Peter the chief of the Judean apostles, and hence chief of the witnesses for the great truth of salvation through Christ, says: "For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God."[A]
[Footnote A: I Peter iii:18.]
2. Source of Redemption: Inexorableness of Justice: The Nephite writers are even more explicit. Lehi says:
"The way is prepared and salvation is free, and men are sufficiently instructed that they know good from evil. And the law is given unto men. And by the law, no flesh is justified; or, by the law, men are cut off. Yea, by the temporal law, they were cut off; and also, by the spiritual law they perish from that which is good, and become miserable forever. Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered."[A]
[Footnote A: II Nephi ii;4-7.]
So also Jacob, brother of the first Nephi, said: "And he [the Christ] cometh into the world that he may save all men, if they will hearken unto his voice; for behold, he suffereth the pains of all men; yea the pains of every living creature, both men, women, and children, who belong to the family of Adam."[A]
[Footnote A: Ibid ix:21.]
3. Antiquity of the Plan of Man's Redemption: After explaining that it was appointed unto men to die, "and after death they must come to judgment;" and that God saw that it was expedient that men should come to a knowledge of these things and accordingly, from early time,[A] "sent angels to converse with them, who caused men to behold the glory of God"—Alma says:
[Footnote A: Book of Moses—P. of G. P—Ch. v:6-8, 58.]
"And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been prepared from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance, and their holy works; 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; 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 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. 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; therefore, whosoever repenteth and hardeneth not his heart, he shall have a claim on mercy through mine only begotten Son, unto a remission of his sins; and these shall enter into my rest. And whosoever will harden his heart, and will do iniquity, behold, I swear in my wrath that he shall not enter into my rest."[A]