Alma 41: Concerning Restoration

For the last two chapters, Alma has been busy giving advice to his wayward son, Corianton. It started out pretty interesting. We learned that Corianton forsook the ministry, and chased after the harlot Isabel in the land of Siron. Apparently he also was always bragging about his strength and his wisdom. Corianton sounds like quite the character, and it was going to take quite a bit for his father to straighten him out.

Chapter 39 was pretty interesting, because we learned all about Corianton. But then Alma decided to tell Corianton all about the resurrection in Chapter 40, which was fairly dull. Chapter 41 is all about the restoration, which might even be duller. You decide.

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Alma could see that his son was concerned about the restoration. So he's going to take this chapter to explain it to him.

And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and have gone far astray because of this thing. And I perceive that thy mind has been worried also concerning this thing. But behold, I will explain it unto thee. Alma 41:1

God's justice requires that everything be restored to it's proper order. If a man's works are good in this life, then he will be restored to the good place, but if his works are evil, then he wil be restored to the evil place. It's pretty simple: you reap what you sow.

I say unto thee, my son, that the plan of restoration is requisite with the justice of God; for it is requisite that all things should be restored to their proper order. Behold, it is requisite and just, according to the power and resurrection of Christ, that the soul of man should be restored to its body, and that every part of the body should be restored to itself. 41:2 

And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good. 41:3

And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame -- mortality raised to immortality, corruption to incorruption -- raised to endless happiness to inherit the kingdom of God, or to endless misery to inherit the kingdom of the devil, the one on one hand, the other on the other -- 41:4

Got it? Okay, I'll just take one more verse from this chapter, in case you didn't get it the first time.

[T]he meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish -- good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful. 41:13b

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That was a pretty short post, mainly because the chapter was so repetative, and not even in a funny way. But there is a lot more in the next chapter to get excited about. Alma finally finishes his speech to Corianton! Glory!