The Book of Mormon
~73 BC

Alma 40

Alma Teaches About Resurrection

My son, I want to say more to you. I can tell that you are worried about the resurrection of the dead. There is no resurrection. Or, I will say it another way. These bodies that die will not become bodies that live forever until Christ comes. He will make the resurrection of the dead happen. But the resurrection has not happened yet. I will tell you a mystery. There are many mysteries that no one knows except God. But I will show you one thing I have asked God about. I wanted to know about the resurrection. There is a set time when all people will come back from the dead. No one knows when this time will come. But God knows the time. There might be one time when people come back from the dead. Or there might be a second time or a third time. It does not matter. God knows all these things. It is enough for me to know that there is a set time when all people will rise from the dead.

What Happens Between Death and Resurrection?

There must be a time between when people die and when they come back to life. What happens to people’s spirits from the time they die until the time they come back to life? It does not matter if there is more than one time set for people to rise. Not all people die at once. This does not matter. All is as one day with God. Time is only counted for people. So there is a time set for people to rise from the dead. And there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. What happens to people’s spirits during this time? This is what I have asked the Lord about. And this is what I know. When the time comes and all people rise, then they will know that God knows all the times that are set for people.

Where Spirits Go After Death

About what happens to spirits between death and resurrection. An angel told me this. The spirits of all people go back to God who gave them life. This happens as soon as they leave their bodies. The spirits of all people go back to God, whether they are good or evil. Then the spirits of good people go to a place of happiness. This place is called paradise. It is a place of rest. It is a place of peace. They will rest from all their troubles and all their worries and sadness. Then the spirits of bad people will go to another place. These people are evil. They have no part of the Spirit of the Lord. They chose to do evil instead of good. So the spirit of the Devil came into them and took over their house. These people will be thrown into outer darkness. There will be crying and grinding of teeth. This happens because of their own bad choices. They were trapped by what the Devil wanted. This is what happens to bad people. They are in darkness. They are in a place of fear. They are scared and waiting for God to punish them with fire because he is angry. They stay in this place until they come back to life. Good people stay in paradise until they come back to life.

The First Resurrection

Some people have thought that this happy place and this sad place before resurrection was a first resurrection. I agree it may be called a resurrection. It is the raising of the spirit or the soul. They go to happiness or sadness. This is what was said. It has also been said that there is a first resurrection. This is a resurrection of all people who have lived or who are living or who will live until Christ comes back from the dead. We do not think that this first resurrection is just the spirits going to happiness or sadness. You cannot think that this is what it means. No, it means the soul joining back with the body. This includes people from the time of Adam until Christ comes back from the dead. Will the souls and bodies of these people all join back together at once? Will the bad people come back at the same time as the good people? I do not say. Let it be enough that I say they all come back. In other words, their resurrection happens before the resurrection of people who die after Christ comes back from the dead.

My son, I do not say that their resurrection happens when Christ comes back from the dead. But I think that good people’s souls and bodies join back together when Christ comes back from the dead and goes up to Heaven. Does it happen when he comes back from the dead or after? I do not say. But I do say this. There is a space between death and when the body comes back to life. The soul is in a state of happiness or sadness. This lasts until the time God has set. Then the dead will come back. Both soul and body will join together. They will stand before God. They will be judged by what they have done. This brings back the things that the prophets have talked about.

Perfect Bodies Restored

The soul will come back to the body. The body will come back to the soul. Every arm and leg will come back to its body. Not even a single hair will be lost. All things will come back to their right and perfect form. My son, this is the coming back that the prophets have talked about. Then good people will shine in God’s kingdom. But a terrible death comes to bad people. They die as to things that are right and good. They are not clean. No one who is not clean can go to God’s kingdom. They are thrown out. They get the results of their work. Their work has been evil. They drink from 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,
Alma 39Alma 41