< ALMA 9 >
v. 4 And they said also: We will not believe thy words if thou shouldst prophesy that this great city should be destroyed in one day.
Careful what you wish for: Alma 16:9
Careful what you wish for: Alma 16:9
v. 6 And they said: Who is God, that senders no more authority than one man among this people, to declare unto them the truth of such great and marvelous things?
God? God who?
Who God is:
God the Father (Heavenly Father)
God is the literal Father of our spirits.
God’s relationship to us: God is not primarily defined by power, but by fatherhood.
That means:
God and the Godhead (important distinction): We believe in the Godhead, not the traditional Trinity:
God’s character: God is:
How LDS belief differs from classical Christian views: LDS theology differs notably in that God:
God is our literal Heavenly Father—an exalted, embodied, eternal being—who loves His children perfectly and works through Christ to help them grow, choose freely, and ultimately become like Him.
Moses 1:39, Mosiah 4:19, D&C 130:22, Abraham 3:22-23, D&C 76:40-42, 1 Nephi 11:22-23, D&C 93:24, Alma 42:15, 3 Nephi 11:27, Ether 3:14-15, D&C 20:28, D&C 84:38, Moroni 7:48
God? God who?
Who God is:
God the Father (Heavenly Father)
God is the literal Father of our spirits.
- He is an exalted, perfected, embodied being (with a glorified body of flesh and bone)
- He is eternal, all-knowing, all-loving, and perfectly just
- He is not an abstract force, essence, or metaphor
- He has a real personality, will, and intent
- God is approachable and knowable, not distant or unknowable.
God’s relationship to us: God is not primarily defined by power, but by fatherhood.
That means:
- We existed before mortal life as His spirit children
- Mortal life is part of a divine plan of growth
- God’s goal is not merely obedience, but exaltation—that we become like Him
- Hence our theology is so centered on agency, learning, and experience.
God and the Godhead (important distinction): We believe in the Godhead, not the traditional Trinity:
- God the Father – the supreme being we worship and pray to
- Jesus Christ – His Son, divine Redeemer, Savior of the world
- The Holy Ghost – a personage of spirit who testifies, guides, and sanctifies
- One in purpose, will, love, and truth
- Distinct beings, not one substance or essence
- Unity is relational, not metaphysical.
God’s character: God is:
- perfectly loving, but not permissive
- just, but never cruel
- merciful, but never arbitrary
- committed to truth, growth, and moral law
- He does not override agency—even when our choices cause pain—because agency is essential to becoming like Him.
How LDS belief differs from classical Christian views: LDS theology differs notably in that God:
- has a glorified body
- is the same species as humanity (exalted, perfected)
- works within eternal laws rather than creating morality arbitrarily
- invites humans into eternal progression
- This makes God less a distant ruler and more a divine parent and mentor.
God is our literal Heavenly Father—an exalted, embodied, eternal being—who loves His children perfectly and works through Christ to help them grow, choose freely, and ultimately become like Him.
Moses 1:39, Mosiah 4:19, D&C 130:22, Abraham 3:22-23, D&C 76:40-42, 1 Nephi 11:22-23, D&C 93:24, Alma 42:15, 3 Nephi 11:27, Ether 3:14-15, D&C 20:28, D&C 84:38, Moroni 7:48
v. 28 Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, for the time is at hand that all men shall reap a reward of their works, according to that which they have been - if they have been righteous they shall reap the salvation of their souls, according to the power and deliverance of Jesus Christ; and if they have been evil they shall reap the damnation of their souls, according to the power and captivation of the devil.
Works, grace, and such
First, Separate resurrection from salvation. In the Book of Mormon, resurrection is unconditional. IE, everyone is resurrected, everyone stands before God. That happens because of Christ, not works. That's pure grace (see Alma 11:42). No works required. Period.
So what are works judging then? I like to think that works demonstrate our relationship to grace. They reveal what we became in this life. They are not a scorecard, rather they are evidence, fruit, a transcipt of our heart. In Matthew 7:20 Jesus says that by their fruits ye shall know them. Alma's point is not earning salvation, but demonstrating alignment.
Grace: Saves you from death, opens the door back to God, makes repentance possible.
Works: shape who we become and what kind of glory we can tolerate and enjoy. Heaven is not a place where God changes you against your will - it's where you finally become what you were choosing to become all along.
If works didn't matter at all, then choices wouldn't matter, growth wouldn't matter, repentance wouldn't matter.
Grace saves you from death. Grace saves you from sin (makes repentance possible). Works show who you chose to become.
Judgemenet isn't God tallying up your points. It's God saying: This is who you've become. What do you want to do now? Where do you want to live?
Remember people get the order wrong: I repent -> then I receive grace. The Book of Mormon teaches:I receive grace -> therefore I repent.
Romans 2:4: grace then repentance
Repentance proves grace has been received because to repent you have to believe change is possible, believe forgiveness is real, believe God wants you back, believe you have hope. A person without grace despairs, hides, doubles down, or gives up entirely. Repentance is not you saving yourself, it's you participating in grace.
Works are necessary because God wants you to become someone / something else all together.
Works, grace, and such
First, Separate resurrection from salvation. In the Book of Mormon, resurrection is unconditional. IE, everyone is resurrected, everyone stands before God. That happens because of Christ, not works. That's pure grace (see Alma 11:42). No works required. Period.
So what are works judging then? I like to think that works demonstrate our relationship to grace. They reveal what we became in this life. They are not a scorecard, rather they are evidence, fruit, a transcipt of our heart. In Matthew 7:20 Jesus says that by their fruits ye shall know them. Alma's point is not earning salvation, but demonstrating alignment.
Grace: Saves you from death, opens the door back to God, makes repentance possible.
Works: shape who we become and what kind of glory we can tolerate and enjoy. Heaven is not a place where God changes you against your will - it's where you finally become what you were choosing to become all along.
If works didn't matter at all, then choices wouldn't matter, growth wouldn't matter, repentance wouldn't matter.
Grace saves you from death. Grace saves you from sin (makes repentance possible). Works show who you chose to become.
Judgemenet isn't God tallying up your points. It's God saying: This is who you've become. What do you want to do now? Where do you want to live?
Remember people get the order wrong: I repent -> then I receive grace. The Book of Mormon teaches:I receive grace -> therefore I repent.
Romans 2:4: grace then repentance
Repentance proves grace has been received because to repent you have to believe change is possible, believe forgiveness is real, believe God wants you back, believe you have hope. A person without grace despairs, hides, doubles down, or gives up entirely. Repentance is not you saving yourself, it's you participating in grace.
Works are necessary because God wants you to become someone / something else all together.