I noticed something rather astonishing.

In the Church we do a lot of talking about t he plan of salvation.  This is because of the Book of Mormon.  The Book of Mormon mentions the plan 30 times, and gives it six different names.  It is "the great plan of salvation" (Alma 42:5), "the great and eternal plan of deliverance from death" (2 Nephi 11:5), "the plan of restoration" (Alma 41:2), "the great plan of happiness" (Alma 42:8), "the plan of redemption" (Alma 42:13), and "the great plan of mercy" (Alma 42:31).

I wondered if the Bible might add any additional names.  I was astonished to find that the Bible doesn't mention "the plan" by any name at all.  The ideas are all there, but the idea of a plan is lacking.

God does everything by plan, and He follows it exactly.  Nothing is haphazard.  There is even an individual plan for each of us which was put in place long ago.

I would like to focus on the plan of redemption.

Alma told the people of Ammonihah that they were "a lost and a fallen people."  (Alma 9:30-32).  It made them angry.  He went on to explain that because of the fall "all mankind became a lost and fallen people."  (Alma 12:22).  That statement includes us.  Alma warned the people of Ammonihah that unless they repented, they would be destroyed.  His prophecy dramatically came to pass just a short time later.

We are indeed, a lost and fallen people--except for the fact that we have a Redeemer.  The plan of redemption was put in place before the creation of the world.

It was inevitable that if God's children were placed on earth, and given mortality and agency, that they would sin.  Sin banishes us from God's presence, and we thus become a lost and a fallen people.  We would be forever lost, and become angels to the devil, except that the Lord's Atonement gives us the gift of repentance.  The Atonement and our repentance erase our sins, and bring us back into God's presence.

I am intrigued by the oft-repeated phrase used in the Church which speaks of "the

power of the redemption and the resurrection."  These are powers, and they are powers that we activate.  The redemption pays for our sins, brings us back onto God's presence, and completely changes our destination and rewards.  It is all because of our Redeemer.

"And behold, he cometh to redeem those who will be baptized unto repentance, through faith on his name."  (Alma 9:27).

"And he shall come into the world to redeem his people; and he shall take upon him the transgressions of those who believe on his name; and these are they that shall have eternal life, and salvation comes to none else.

"Therefore the wicked remain as though there had been no redemption made, except it be the loosing of the bands of death ..."  (Alma 11:40-41).

Repentance and baptism activate the Atonement in our lives.  If one does not believe in Jesus Christ, does not repent, and is not baptized, he remains lost and fallen, as if no redemption had been made.  The only benefit he gets from the Lord's Atonement is that of a resurrection.  He gets to experience "weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth" as he contemplates how stupid he has been, and what marvelous things he has missed out on as he spends his time under the influence of the adversary.  There he stays until the last day.

"These are they who shall not be redeemed from the devil until the last resurrection, until the Lord, even Christ the Lamb, shall have finished his work."  (D&C 76:85).

I identify with king Lamoni.  He fell into a 3-day swoon during which "the dark veil of unbelief was being cast away from his mind," and "the cloud of darkness" was being dispelled.  (Alma 19:6).  As he awoke, he declared, "As sure as thou livest, behold, I have seen my Redeemer; and he shall come forth, and be born of a woman, and he shall redeem all mankind who believe on his name."  (Alma 19:13).

At the age of 19 I was given a Book of Mormon.  Because of what was happening in my head, all that I wanted to do was to read that book.  I could feel light pushing the darkness out.  I couldn't have told you that my head was full of darkness; but as I read, I literally felt light coming into my mind.  It came in at the front of my head and pushed the darkness back until it exited completely.  I'd never been so happy.  Lamoni-like I suddenly knew my Redeemer.  I understood that I could become clean and happy.  It was possible.  I learned how it was done, and how to do it.  It was through my Redeemer who had already paid for my sins.  Like Lehi I was able to gratefully say, "Behold, the Lord hath redeemed my soul from hell."  (2 Nephi 1:15).

It was a huge relief to be lifted out of darkness.  I was in the light.  I was redeemed.  I never want to be in that darkness again.  I keep repenting, and the Lord has given the assurance that "as often as my people repent will I forgive them their trespasses against me.  (Mosiah 26:30).

That's the happiest news in the universe.

The plan of redemption is real.  Our Redeemer lives.  He knows me.  He knows you.  He wants to redeem all men and to bring them back into God's presence.  He won't force you to accept Him, but when you do "he doth immediately bless you."  (Mosiah 2:24).

"Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him."  (1 Corinthians 2:9).

We, likewise, can't imagine how awful the other extreme is, either.

I am grateful for my Redeemer Who has placed me firmly in the light.  Through my continual repentance I hope to forever stay in my redeemed state.