1 NOW my son, [ Alma is still addressing his son Corianton. ] here is somewhat more I would say unto thee; for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of the dead. [ In Alma 39 he was concerned with judgement and accountability for sin; none of that matters if you do not understand the doctrine of resurrection. So it appears that Alma is still attempting to teach Corianton those things which he does not quite fully grasp. So was the real question on Corianton's mind who was going to be resurrected? For example: would only the righteous be resurrected? ]

2 Behold, I say unto you, that there is no resurrection—or, I would say, in other words, that this mortal does not put on immortality, this corruption does not put on incorruption—until after the coming of Christ. [ Christ must be resurrected before anyone else can be, so the doctrine here is that no one will be resurrected before Christ is. ]

3 Behold, he [ Christ. ] bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. [ The time is not now! ] Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; [ Mystery in Greek is "Musterion" which means: The counsels of God once hidden but now revealed, in the gospel or some fact thereof; the Christian revelation generally; particular truths or details of the Christian revelation. The mysteries of God are not mysteries to the saints that seek to know. He wants to share them with us but does not share them freely with the world. Can we get the answer to any of the mysteries of God? I think that the answer is Yes we can, however we are often not willing to put in the work, the repentance, the study, the prayer required to receive the answers. ] nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know—that is concerning the resurrection. [ How has he been given the answers to his questions? He has petitioned the Lord to answer them. He makes mention that he was diligent about his efforts and it was not a casual interchange with the Lord but diligent. ]

4 Behold, there is a time appointed [ What is he suggesting to Corianton here? in short that God is the one that is in charge - it is his plan and it will happen in his due time. Additionally; that everyone will not be resurrected at the same time. ] that all shall come forth from the dead. Now when this time cometh no one knows; but God knoweth the time which is appointed.

5 Now, whether there shall be one time, or a second time, or a third time, that men shall come forth from the dead, it mattereth not; for God knoweth all these things; and it sufficeth me to know that this is the case—that there is a time appointed that all shall rise from the dead. [ Alma bears his record to his son that all mankind will be resurrected at their appropriate times. ]

6 Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death and the time of the resurrection. [ so if there is a space required between death and resurrection - what then is the purpose of that period of time? Sounds like a good question, and that is what I want to talk to you about son. ]

7 And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death to the time appointed for the resurrection? [ The spirit world waiting room per se. ]

8 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, [ Or since God thinks differently than man the passing of a day is not significant, since everything that God does he does with an eternal perspective - not a daily perspective. Because all men do not die at the same time that does not really matter to the Lord. Alma expressed uncertainty of the timing of the Resurrection as it relates to all of mankind. Such concerns did not matter to Alma, for he said “all is as one day with God” (Alma 40:8). The Prophet Joseph Smith (1805–44) revealed that for God all things “are manifest, past, present, and future, and are continually before the Lord” (D&C 130:7). ] and time only is measured unto men. [ Elder Dean L. Larsen writes of a Sabbath observing farmer who was troubled and dismayed to see his Sabbath-breaking neighbor bring in far better crops with a much higher, more profitable yield. But in such times of seeming injustice, we must remember that God’s accounts are not always settled in October (see “The Peaceable Things of the Kingdom” in Hope [Salt Lake City: Deseret Book, 1988], p. 200). ]

9 Therefore, there is a time appointed unto men that they shall rise from the dead; [ What determines the time when each man will be resurrected? ] and there is a space between the time of death and the resurrection. And now, concerning this space of time, [ Now for the answer that he received. ] what becometh of the souls of men is the thing which I have inquired diligently of the Lord to know; and this is the thing of which I do know.

10 And when the time cometh when all shall rise, then shall they know that God knoweth all the times which are appointed unto man.

