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Alma 42, Part 1: “A Perfect, Just God, and a Merciful God Also”

“Alma 42, Part 1: ‘A Perfect, Just God, and a Merciful God Also,’” Book of Mormon Student Manual (2024)

“Alma 42, Part 1,” Book of Mormon Student Manual

Alma 42, Part 1

“A Perfect, Just God, and a Merciful God Also”

Alma the Younger embracing his son, Corianton

Living in a fallen world with our limited, mortal perspective can make it difficult to understand the complete and perfect nature of our Heavenly Father and His plan. Corianton also struggled to understand the reality of God’s justice and mercy. Alma helped him to broaden his perspective of our loving Heavenly Father and His plan for us. This lesson is intended to help you better understand Heavenly Father’s nature as both a just and merciful being.

God’s justice and mercy

Read the following scenarios:

  • Gabe is making choices to break the commandments of God. At first he felt a little guilty, but he decided that if Heavenly Father loves His children so much, He would not punish Gabe for his sins.

  • Elsie is in a state of despair because she had repented of a sin she committed, felt forgiven, then messed up again. She believes there is no hope for her because she feels she lied to God about her repentance.

  • What might be inaccurate about each person’s understanding?

There are many who misunderstand Heavenly Father’s and Jesus Christ’s loving and perfect balance of justice and mercy. As you study today’s lesson, think about how you are blessed because God is just and merciful.

Alma helped Corianton understand God’s plan

As Alma continued to counsel with Corianton, Alma perceived that his son had a concern about God and His plan.

Read Alma 42:1 and look for Corianton’s concern.

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  1. Answer the following questions:

    • What are some assumptions that might lead someone to think it is unfair for God to punish sinners?

    • What is the danger of this kind of misunderstanding?

    • How do you see similar misunderstandings today?

Alma tried to help Corianton by sharing with him a broader perspective of God and His plan. He began by explaining that the Fall of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden brought spiritual death (separation from God) and temporal death (the death of the mortal body) (see Alma 42:2–8). He then taught Corianton how the Fall relates to the justice and mercy of God.

Read Alma 42:9–12 and look for the effects of the Fall.

  • What effects of the Fall did you find?

The following definitions will help you better understand the next verses you will study.

  • Justice: “In scriptural terms, justice is the unchanging law that brings consequences for actions. Because of the law of justice, we receive blessings when we obey God’s commandments. The law of justice also demands that a penalty be paid for every sin we commit” (Gospel Topics, “Justice,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

  • Mercy: “Mercy is the compassionate treatment of a person greater than what is deserved, and it is made possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ” (Gospel Topics, “Mercy,” topics.ChurchofJesusChrist.org).

Read Alma 42:13–15, looking for what Alma taught about God and His plan.

  • What do you learn about God’s plan?

  • What truths do you learn about God from these verses?

One truth taught in these verses is that God is perfect, just, and merciful.

  • Why do you think this truth is important to know about God?

God’s justice and mercy

Elder D. Todd Christofferson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles taught about God’s justice and mercy:

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Elder D. Todd Christofferson

Justice is an essential attribute of God. We can have faith in God because He is perfectly trustworthy. The scriptures teach us that “God doth not walk in crooked paths, neither doth he turn to the right hand nor to the left, neither doth he vary from that which he hath said, therefore his paths are straight, and his course is one eternal round” [Doctrine and Covenants 3:2] and that “God is no respecter of persons” [Acts 10:34]. We rely on the divine quality of justice for faith, confidence, and hope.

But as a consequence of being perfectly just, there are some things God cannot do. He cannot be arbitrary in saving some and banishing others. He “cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” [Doctrine and Covenants 1:31]. He cannot allow mercy to rob justice [see Alma 42:25].

It is compelling evidence of His justice that God has forged the companion principle of mercy. It is because He is just that He devised the means for mercy to play its indispensable role in our eternal destiny. (D. Todd Christofferson, “Free Forever, to Act for Themselves,” Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2014, 17)

  • What does this statement help you understand about God?

  1. Complete the following activity:

    Imagine you have a friend who has the same concern as Corianton. He or she asks you how it is fair that God punishes sinners.

    • What could you say to your friend to help him or her understand God’s justice and mercy? (Include verses or phrases from Alma 42:9–15.)

    Finish the following statements:

    • God’s justice blesses me because

    • God’s mercy blesses me because