What Is the Great Plan of Happiness?

My Come Follow Me studies for this week took me to Alma 39-42 in a lesson titled “The Great Plan of Happiness.” The lesson was introduced by the following information. 

When someone we love has made a serious mistake, it can be hard to know how to respond. Part of what makes Alma 39-42 so valuable is that it reveals how Alma – a disciple of Christ who once had his own grievous sins to repent of – handled such a situation. Alma’s son Corianton had committed sexual sin, and Alma, as he had learned to do in his ministry, trusted the power of true doctrine to give his son an eternal perspective and encourage repentance (see Alma 4:19; 31:5). In these chapters, we observe Alma’s boldness in condemning sin and his tenderness and love for Corianton. And ultimately, we sense Alma’s confidence that the Savior “shall come to take away the sins of the world [and] declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people” (Alma 39:15). The fact that Corianton repented and eventually returned to the work of the ministry (see Alma 49:30) can give us hope for forgiveness and redemption when we are troubled about our own sins or the sins of someone we love (see Alma 42:29).

Alma showed forth his love for Corianton by referring to him as “my son” (see first verse of Alma 40, 41, and 42). Alma taught Corianton the seriousness of sexual sin (Alma 39), life after death (Alma 40-41), how to seek answers with faith in Jesus Christ (Alma 40), and how the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes redemption possible (Alma 42).

Corianton believed that being punished for sins was not fair: (see Alma 42:1). And now, my son, I perceive there is somewhat more which doth worry your mind, which ye cannot understand – which is concerning the justice of God in the punishment of the sinner; for ye do try to suppose that it is injustice that the sinner should be consigned to a state of misery (Alma 42:1).

So, Alma – as a father, priesthood leader, and prophet of God – taught Corianton about how the Atonement of Jesus Christ makes both justice and mercy possible. Alma taught his first example of justice and mercy with the story of Adam and Eve.

Adam and Eve were told that they could eat of any fruit in the Garden of Eden except the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If they chose to eat of this fruit, they would die (justice). God placed cherubim and the flaming sword to guard the tree of life, so that Adam and Eve would not partake of the fruit and live forever in their sins without any opportunity to repent (mercy).

After partaking of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve were driven from the Garden of Eden. When this happened, they were temporarily and spiritually cast out of the presence of God (justice). However, this condition was temporary because God appointed each of us a time to die (mercy).

Our mortal time on earth is a time for us to repent and to prepare to return to God’s presence (mercy). If we choose not to repent, we will be cast out of God’s presence forever (justice). To help His children to repent and to become worthy to be in God’s presence, Heavenly Father taught us His plan for our happiness. Alma called this plan the plan of redemption, the plan of salvation, and the plan of happiness.

11 And now remember, my son, if it were not for the plan of redemption, (laying it aside) as soon as they were dead their souls were miserable, being cut off from the presence of the Lord.

12 And now, there was no means to reclaim men from this fallen state, which man had brought upon himself because of his own disobedience;

13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state. Yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice. Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.

14 And thus we see that all mankind were fallen, and they were in the grasp of justice; yea, the justice of God, which consigned them forever to be cut off from his presence.

15 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.

23 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.

24 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.

25 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.

26 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.

In other words, the Atonement of Jesus Christ satisfied the demands of justice and offered mercy to all people who choose to repent of their sins. This is the plan of happiness, the plan of redemption, and the plan of salvation. The great plan of happiness is taught masterfully in a video titled “The Mediator” that I greatly recommend.