[Footnote A: Alma xii:29-35.]
4. The Vicarious Work of the Christ and Its Purpose: Again Alma:
"Behold I say unto you, that I do know that Christ shall come among the children of men, to take upon him the transgressions of his people, and that he shall atone for the sins of the world; for the Lord God hath spoken it; for it is expedient that an atonement should be made; for according to the great plan of the eternal God, there must be an atonement made, or else all mankind must unavoidably perish; yea, all are fallen and are lost, and must perish except it be through the atonement which it is expedient should be made And behold, this is the whole meaning of the law; every whit pointing to that great and last sacrifice; and that great and last sacrifice will be the Son of God; yea, infinite and eternal; and thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name; and this being the intent of this last sacrifice to bring about the bowels of mercy, which over powereth justice, and bringeth about means unto men that they may have faith unto repentance. And thus mercy can satisfy the demands of justice, and encircle them [the penitent sinners] in the arms of safety, while he that exercises no faith unto repentance, is exposed to the whole law of the demands of justice therefore only unto him that has faith unto repentance is brought about the great and eternal plan of redemption."[A]
[Footnote A: Alma xxxiv:8, 9, 14-16.]
5. The Counter Claims of Justice and Mercy—Mercy Triumphant: And again Alma:
"All mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God which consigned them for ever to be cut off from his presence. And now the plan of mercy could not be brought about, except an atonement should be made; therefore God himself atoneth for the sins of the world to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also. * * * But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth: otherwise justice claimeth the creature, and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God. But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement; and the atonement bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead; and the resurrection of the dead bringeth back men into the presence of God; and thus they are restored into his presence, to be judged according to their works; according to the law and justice; for behold justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus none but the truly penitent are saved. What! do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God. And thus God bringeth about his great and eternal purposes which were prepared from the foundation of the world. And thus cometh about the salvation and the redemption of men, and also their destruction and misery."[A]
[Footnote A: Alma xlii.]
The revelations given through Joseph Smith are equally explicit: "Remember the worth of souls is great in the sight of God; for, behold, the Lord your Redeemer suffered death in the flesh; wherefore he suffered the pain of all men, that all men might repent and come unto him."[A]
[Footnote A: Doc. & Cov. Sec. 18:10, 11.]
6. Man Must Repent or Suffer: And again: