The resurrection is predicated on the death or dissolution of the earth, and all organizations pertaining to it. As the fall of Adam brought death or dissolution, so the death and resurrection of Christ will bring to pass a restoration to life, of all creatures that have been affected by the fall.
AT CHRIST'S RESURRECTION.
That Christ well understood the great object of his earthly mission, is evident from many of his sayings previous to his death and resurrection. Early in his ministry he said to Nicodemus, "As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up: that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life;" John 3. 14, 15.
On another occasion Jesus said to Martha the sister of Lazarus, "I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth on me, though he were dead, yet shall he live;" John 11. 25. At another time, in talking with the Pharisees, he said, "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and to take it up again;" John 10. 17, 18.
We are informed that one resurrection has already taken place, and that it occurred at the resurrection of our Savior. "And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose, and came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many;" Matt. 27. 52, 53.
The following indicates that the prophet Isaiah had a prophetic glimpse of this resurrection; "Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead;" Isa. 26. 19.
It would appear that the Psalmist, David, looked forward for redemption from the dead, at the resurrection of Christ. "My flesh also shall rest in hope. For thou wilt not leave my soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption;" Psalm 16. 9, 10.
The Book of Mormon is much more definite and comprehensive on this subject than the Bible. "And there cometh a resurrection, even a first resurrection; yea, even a resurrection of those that have been, and who are, and who shall be, even until the resurrection of Christ: for so shall he be called. And now, the resurrection of all the prophets, and all those that have believed in their words, or all those that have kept the commandments of God, shall come forth in the first resurrection; therefore, they are the first resurrection * * * And these are those who have part in the first resurrection; and these are they that have died before Christ came in their ignorance, not having salvation declared unto them. And thus the Lord bringeth about the restoration of these; and they have a part in the first resurrection, or have eternal life, being redeemed by the Lord. And little children also have eternal life;" Mos. 15. 21-25.
This declaration of the prophet-king, Mosiah, was made about 100 B. C. Alma, who lived and prophesied a few years later, says, "And behold, again it hath been spoken, that there is a first resurrection; a resurrection of all those who have been, or who are, or who shall be, down to the resurrection of Christ from the dead;" Alma 40. 16.