42:22-28
What is the default condition for man, coming out of mortality?
Since mercy cannot rob justice of this default condition, what
must mankind do to receive mercy?
How does God bring about His great and eternal purposes (His work
and glory) which is our immortality and eternal life?
What is implied about God’s willingness to make available His
“waters of life”?
If we are restored unto righteousness, whose righteousness are we
restored unto?
READ Alma 42:29-30
What does true doctrine do to the one who will open their ears to
hear it?
Why does Alma tell Corianton not to let the true doctrine trouble
him any longer but to only let his sins trouble him?
