Alma 12:31 - Alma 12:37

Alma 12:31 Wherefore, he gave commandments unto men, they having first transgressed the first commandments as to things which were temporal, and becoming as gods, knowing good from evil, placing themselves in a state to act, or being placed in a state to act according to their wills and pleasures, whether to do evil or to do good—

Now that Adam and Eve had eaten of the fruit of the tree of knowledge, they were subject to death of the body. They had also become gods in that they knew good from evil. And being mortal they were in a state to exercise the ability to choose between the two. They were free to do either, without God preventing them from succumbing to their lusts or passions.

Alma 12:32 Therefore God gave unto them commandments, after having made known unto them the plan of redemption, that they should not do evil, the penalty thereof being a second death, which was an everlasting death as to things pertaining unto righteousness; for on such the plan of redemption could have no power, for the works of justice could not be destroyed, according to the supreme goodness of God.

To give them some direction as to what they should choose and what to avoid, God gave them commandments. He had made known to them certain regulations so as to avoid doing that which was not good for them. God also told them about the sacrifice of God which would allow the evitable sins committed by us could be forgiven, this because justice could not be voided for violations of the law. If there was no atonement, we would each have to suffer for our own sins and be prohibited from returning to God’s presence.

Alma 12:33 But God did call on men, in the name of his Son, (this being the plan of redemption which was laid) saying: If ye will repent, and harden not your hearts, then will I have mercy upon you, through mine Only Begotten Son;

Anyway God did put into place the plan of redemption and has revealed it to us all. He is asking us to listen to him. He is asking us to not reject what He has advised us to do. If we will do so, we will find mercy and redemption from our sins.

Alma 12:34 Therefore, whosoever repenteth, and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have claim on mercy through mine Only Begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest.

Anyway God did put into place the plan of redemption and has revealed it to us all. He is asking us to listen to him. He is asking us to not reject what He has advised us to do. If we will do so, we will find mercy and redemption from our sins.

Alma 12:35 And whosoever will harden his heart and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest.

However, those who refuse to listen and repent, will not be allowed to enter God’s presence.

Alma 12:36 And now, my brethren, behold I say unto you, that if ye will harden your hearts ye shall not enter into the rest of the Lord; therefore your iniquity provoketh him that he sendeth down his wrath upon you as in the first provocation, yea, according to his word in the last provocation as well as the first, to the everlasting destruction of your souls; therefore, according to his word, unto the last death, as well as the first.

Alma tells the people of Ammonihah, that they have to repent. If they don’t, God will not allow their behavior to continue for very much longer. Just us God allowed death to come into the world, He will allow death to come upon the people of Ammonihah. And just as the second death or exclusion from God’s presence was also instituted, the people will also be excluded from God’s presence if they refuse to live the commandments.

Alma 12:37 And now, my brethren, seeing we know these things, and they are true, let us repent, and harden not our hearts, that we provoke not the Lord our God to pull down his wrath upon us in these his second commandments which he has given unto us; but let us enter into the rest of God, which is prepared according to his word.

Since the people of Ammonihah have now been informed of these concepts and now know better, they had better repent quickly. Alma’s only desire is that the people do not find themselves being cut off from God’s presence. The people need to use their heads and see what Alma and Amulek are telling them is for their own good.