Alma shares with his son some things he has learned about the afterlife. When we die, he explains, our souls enter one of two possible states: (1) a state of peace and rest called paradise, or (2) an unhappy state called outer darkness. The resurrection is different, and it comes later. It means the reuniting of the body and the spirit. Alma admits that he doesn’t know everything about the timing of the resurrection, but he testifies that we will all be resurrected.
Chapter Outline
- Let me teach you about the resurrection of the dead (v. 1-3)
- There is “a space of time” between death and the resurrection. Righteous spirits enter a place called paradise, while the wicked are cast into outer darkness (v. 4-14)
- This assignment of a soul to a place in the spirit world is not the resurrection. The resurrection is the reuniting of body and soul. (v. 15-18)
- I don’t know when we’ll be resurrected, only that there is a space between death and the resurrection (v. 19-22)
- Alma’s testimony: “The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul” (v. 23-26)
My Takeaways
- God can help us over time to understand things which are mysterious to us now.
- Our efforts to share the gospel are not limited to this life. The work of salvation continues beyond the grave.
- When we die, we are taken home to God.
- It is important to acknowledge the boundaries of our knowledge and to make decisions based on fact rather than opinion.
- Our spirit and our body will be reunited after we die, and our body will be restored to its perfect form.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Question: When is The resurrection? – Alma 40:1-3
I Perceive That Thy Mind Is Worried – Alma 40:1, 41:1, 42:1-2
1 Now my son, here is somewhat more I would say unto thee; for I perceive that thy mind is worried concerning the resurrection of the dead. (Alma 40:1) 1 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the restoration of which has been spoken; for behold, some have wrested the scriptures, and…
Now, I Unfold unto You a Mystery – Alma 40:3
3 Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; 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…
❖ The spirit world: Paradise and outer darkness – Alma 40:4-14
What Happens After We Die?
The Book of Mormon teaches extensively about life after death. For example, multiple Book of Mormon prophets testify that we will be resurrected—that our spirit will be reunited with a perfect version of our body, never again to die. The prophet Alma understood this doctrine. But, as he shared with his son Corianton, he wanted…
This Is the Thing of Which I Do Know – Alma 40:7-9
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? 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…
The Spirits of All Men…Are Taken Home – Alma 40:11
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 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…
❖ The resurrection is the reuniting of body and soul – Alma 40:15-18
What Is the First Resurrection?
The apostle John foresaw a thousand-year period in which Satan would be bound and Christ and His disciples would reign over the earth. This is what we call the Millennium. John said those who did not follow Christ would not “live again” until after the thousand year period was over. “This is the first resurrection,”…
I Admit It May Be Termed a Resurrection – Alma 40:15-18
15 Now, there are some that have understood that this state of happiness and this state of misery of the soul, before the resurrection, was a first resurrection. Yea, I admit it may be termed a resurrection, the raising of the spirit or the soul and their consignation to happiness or misery, according to the…
❖ Unsure of timing but certain of sequence: death, spirit world, resurrection – Alma 40:19-22
I Give It as My Opinion – Alma 40:20-21
20 Now, my son, I do not say that their resurrection cometh at the resurrection of Christ; but behold, I give it as my opinion, 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…
❖ Alma testifies of the resurrection – Alma 40:23-26
What Does the Book of Mormon Add to Our Understanding of the Resurrection?
References to the resurrection appear only a couple of times in the Old Testament: Job testifies to his friends, “Though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God” (Job 19:26). Ezekiel describes a vision in which dry bones (representing the house of Israel) are miraculously covered with sinews,…
“Then Shall the Righteous Shine Forth”
Jesus and Alma both described the righteous in the resurrection “[shining] forth in the kingdom of God.” The Savior has also called on His disciples to shine forth today, so that the light we share can guide others to Him.
Old Testament Foundations
In My Flesh
“If a man die, shall he live again?” asked Job. There is more than a hint of doubt in the question, especially in light of the gloomy content which precedes it, but he immediately follows up with a statement of hope: “All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come”…
Why?