11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, [ That is all the commentary that he makes on this - when did this happen? ] that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life. [ President Joseph Fielding Smith (1876–1972) explained that Alma did not necessarily mean that we are brought back into God’s presence: “These words of Alma [40:11] as I understand them, do not intend to convey the thought that all spirits go back into the presence of God for an assignment to a place of peace or a place of punishment and before him receive their individual sentence. ‘Taken home to God’ [compare Ecclesiastes 12:7] simply means that their mortal existence has come to an end, and they have returned to the world of spirits, where they are assigned to a place according to their works with the just or with the unjust, there to await the resurrection. ‘Back to God’ is a phrase which finds an equivalent in many other well known conditions. For instance: a man spends a stated time in some foreign mission field. When he is released and returns to the United States, he may say, ‘It is wonderful to be back home’; yet his home may be somewhere in Utah or Idaho or some other part of the West” (Answers to Gospel Questions, comp. Joseph Fielding Smith Jr., 5 vols. [1957–66], 2:85). President George Q. Cannon (1827–1901) of the First Presidency explained that Alma “does not intend to convey the idea that they are immediately ushered into the personal presence of God. He evidently uses that phrase in a qualified sense” (Gospel Truth: Discourses and Writings of President George Q. Cannon, sel. Jerreld L. Newquist [1987], 58). ]

12 And then shall it come to pass, [ When they are brought back into the presence of God. To the spirit world, not in mortality anymore. ] that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, [ So this is a preliminary judgement. Why are they in a state of happiness? Because they have come back to God with a knowledge of him, of what he has done for them, they return with a character that is like his. This is not the resurrection yet, no this is just the paradise side of the spirit world. ] which is called paradise, a state of rest, [ Cessation of motion or action of any kind, and applicable to any body or being; as rest from labor; rest from mental exertion; rest of body or mind. A body is at rest when it ceases to move; the mind is at rest when it ceases to be disturbed or agitated. a state of reconciliation to God. Final hope. Anciently "rest" did not equate to inactivity, to leisure, to doing nothing and has more to do with trust that God is in charge that he has done the work and that all things are under his control. When he finished the creation we are taught that he rested. During that resting period he however watched things and made sure thet they were good. In a way to see if they were trusting in him, in his plan. It is the same for us as well.(Gen 2:15; Alma 13:6)] a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow. [ They are now free from the troubles of the flesh. When compared with the unrighteous they are the one's that are free - they are free from looking back and saying what might have been. “When the physical body dies, the spirit continues to live. In the spirit world, the spirits of the righteous ‘are received into a state of happiness, which Alma 40–42 is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow’ (Alma 40:12). A place called spirit prison is reserved for ‘those who [have] died in their sins, without a knowledge of the truth, or in transgression, having rejected the prophets’ (D&C 138:32). The spirits in prison are ‘taught faith in God, repentance from sin, vicarious baptism for the remission of sins, the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands, and all other principles of the gospel that [are] necessary for them to know’ (D&C 138:33–34). If they accept the principles of the gospel, repent of their sins, and accept ordinances performed in their behalf in temples, they will be welcomed into paradise” (True to the Faith: A Gospel Reference [2004], 46–47). This tabernacle, where are you going? Into the spiritual world. Are you going into Abraham’s bosom? No, not anywhere nigh there but into the spirit world. Where is the spirit world? It is right here. Do the good and evil spirits go together? Yes, they do. Do they both inhabit one kingdom? Yes, they do. Do they go to the sun? No. Do they go beyond the boundaries of the organized earth? No, they do not. They are brought forth upon this earth” (Discourses of Brigham Young, sel. John A. Widtsoe [1954], 376). ]

13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; [ What does this tell us about them? If they do not have a portion or have the spirit with them then they are going to have to make some very big changes if they are going to ever be comfortable in the presence of God. ] for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house [ The having, holding or detention of property in one's power or command; actual seizin or occupancy, either rightful or wrongful. The state of being under the power of demons or invisible beings. House - Their temple or body; that which is most sacred. They made their decision to make Satan their roommate so to speak. ] —and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth, and this because of their own iniquity, [ Exercised their own agency. ] being led captive by the will of the devil.

