What Good Have I Done?

In the Book of Mormon Alma teaches his son, Corianton, about the resurrection.  God knows when the resurrection will occur, he says. It is not important that we know.  In verse 8 Alma speaks about how God measures time.  "All is one day with God," he says. Only men measure time.

"Now whether there is more than one time appointed for men to rise it mattereth not; for all do not die at once, and this mattereth not; all is as one day with God, and time only is measured unto men" (Alma 40:8).

The book of Genesis in the Bible and Abraham and Moses in the Pearl of Great Price tell about the creation. "In six days the Lord made heaven and earth" (Ex. 31: 17 ; D&C 77: 12).

The Apostle Peter taught that one day for God is like a thousand years. "But, beloved, be not ignorant of this one thing, that one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (2 Pet. 3: 8).

Whether it took six days or six thousand years or millions of years to create the earth, it doesn't matter for God doesn't measure time the same way we do.  "All is as one day with God."

Labels: Alma, Corianton, creation, time

In teaching his son Corianton, Alma addressed some of his concerns about the coming of Jesus Christ. Alma told Corianton that he shouldn't be surprised that God would tell before hand that his Son would come to the earth. After all, Jesus would redeem all his children.

Verse 17 Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?
18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?
19 Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?

We face a similar situation today. People say that we do not need prophets to teach us about Jesus Christ. We have all we need in the Bible.  Yet, God loves his children today like in old times. We also are blessed because of the Savior's atonement. Jesus died for us like he died for people of olden times. So would God not be as concerned about his children today as in times past? Would he not reveal his secrets as he did in the past to his servants, the prophets? See Amos 3:7.

God has called living prophets, beginning with Joseph Smith.  Through Joseph Smith, God restored the gospel of Jesus Christ and the priesthood authority that allows us to take upon us the name of Christ, repent of our sins, and be redeemed by Christ as were people that lived in his day and that of the ancient apostles.

Labels: Alma, atonement, Corianton, Jesus Christ, Joseph Smith. God's love, prophets, redemption, salvation