The Book of Mormon
~73 BC

Alma 40

Questions About the Resurrection

Son, I want to say more about something. I can see your mind is troubled about the resurrection of the dead. Let me be clear: there is no resurrection—or to put it another way, our mortal bodies don’t become immortal, this corruption doesn’t put on incorruption—until after Christ comes.

He’s the one who brings to pass the resurrection of the dead. But son, the resurrection hasn’t happened yet. Now I’m going to share a mystery with you. There are many mysteries that no one knows except God himself. But let me tell you one thing I’ve prayed hard to understand—about the resurrection.

There’s an appointed time when everyone will come back from the dead. When that time is, no one knows—but God knows when it’s set to happen. Whether people come back from the dead once, twice, or three times doesn’t matter. God knows all these things. It’s enough for me to know this: there is a time appointed when everyone will rise from the dead.

The Space Between Death and Resurrection

There has to be a gap between the time of death and the time of resurrection. So what I want to know is this: what happens to people’s souls from the moment of death until the appointed time of resurrection?

Whether there’s more than one appointed time for people to rise doesn’t matter. After all, not everyone dies at once, and that doesn’t matter either—for God, it’s all one day. Time is only measured for us. So there is a time appointed when people will rise from the dead, and there’s a space between death and resurrection. What happens to people’s souls during this space—this is what I’ve prayed diligently to understand. And this is what I know.

When the time comes for everyone to rise, then they’ll know that God knows all the times appointed for us.

Where Spirits Go After Death

About the state of the soul between death and resurrection—an angel revealed this to me: the spirits of all people, as soon as they leave this mortal body, whether they’re good or evil, are taken home to the God who gave them life.

Then the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness called paradise—a state of rest, a state of peace where they rest from all their troubles and cares and sorrow.

Then the spirits of the wicked—those who are evil—have no part of the Spirit of the Lord. They chose evil over good, so the spirit of the Devil entered them and took over. These are cast out into outer darkness where there’s weeping and wailing and grinding of teeth. This is because of their own wickedness, being held captive by the Devil’s will.

This is the state of the wicked—in darkness, in a state of awful dread, waiting for the fiery rage of God’s judgment to fall on them. They stay in this state just as the righteous stay in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.

Understanding the First Resurrection

Some people have understood this state of happiness and this state of misery before the resurrection to be a first resurrection. I’ll admit it could be called a resurrection—the raising of the spirit or the soul and their assignment to happiness or misery according to what has been spoken.

And there’s been talk of a first resurrection—a resurrection of everyone who lived from the beginning of time down to Christ’s resurrection from the dead. We don’t suppose that this first resurrection refers to the resurrection of souls and their assignment to happiness or misery. You can’t suppose that’s what it means.

No—it means the reuniting of soul and body for everyone from Adam’s time down to Christ’s resurrection.

Whether the souls and bodies of these people—both the wicked and the righteous—are all reunited at once, I don’t say. Let it be enough that they all come forth. Their resurrection happens before the resurrection of those who die after Christ’s resurrection. Son, I’m not saying their resurrection happens at Christ’s resurrection. But I’ll give you my opinion: the souls and bodies of the righteous are reunited at Christ’s resurrection and his ascension into heaven.

The Restoration of All Things

Whether it’s at his resurrection or after, I don’t say. But this much I do say: there’s a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or misery, until God’s appointed time when the dead come forth and are reunited—both soul and body—and are brought to stand before God and be judged according to their works.

This brings about the restoration the prophets spoke of. The soul will be restored to the body, and the body to the soul. Every limb and joint will be restored to its body. Not even a hair on your head will be lost—everything will be restored to its proper and perfect form. Son, this is the restoration the prophets have spoken of.

And then the righteous will shine forth in the kingdom of God.

But an awful death comes to the wicked. They die as far as righteousness is concerned, because they’re unclean, and nothing unclean can inherit God’s kingdom. They’re cast out and forced to partake of the fruit of their own labor—the evil works they’ve done. They drink the dregs of a bitter cup.

