As usual, modern revelation makes plain to us things that are somewhat obscure in the Jewish Scriptures. The great Nephite prophet and philosopher, Alma, writing under the direction of an angel and the inspiration of Jesus Christ, explains very clearly the state of the spirit during the time between death and the resurrection. Says he, "Now there must needs be a space betwixt the time of death, and the time of the resurrection. And now I would inquire what becometh of the souls of men from this time of death, to the time appointed for the resurrection? 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.

And then shall it come to pass that the spirits of those who are righteous, are received into a state of happiness, which is called 'Paradise'; a state of rest; a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow, etc. And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil; for behold, they have no part nor portion of the Spirit of the Lord; for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did {287} enter into them, and take possession of their house; and these shall be cast out into outer darkness; there shall be weeping, and wailing, and gnashing of teeth; and this because of their own iniquity; being led captive by the will of the devil. Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked; yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful, looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection."



Not only in His life, but in the spirit ministry and in His resurrection, Jesus taught truths of vital importance to man in his search after God and eternal life. Resurrection is an actual uprising of a tangible physical body. In the resurrection we shall be as Jesus was. And the privileges of the divine plan of salvation are extended to the dead as well as to the living. That is why we perform the saving ordinances for the dead in the House of the Lord. "At the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under earth; and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father　When the great military hero and world conqueror.."
In the unselfish ministry of Jesus Christ there is no one forgotten. All the children of Israel are ministered {298} to; the dead hear the voice of Jesus; and the Gentiles have the Gospel preached to them. The Jewish Scriptures are united with the Nephite Scriptures in the personal ministry of Jesus to His "other sheep."