14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, [ The total absense of any light. ] and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; [ They fully realize now that there is a judgement that is about to come; they can do nothing about it except wait in utter fear for the result. The guilt for what they have done comes back to haunt them. This fiery indignation is a direct result of the fact that they have not embraced the saving power of Jesus Christ, they are in a way left without hope. You are afraid of God because you think that God is mad at you - oh how little do you understand. ] thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection. [ First thing there is an end of their suffering - it is at the resurrection. See Isa 65:17 as this life will not be remembered or come into mind after the resurrection. So the pain in paradise will only last until the resurrection. And they do not know when they will be resurrected so the time has to be very difficult not knowing when or what is going to happen to them. When you compare the difference with those who are in a state of peace so they are happy and the time does not really matter. We are also taught that we will be resurrected to the kingdom that is consistent with the character that we have obtained, if we are in a kingdom outside of our character(good or bad) we will be unhappy. ]

15 Now, there are some that have understood that this state of happiness and this state of misery of the soul, [ Or spirit prison as we call it. ] before the resurrection, was a first resurrection. Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection, [ Why does he say this? I think he is trying to bring forward further the idea that there is pre-judgement so to speak, as some will abidde their time in rest while others will abide their time in darkness. (previous verse) ] the raising of the spirit [ Or so I suppose that you are referring to the idea that there is a change after death, well yes there is a change. Your spirit is brought to a waiting area, and you will wait in happiness or misery. ] or the soul and their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the words which have been spoken.

16 And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection, [ “While there was a general resurrection of the righteous at the time Christ arose from the dead, it is customary for us to speak of the resurrection of the righteous at the Second Coming of Christ as the first resurrection. It is the first to us, for we have little thought or concern over that which is past. The Lord has promised that at the time of his Second Advent the graves will be opened, and the just shall come forth to reign with him on the earth for a thousand years. . . . “At the time of the [second] coming of Christ, ‘They who have slept in their graves shall come forth, for their graves shall be opened; and they also shall be caught up to meet him in the midst of the pillar of heaven—They are Christ’s, the first fruits, they who shall descend with him first, and they who are on the earth and in their graves, who are first caught up to meet him; and all this by the voice of the sounding of the trump of the angel of God’ [D&C 88:97–98]. These are the just, ‘whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all. These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood’ [D&C 76:68–69]. “Following this great event, and after the Lord and the righteous who are caught up to meet him have descended upon the earth, there will come to pass another resurrection. This may be considered as a part of the first, although it comes later. In this resurrection will come forth those of the terrestrial order, who were not worthy to be caught up to meet him, but who are worthy to come forth to enjoy the millennial reign” (Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols. [1954–56], 2:295–97). “Those coming forth in the morning of this resurrection do so with celestial bodies and shall inherit a celestial glory; these are they who are Christ’s the first fruits. Those coming forth in the afternoon of this resurrection do so with terrestrial bodies and consequently shall inherit that kingdom; they are described as being Christ’s at this coming. All who have been resurrected so far have received celestial bodies; the coming forth of terrestrial beings does not commence until after the Second Coming. (D.&C. 76:50–80; 88:95–99.)” (Doctrinal New Testament Commentary, 3 vols. [1971–73], 1:196). ] a resurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead.

17 Now, we do not suppose that this first resurrection, [ Speaking here that the first resurrection is the fact the your spirit will be moved to a different classroom. But that is not really the first resurrection now is it. Alma will state this further in the next verse. ] which is spoken of in this manner, can be the resurrection of the souls and their consignation to happiness or misery. Ye cannot suppose that this is what it meaneth.

18 Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but it meaneth the reuniting of the soul with the body, [ So Alma declares that the first resurrection is not when the spirit is taken to spirit prison, but resurrection is that time when your spirit is reunited with your body. ] of those from the days of Adam [ Who was the first man. ] down to the resurrection of Christ. [ See D&C 133:52-56. ]

19 Now, whether the souls and the bodies of those of whom has been spoken shall all be reunited at once, the wicked as well as the righteous, I do not say; let it suffice, that I say that they all come forth; or in other words, their resurrection cometh to pass before the resurrection of those who die after the resurrection of Christ.

20 Now, my son, I do not say [ Most likely because he is not sure, so he chooses to not speculate the answer. ] that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my opinion, [ Something we do not often see in the scriptures, someone putting forth an idea, a theory of how things are or will be. ] that the souls and the bodies are reunited, of the righteous, at the resurrection of Christ, and his ascension into heaven.