Influences

  • 40:1 — Luke 8:46 (KJV)
    And Jesus said, Somebody hath touched me: for I perceive that virtue is gone out of me.
  • 40:1 — Matthew 22:31 (KJV)
    But as touching the resurrection of the dead, have ye not read that which was spoken unto you by God, saying,
  • 40:2 — 1 Corinthians 15:12 (KJV)
    Now if Christ be preached that he rose from the dead, how say some among you that there is no resurrection of the dead?
  • 40:2 — 1 Corinthians 15:53 (KJV)
    For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
  • 40:2 — 1 Corinthians 15:54 (KJV)
    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.
  • 40:2 — 1 Corinthians 15:54 (KJV)
    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.
  • 40:2 — 1 Corinthians 15:54 (KJV)
    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.
  • 40:4 — Luke 16:15 (KJV)
    And he said unto them, Ye are they which justify yourselves before men; but God knoweth your hearts: for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God.
  • 40:4 — Luke 3:13 (KJV)
    And he said unto them, Exact no more than that which is appointed you.
  • 40:5 — John 10:16 (KJV)
    And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd.
  • 40:5 — John 21:14 (KJV)
    This is now the third time that Jesus shewed himself to his disciples, after that he was risen from the dead.
  • 40:5 — Mark 12:25 (KJV)
    For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven.
  • 40:11 — Westminster Confession chapter 32
    Of the State of Men after Death, and of the Resurrection of the Dead.
  • 40:11 — Acts 17:18 (KJV)
    Then certain philosophers of the Epicureans, and of the Stoicks, encountered him. And some said, What will this babbler say? other some, He seemeth to be a setter forth of strange gods: because he preached unto them Jesus, and the resurrection.
  • 40:11 — Westminster Confession chapter 32:1
    The bodies of men after death return to dust and see corruption; but their souls, (which neither die nor sleep,) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the scripture acknowledgeth none.
  • 40:12 — Westminster Confession chapter 32:1
    The bodies of men after death return to dust and see corruption; but their souls, (which neither die nor sleep,) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the scripture acknowledgeth none.
  • 40:13 — Westminster Confession chapter 32:1
    The bodies of men after death return to dust and see corruption; but their souls, (which neither die nor sleep,) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the scripture acknowledgeth none.
  • 40:13 — Matthew 4:1 (KJV)
    Then was Jesus led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil.
  • 40:13 — Westminster Confession chapter 32:1
    The bodies of men after death return to dust and see corruption;a but their souls, (which neither die nor sleep,) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them.b The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies;c and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day.d Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the scripture acknowledgeth none.
  • 40:13 — Matthew 22:13 (KJV)
    Then said the king to the servants, Bind him hand and foot, and take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
  • 40:14 — Westminster Confession 32:1
    The bodies of men after death return to dust and see corruption; but their souls, (which neither die nor sleep,) having an immortal subsistence, immediately return to God who gave them. The souls of the righteous, being then made perfect in holiness, are received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies; and the souls of the wicked are cast into hell, where they remain in torments and utter darkness, reserved to the judgment of the great day. Besides these two places for souls separated from their bodies, the scripture acknowledgeth none.
  • 40:14 — Hebrews 10:27 (KJV)
    But a certain fearful looking for of judgment and fiery indignation, which shall devour the adversaries.
  • 40:14 — Ephesians 5:6 (KJV)
    Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.
  • 40:16 — Acts 24:15 (KJV)
    And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust.
  • 40:16 — Acts 2:31 (KJV)
    He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption.
  • 40:20 — Westminster Confession chapter 32:1
    At the last day, such as are found alive shall not die, but be changed: and all the dead shall be raised up, with the self-same bodies, and none other, although with different qualities, which shall be united again to their souls for ever.
  • 40:21 — Matthew 27:53 (KJV)
    And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.
  • 40:21 — Revelation 20:13 (KJV)
    And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
  • 40:25 — Matthew 13:43 (KJV)
    Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
  • 40:26 — 1 Corinthians 6:9 (KJV)
    Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind,
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