Another Universal

Brad Leeser

I think you mean The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The word “Mormon” has largely been taken over by “anti-Mormons” who hate our church. Plus, we don’t worship the ancient prophet Mormon. Rather, we worship God, the Eternal Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.

We testify of the reality of the atonement of Jesus Christ in your behalf, my behalf and in behalf of every other person who has lived upon the earth.

Ray Farmer

Oddly, there were Nephites that didn’t worship Nephi and Ammonites that didn’t worship Ammon ( Alma 56:57, Alma 57:6). I suppose that there can be Mormons that don’t worship Mormon. I suppose, further, that people can worship God without having “God” in the name of their church.

I wonder if it is unfair to say anti-mormons hate the church. Seems like a hasty generalization that borders on bearing false witness. Many, I suspect, are motivated by love.

SAYS YOU: "We testify of the reality of the atonement of Jesus Christ in your behalf, my behalf and in behalf of every other person who has lived upon the earth."

ME: This also seems to contradict the Book of Mormon.

He Dies to Redeem His Seed

Abinadi asks, "Who shall be His Seed?"

He answers this own questions. "And now I say unto you, who shall declare his generation? Behold, I say unto you, that when his soul has been made an offering for sin he shall see his seed. And now what say ye? And who shall be his seed?

Behold I say unto you, that whosoever has heard the words of the prophets, yea, all the holy prophets who have prophesied concerning the coming of the Lord--I say unto you, that all those who have hearkened unto their words, and believed that the Lord would redeem his people, and have looked forward to that day for a remission of their sins, I say unto you, that THESE are his seed, or THEY are the heirs of the kingdom of God.

For THESE are they whose sins he has borne; THESE are they for whom he has died, to redeem THEM from their transgressions. And now, are THEY not his seed?

Big Buts

Who, then are NOT His seed and therefore not covered by the atonement?

But behold, and fear, and tremble before God, for ye ought to tremble; for the Lord redeemeth none such that rebel against him and die in their sins; yea, even all those that have perished in their sins ever since the world began, that have wilfully rebelled against God, that have known the commandments of God, and would not keep them; these are they that have no part in the first resurrection.

Therefore ought ye not to tremble? For SALVATION COMETH TO NONE SUCH; for the Lord hath REDEEMED NONE SUCH; yea, NEITHER CAN THE LORD REDEEM SUCH; for he cannot deny himself; for he cannot deny justice when it has its claim.

Thus all mankind were lost; and behold, they would have been endlessly lost were it not that God redeemed his people from their lost and fallen state.

But remember that he that persists in his own carnal nature, and goes on in the ways of sin and rebellion against God, remaineth in his fallen state and THE DEVIL HATH ALL POWER OVER HIM. THEREFORE, HE IS AS THOUGH THERE WAS NO REDEMPTION MADE, BEING AN ENEMY TO GOD; and also is the devil an enemy to God.

Rejecting/Accepting Words of Abinadi

You may not believe the above. This would be sad. You think all will be saved except for so few that they are not worth considering here. This belief is catastrophic. This belief is contradictory to the words of Abinadi and that his seems to matter.

Alma speaking of those converted at the Waters of Mormon (can I say that?),

I say unto you that they are saved.

And now I ask of you on what conditions are they saved? Yea, what grounds had they to hope for salvation? What is the cause of their being loosed from the bands of death, yea, and also the chains of hell?

Behold, I can tell you--DID NOT MY FATHER ALMA BELIEVE IN THE WORDS WHICH WERE DELIVERED BY THE MOUTH OF ABINADI? AND WAS HE NOT A HOLY PROPHET? DID HE NOT SPEAK THE WORDS OF GOD, AND MY FATHER ALMA BELIEVE THEM?

And according to his faith there was a mighty change wrought in his heart. Behold I say unto you that this is all true.

And behold, HE PREACHED THE WORD UNTO YOUR FATHERS, and a mighty change was also wrought in their hearts, and they humbled themselves and put their trust in the true and living God. And behold, they were faithful until the end; therefore THEY WERE SAVED.

Conclusion

Jesus died for all giving all the opportunity to choose to take advantage of His atonement. However, as is taught plainly in the above and other citations, His atonement was accomplished only for His seed.