21 But whether it be at his resurrection or after, I do not say; but this much I say, that 1) there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, [ This resurrection does not take place right after or at the time of death. The spirit and the body are separated for a period of time. ] and a 2) state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, [ During that period of separation of body and spirit the souls of men will either feel a sense of joy and happiness, or pain and sorrow knowling of the judgment that awaits them. ] and be reunited, both soul and body, and 3) be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works. [ All will be judged according to the decisions and choices that they made. They will be personally accountable. This was the part of the plan tha Satan wanted to do away with. He wanted to be able to have everyone saved no matter what they did, no accountability. I am sure that this is a big part that would have upset our father in Heaven, because his plan was to create an earth where men could prove to themselves wether they would follow Gods plan and develop a character like his, this was the reason for the creation to allow men to grow, develop. Then Satan comes and says all that does not matter, I will just save them all no matter what they do, no need to learn, no need to grow to be like the Father. Well in a way that was what Satan wanted, as he really did not want to be like the Father. ]

22 Yea, this bringeth about the restoration of those things of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets. [ Which Alma will discuss further in chapter 41. ]

23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame. [ President Joseph F. Smith had the following to say in relation to deformities in the Resurrection: “Deformity will be removed; defects will be eliminated, and men and women shall attain to the perfection of their spirits, to the perfection that God designed in the beginning. It is his purpose that men and women, his children, born to become heirs of God, and joint heirs with Jesus Christ, shall be made perfect, physically as well as spiritually, through obedience to the law by which he has provided the means that perfection shall come to all his children” (Gospel Doctrine, 5th ed. [1939], 23). ]

24 And now, my son, this is the restoration [ The doctrine is that the restoration is that God will restore the body and the soul together. Also known as resurrection. ] of which has been spoken by the mouths of the prophets—

25 And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God. [ As if to say but if you think that just because you are resurrected if you think that everything will be good, that all will be on the same plane, then you are wrong as those who are more righteous in the resurrection will shine above those who are not. While the resurrection will restore the imperfections of the body when resurrected, it will do nothing for the spirit. You need to understand this Corianton. ]

26 But behold, an awful death cometh upon the wicked; [ This “awful death” refers to: “The scriptures sometimes speak of salvation from the second death. The second death is the final spiritual death—being cut off from righteousness and denied a place in any kingdom of glory (see Alma 12:32; D&C 88:24). This second death will not come until the Final Judgment, and it will come to very few (see D&C 76:31–37). Almost every person who has ever lived on the earth is assured salvation from the second death (see D&C 76:40–45)” (True to the Faith, 153). ] for they die as to things pertaining to things of righteousness; [ It is a true principle that as we grow farther and farther away from righteousness that we start to loose our ability to feel and know the things of the spirit; until we get so far away that for all sense we are dead to things of the spirit. Or they will have no ability to take advantage, they will be cut off from righteous things. They will not be or live in Gods presence. ] for they are unclean, and no unclean thing can inherit the kingdom of God; [ It is that no unclean thing can enter the kingdom of heaven. (2 Ne. 2:5; 3 Ne. 27:19; Alma 11:37; 1 Ne. 10:21; 1 Ne. 15:34; Alma 7:21; Hel. 8:25). So even as much as God may love you he cannot break the law, it is eternal. Why, If God loves all of his children why would he not allow them (the unclean) to be with him too? Cleanliness 1 Ne.10:21; 3 Ne. 27:19; The same is true of light and darkness. If there is light there is no darkness. If it is dark it is because of the absence of light, but both conditions cannot be meet at the same point in time. So it is with cleanliness and uncleanliness. Were God is it must needs be clean, if it is unclean he will overcome the unclean such that it will be consumed and vanish, so he cannot be in unclean places, or with those who are unclean. In a way he does that out of love to not destroy them. ] but they are cast out, and consigned to partake of the fruits of their labors or their works, [ Or the character which they have prepared for. (D&C 88) ] which have been evil; and they drink the dregs of a bitter cup. [ That which is to be received or endured that which is allotted to one a portion. ]