Alma 7:21 - 7:27

Alma 7:21 And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God; therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness.

No one who is still sinning or not making any effort to repent will not be accepted into the kingdom of God. If one persists to act this way even to the time of the second coming, there will be no change to repent and their condition will remain.

I don't necessarily think this means to the end of their mortal existence. I think it means to the time when those who are worthy of the first resurrection will be separated from those who will have no part in it. If a person doesn't get the message by then, they are a hard case and will have to wait for the after the millennium for their change for resurrection and an assignment to a lessor kingdom.

Alma 7:22 And now my beloved brethren, I have said these things unto you that I might awaken you to a sense of your duty to God, that ye may walk blameless before him, that ye may walk after the holy order of God, after which ye have been received.

Alma is telling these people of Gideon that they must give strict attention to what he has just said. He wants them to realize that there is always more a person can do to be better. He wants them to realize that they have received much from the Lord but there is always more for the faithful to do.

Alma 7:23 And now I would that ye should be humble, and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and temporal; always returning thanks unto God for whatsoever things ye do receive.

The proper attitude to have to be on the road to improvement is, being teachable, being willing to do what the Lord asks you to do, willing to accept instruction and or criticism, being patience will those who might reveal against you for your lifestyle, making sure that you are not becoming more concerned with what you have rather than what you can give, paying close attention as to how well you are doing keeping the commandments, and asking the Lord for what you need and being especially expressing your thanks for what you have been given.

Alma 7:24 And see that ye have faith, hope, and charity, and then ye will always abound in good works.

These things can be summed up with faith, hope and charity. These three attitudes will cause a person to be able to do the good they are supposed to do in relation to their fellow man.

Alma 7:25 And may the Lord bless you, and keep your garments spotless, that ye may at last be brought to sit down with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and the holy prophets who have been ever since the world began, having your garments spotless even as their garments are spotless, in the kingdom of heaven to go no more out.

And if you do these things, your selves will find you not burden with the attitudes and sins that burden the wicked. Your garments will be clean and allow you to sit with the ancient prophets and with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of God forever.

Alma 7:26 And now my beloved brethren, I have spoken these words unto you according to the Spirit which testifieth in me; and my soul doth exceedingly rejoice, because of the exceeding diligence and heed which ye have given unto my word.

The words that Alma as spoken are by inspiration from God. He has been told by the Spirit that the people of Gideon are in pretty good shape spiritually. They are living to gospel as well as anyone can.

Alma 7:27 And now, may the peace of God rest upon you, and upon your houses and lands, and upon your flocks and herds, and all that you possess, your women and your children, according to your faith and good works, from this time forth and forever. And thus I have spoken. Amen.

So may the people rest assured that they are free from guilty consciences. They will feel the peace that only God can give to the righteous. And this extends over their property and livestock, their farms, wives and children and this will continue on into the eternities.