The second alternative is all that remains. God must make a vicarious Atonement for man; a Deity must satisfy the claims of God's honor. God must satisfy the demands of justice, that Mercy may assert her claims and redeem man.

And that order of things is in force; that is "the great plan of happiness"—the Gospel—"Glad tidings;" "Glad tidings of great joy, which shall be unto all people."[A] Back of it, underlying it, is the great Love of God for man; Love manifested in great acts of mercy; for Mercy is but Love active.

[Footnote A: Luke ii:10.]

This Love prompts God to make reparation to God's honor, and satisfy Justice by undergoing the penalty due to Adam's sin, that he might bring to pass the resurrection from the dead; and make it possible for man spirit and body united, to resume his union with God.

This Love prompts God to suffer for the individual sins of men; to pay the penalty due to each man's sin, that there might be ground for man's justification under the law. That Mercy might claim the sinner upon conditions that Love may prescribe.

9. The Justice, Wisdom, and Mercy of God: In view of all this is it any marvel that men coming to a full consciousness of the balanced claims of Justice and Mercy in ecstasy exclaim—as Jacob the brother of Nephi did—

"O the greatness and the justice of our God! For he executeth all his words, and they have gone forth out of his mouth, and his law must be fulfilled. * * *

"O the greatness of the mercy of our God, the Holy One of Israel! for he delivereth his saints, from that awful monster the devil, and death and hell."[A]

"O the wisdom of God! his mercy and grace! For behold, if the flesh should rise no more, our spirits must become subject to that angel who fell from before the presence of the eternal God, and became the devil, to rise no more."

"And our spirits must have become like unto him, and we become devils, angels to a devil, to be shut out from the presence of our God, and to remain with the Father of lies, in misery, like unto himself; yea, to that being who beguiled our first parents; who transformeth himself nigh unto an angel of light, and stirreth up the children of men unto secret combinations of murder, and all manner of secret works of darkness."[B]

[Footnote A: II Nephi ix:17, 19.]

[Footnote B: II Nephi ix:8-9.]

Or else with Paul declare—