When God showed Moses the earth and its inhabitants, Moses replied with a question: Tell me, I pray thee, why these things are so, and by what thou madest them? Moses 1:30 In response, God explained that this earth was created by His Only Begotten Son, that it is one of many worlds which He…
New Testament Parallels
In Paradise
One of the thieves who was crucified with the Savior made a desperate final request: “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” In response, Jesus promised, “To day shalt thou be with me in paradise” (Luke 23:42-43). The Greek word paradeisos (παράδεισος) in that passage comes from two Persian roots: pairi- “around” and diz “to make,…
Spirits in Prison
Joseph F. Smith saw in a vision that in the next life, righteous spirits minister to the wicked ones to help them escape from their prison. I’m grateful that God encourages us to do everything we can for one another, in this life and in the next.
Wheat Among Tares
The Parable of Wheat and the Tares teaches that God doesn’t right every wrong immediately. We can flourish even when surrounded by negative influences by studying the Savior, making covenants with Him, and safeguarding the gift of the Holy Ghost.
“My Opinion”
As Alma counseled his wayward son Corianton, he discussed the doctrine of the resurrection, a topic that had confused and troubled Corianton (Alma 40:1). In this sermon to his son, Alma explores the boundaries of his knowledge about the topic. He says, “There are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But…
Church History Connections
“It Mattereth Not”
The heavenly messenger who appeared to Joseph Smith as he went to procure wine for the sacrament taught him an important principle: We can completely miss the most important aspects of our experiences when we are focused on less-important details. Quoting Jesus Christ, the messenger said: It mattereth not what ye shall eat or what ye shall…
All Posts Referencing Alma 40
- Unto All Who Would Repent (12/4/2025)
- “Take Especial Care of Your Family” (11/6/2025)
- The Savior’s Instructions to Missionaries, Ancient and Modern (8/1/2025)
- Soul: Spirit and Body (4/16/2025)
- Joseph Smith and the Need to Know (1/15/2025)
- Moroni’s Collaborative Conclusion (12/18/2024)
- Corianton and Korihor (8/10/2024)
- Received or Cast Out (8/9/2024)
- “Then Shall the Righteous Shine Forth” (8/6/2024)
- Spirits in Prison (11/26/2023)
- Wheat Among Tares (3/26/2023)
- In My Flesh (8/7/2022)
- In Paradise (4/16/2022)
- Why? (1/2/2022)
- “My Opinion” (7/2/2021)
- “I Know” / “I Know Not” (5/13/2021)
- Paradise (4/3/2021)
- “It Mattereth Not” (3/17/2021)
- “I Will Explain” – Alma 41:1, Alma 42:2 (1/12/2021)
- Restored (8/1/2020)
- What Are the Mysteries of God? (1/19/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Reveal? (1/1/2020)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Affirm? (12/28/2019)
- What Is the First Resurrection? (10/14/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Add to Our Understanding of the Resurrection? (10/4/2019)
- What Happens After We Die? (10/3/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Diligence? (9/22/2019)
- How Can I Be a Better Father? (6/17/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Sadness? (5/7/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Resurrection? (4/21/2019)
- Why Is It Important to Prioritize Our Questions? (1/4/2019)
- I Admit It May Be Termed a Resurrection – Alma 40:15-18 (11/23/2017)
- This Is the Thing of Which I Do Know – Alma 40:7-9 (11/22/2017)
- Now, I Unfold unto You a Mystery – Alma 40:3 (11/21/2017)
- I Have Inquired Diligently That I Might Know- Alma 40:3 (8/31/2016)
- I Perceive That Thy Mind Is Worried – Alma 40:1, 41:1, 42:1-2 (7/19/2016)
- As Soon as They Are Departed – Alma 40:11-13 (2/21/2016)
- The Spirits of All Men…Are Taken Home – Alma 40:11 (2/15/2016)
- I Give It as My Opinion – Alma 40:20-21 (7/29/2015)