“I Have Somewhat to Say Concerning the Restoration”
Burdened with sin, Corianton feigned considerable offense at the idea that a merciful God would punish the sinner. He tended to excuse his actions by wresting the scriptures.
In this and the following chapter, Alma, with great power and inspiration, explains the law of restoration and the perfect balance that must exist between mercy and justice, both of which refute the idea that either salvation or the blessings of the gospel can be enjoyed by those entangled in sin and resistant to spiritual enticements to free themselves from it.
“The Restoration of Which Has Been Spoken”
The resurrection is a perfect manifestation of a larger law- the law of restoration. It illustrates beautifully the justice and order upon which the kingdom of heaven is founded. In the resurrection each person is called forth by that law to which he has chosen to give allegiance.
Thus, those choosing to live a celestial law will be called forth in a celestial resurrection; those who choose to live a terrestrial standard will come forth in a terrestrial resurrection; the adherents of a telestial standard will come forth in a telestial resurrection; and the sons of perdition will come forth in a resurrection of their own.
The order of resurrection is from most righteous to most wicked- Christ is the first fruits of them that slept, and the sons of perdition will be the last. In the morning of the first resurrection, celestial spirits will be inseparably united with celestial bodies; in the afternoon of the first resurrection, terrestrial spirits will be eternally united with terrestrial bodies; in the morning of the second resurrection, or the resurrection of the unjust, telestial spirits will be endlessly bound with telestial bodies; and finally, those who even in the resurrection are filthy still, the sons of perdition, will be called forth.