“Immediately Shall the Great Plan of Redemption Be Brought About”

"Those who truly desire repentance and willingly turn to the Lord, forsaking their sins, find that the Savior Immediately effects the plan of redemption in their behalf. It would seem only fair that years of unrepentant sin would necessitate years of repentance and sorrow in order to eradicate the same; however, this is not the case. Great revolutionary changes can be effected immediately through deep, heart-felt repentance. (See Alma 15:3-11; 22:1-23; 36:11-20.)This repentance can bring forgiveness, complete forgiveness.

"Amulek was speaking in 74 B.C., over a hundred years before Jesus would actually make the atoning sacrifice. But the people who lived before Christ did not have to wait for the time of his coming to have the Atonement become effective. It could be applied immediately if they exercised faith and repentance." (Book of Mormon Student Manual, 1981, p. 303)