40:3 - "...Behold, he bringeth to pass the resurrection of the dead. But behold, my son, the resurrection is not yet. Now, I unfold unto you a mystery; nevertheless, there are many mysteries which are kept, that no one knoweth them save God himself. But I show unto you one thing which I have inquired diligently of God that I might know—that is concerning the resurrection..."
I think the biggest thing that touched me while reading these chapters (39-42) was in Alma 40:3. In this verse, Alma is talking to his son, Corianton, about the resurrection. First he mentions about mysteries and that there are many mysteries that are kept and that nobody knows except God. But then Alma gives us a great key for understanding "mysteries" or doctrine that we didn't understand before.
The key mentioned by Alma is that he inquired diligently of God that he might know. I know that we need to ask God and He will give us an answer.
Take, for example, Nephi in 1 Nephi 15:7-11. He just had the vision of the Tree of Life, and he talks with his brothers. They ask him a question about their father's dream/vision - the same vision that Nephi just came from seeing. Nephi asked them the key question - "Have ye inquired of the Lord?" They hadn't, because they didn't believe that the Lord would answer. Nephi gives a great statement in verse 11. If we ask in faith, with a softened heart, and are diligent in keeping the commandments, we will have these things made known unto us.
Another example is in 3 Nephi as Mormon is putting in commentary about the Three Nephites. In 3 Nephi 28:17, Mormon admits that he doesn't know if they were mortal or immortal. In verses 36-40 he gives us the key again. He sais in verse 37 that since he had last written that he had inquired of the Lord. Mormon received the answer because he wanted to know and inquired diligently.
I know that if we pray sincerely and diligently, we will receive the answer. Sometimes it takes a little longer to receive an answer, so that's where diligence comes into play. I also learned from this reading that it is important to be humble so we don't think that the answers we receive just come from ourselves. If we recognize that it all comes from the Lord, then we will be more humble and malleable in His hands, which is our real goal.
40:11 - "...Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life..."
President Thomas S. Monson spoke on this subject in the November 2007 Ensign, pg. 21-24, telling us that "God will never forsake [us] - that He sent His Only Begotten Son into the world to teach us by example the life we should live."
We will eventually stand before the Lord and understand things a lot better, but right now it's very comforting to know that God will never forsake us. It helps us prepare for that great day!
40:25 - "...And then shall the righteous shine forth in the kingdom of God..."
This is in the middle of the verses that say that the wicked will have an awful death - so we can have faith if we are doing our best, applying what we learn, and acting in faith, that we can and will shine forth in the kingdom of God.
We must have faith and not be discouraged!
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