The Word Is Mercy

A Philosopher's Walk through Scripture

Epiphany: the appearance of a divine being, the sudden manifestation of an essential meaning, an intuitive grasp of reality triggered by a simple and striking event.

In Alma 34, Amulek teaches that “the Son of God” will offer himself as a “great and last sacrifice” and that “thus he shall bring salvation to all those who shall believe on his name” (Alma 34:14–15). How, though, does this “thus” work? How does Christ’s sacrifice bring salvation to those who believe? How am I saved?

Amulek develops a powerful theory of atonement in this chapter that is unique to the Book of Mormon. Rather than treating Christ’s sacrifice as a way of generating moral influence, ransoming us from the devil, or vicariously appeasing God’s wrath, Amulek treats Christ’s sacrifice as a revelation that satisfies the demands of justice by showing how mercy was—all along, from the foundation of the world—“the whole meaning of the law” (Alma 34:13). Taking God’s law as a sign or type, Amulek treats Christ’s sacrifice as an “epiphany” that redeems by fulfilling and displaying the true meaning of that divine sign. In short, as Amulek describes it, the relationship between justice and mercy is semiological. Justice is a sign, mercy is the meaning of this sign, and sin is what happens when I act in ignorance of this sign.