First Resurrection, Part 1

Why is there a 'first' resurrection and why is it the focus of so many modern day scriptures?

D&C 76:64-68 - "These are they who shall have part in the first resurrection. These are they who shall come forth in the resurrection of the just. These are they who are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly place, the holiest of all. These are they who have come to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of Enoch, and of the Firstborn. These are they whose names are written in heaven, where God and Christ are the judge of all."

The first clue, speaking about the sons of perdition without part in the resurrection, is D&C 76:38.
"Yea, verily, the only ones who shall not be redeemed in the due time of the Lord, after the sufferings of his wrath."
By describing the sons of perdition, the Lord also reveals a truth that all men will be redeemed if even by 'wrath'. He also reveals that 'time' is a factor in redemption through wrath.

D&C 19:17,18
"But if they would not repent they must suffer even as I; Which suffering caused myself, even God, the greatest of all, to tremble because of pain, and to bleed at every pore, and to suffer both body and spirit—and would that I might not drink the bitter cup, and shrink"
This scripture is the next light into 'redemption by wrath'. This scripture must be fulfilled and it will take time to execute.

I believe, outside of perdition, we will all be redeemed from the second death. For some it will be redemption by mercy, and for some, redemption by wrath. Look at D&C 76:69 that describes the redemption received by the church of the Firstborn
"These are they who are just men made perfect through Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, who wrought out this perfect atonement through the shedding of his own blood."

Just men made perfect through the Atonement. This is redemption by mercy. These saints will not have to endure redemption by wrath because they consistently chose the Redeemer as the answer to their faults. Once resurrected and applied to the full benefit of the Savior's sacrifice, they are immediately ready to enter God's presence. They do not have to experience redemption by wrath. They are the 'First' resurrection since their debt has already been paid.

Returning to D&C 19, the Lord explains the mystery that Endless punishment and Eternal punishment are proper names - the Lord's, - not adjectives. God's wrath is not eternal - His name is Eternal. It is 'His' punishment and it must be applied to those who did not consistently accept the Atonement - until the point that they are personally redeemed from the second death.

For those who did accept Christ from time to time - terrestial bodies, as described in D&C 76 as those 'not valiant in the testimony of Christ', the duration of redemption by wrath will be less since they partially accepted redemption by mercy. But they can't be part of the First Resurrection beacuse their redemption is not complete. They need time to suffer the demansds of justice before entering a glory. They are part of the 'second' resurrection.

Continung the same logic, the telestial bodies who did not accept Christ must suffer complete redemption by wrath and that takes longer than those who suffer it partially. They are part of 'last' resurrection because they have taken the longest path to redemption - justice.

To me this puts even greater value on the Atonement. By being 'valiant' in testimony of Jesus, I can enter the presence of God immediately, bypassing any redemption by wrath. It puts better focus onto the sufferings of Christ, who endured the redemption by wrath of all of mankind. It focuses scriptures like Alma 42:22-27

"But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God. 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. 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. 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. 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. Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds."

None but the truly penitent are saved, meaning saved from the redemption by wrath. Truly the Atonement is the power to save. I think if I fully comprehended the difference between remdemption by mercy and how sweet it would be to instantly enter the presence of God, over the opposite, I would act differently now. The Atonement is free - milk and honey without price. Our Father is so anxious to provide a path around justice and His is the ultimate perfect way.