Hello everyone. I'm writing my second blog based upon what I've read in my personal study this morning. One of the things that made me ponder more was when Alma talked to his son Corianton about the restoration of all things. Corianton had some concerns that his father, Alma, answered in Alma 41: 12-15. The scripture are provided on http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/41/12#12.
In this, Alma explained about the restoration of all things after the resurrection of both body and spirit. As Alma asked "And now behold, is the meaning of the word restoration to take a thing of a natural state and place it in an unnatural state, or to place it in a state opposite to its nature?" what does the word restoration mean? The word means to bring back the original state of person or thing. Alma further explained in the 13th verse: "O, my son, this is not the case; but the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again aevil 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." This means that if a person passed away in this life and are evil and unmerciful, s/he will be restored back to that state. If a person was righteous, did everything possible to become more like God, s/he will be restored to that state as well.
In Alma 44: 14, it says: "herefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal ajustly, bjudge righteously, and do cgood continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your dreward; yea, ye shall have emercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again."
In Alma 44: 15, it adds: " For that which ye do asend out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all."
In its entirety, it tells us that that our own actions, thoughts, words, and desires of our heart will remain unchanged in the afterlife. If a person have committed wickedness, he will still be wicked in the next life. This life is a probation, a time for us to repent so that we will be able to dwell in God's Kingdom for all eternity. As one of the verses in the scriptures say, "No unclean things can dwell in the Kingdom of Heaven." So if we are unclean in this life, we will remain unclean in the hereafter and it will be to our condemnation. Otherwise, if we are clean in this life, striving to do everything within our abilities to repent, focusing on the Savior Jesus Christ, obeying His commandments, having faith, repenting, being baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and Endure to the End. We will be clean so that we can return unto Him.
There have been a misconception that God will redeem people in their sins. Such is not the case, nowhere in the scriptures does it say that. Instead, it say that God will redeem people from their sins. Provided they abstain from their sins and repent of their sins.
To fully understand what Alma was saying, we will have to understand what Alma told his son in the scriptures. The links to the scriptures are provided below.
http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/39/
http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/40/
http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/41/
http://scriptures.lds.org/alma/42/
These scriptures will help us understand what the word "restoration" means. It does not mean "reformation" which means to change what is present. Restoration means "To bring back the original state". There's a big difference there. Remember this and remember that what we do now will influence the future, if we did something that's wrong and do not correct them, they will stand as a testimony against us at the last judgment. Those who believe that no one can see them will have to reconsider that thought. Our Father in Heaven really exists and He knows everything about us. We cannot hide our crimes from Him. It will condemn us.
In addition to what I've said, I've been confronted by a situation where a person doesn't understand why we kept some of the commandments like the Word of Wisdom. The reason why we keep the commandments like the Word of Wisdom is that it help us control our nature and change it for better. As I've said above about restoration, our addictions will also remain with us in the hereafter. If we are addicted to any form of substances, it won't change in the next life because according to Alma 41: 4 our corruptible bodies will become incorruptible. What does corruptible and incorruptible mean? Corruptible means that it's changeable and incorruptible means it's unchangeable. So if we don't overcome something in this life, we will never be able to overcome it if we are to pass away before we have the opportunity to change. Also, in the afterlife they won't have the substances or anything that are addicting, imagine living in the next life and not be able to satiate one's addiction and having a body that cannot change. Remember that.
