What Good Have I Done?

Alma 42 teaches about the relationship between justice and mercy.  If there were no laws and consequences for breaking laws, there would be no justice. Without justice God would cease to be God (verse 13). However, without mercy, we would all be in a fallen state.  Mercy comes through the grace of Jesus Christ who has atoned for our sins if we will repent and follow him.

21 And if there was no law given, if men sinned what could justice do, or mercy either, for they would have no claim upon the creature?

22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.

23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works, according to the law and justice.

24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.

The American cultural icon shows justice as blind (and so equitable).  However, we soon learn that man's justice is not fair. We are treated differently depending on social class, race, and it seems religion. Justice is also seen as female.

Alma makes justice male and mercy female (in verse 24). God is fair in meting out justice, but loving because he is merciful.

Labels: Alma, angels, atonement, justice, mercy, punishment, repentance

1 O that I were an angel, and could have the wish of mine heart,
that I might go forth and speak with the trump of God, with a voice to
shake the earth, and cry repentance unto every people!
2 Yea, I would declare unto every soul, as with the voice of
thunder, repentance and the plan of redemption, that they should
repent and come unto our God, that there might not be more sorrow upon
all the face of the earth.
3 But behold, I am a man, and do sin in my wish; for I ought to be
content with the things which the Lord hath allotted unto me.

If you had your wish, would it be like Alma that you want to serve
God? In these few verses of this chapter Alma
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/alma/29) praises God for his goodness
and declares God's love for us. This beautiful song of praise stands
out as one of my favorite scriptures.

In verse 5 he says that a person who doesn't know the difference
between good and evil is blameless before God. The person who can
distinguish between good and evil and chooses good shall be exalted.
Children are pure before God. Little children are alive in Christ
because of the atonement (http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/8). Those
who die without the law shall also receive a reward and have an
opportunity to hear the gospel
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/dc/76/71-80#71).

Elsewhere, the scriptures say that we can discern good and evil
because of the spirit of Christ which each of us has
(http://scriptures.lds.org/en/moro/7/15-19#16).

Labels: Alma, angels, children saved, mormon missionary, salvation