Mercy and Justice

The 42nd chapter of Alma in the Book of Mormon is very useful in understanding the Justice and the Mercy of the Lord. While both are but forces of the eternal law which God has created, let us personify them for a moment. How can Justice and Mercy coexist, for they appear to be in eternal conflict, in regards to the punishment and forgiveness of mankind. There are two elements which are necessary to reconcile this conflict.

First, and most important, there must be an Atonement, an eternal sacrifice. The only person who has ever lived who could possibly perform such a sacrifice is the Son of God, Jesus Christ. Not only because no other man could bear the pains which Christ bore to perform the Atonement, but also because Justice could not be satisfied with a sacrifice of anyone less than God himself. Verse 15 of the chapter declares that Mercy, or rather the Plan of Mercy, is brought about because of the Atonement. 

The second element is penitence, or repentance. The 24th verse declares that "none but the truly penitent are saved." The Atonement effectively reconciles the conflict between Justice and Mercy by creating the Plan of Mercy; but without repentance, it is for naught. The Plan cannot act on us, Jesus cannot save us, without our participation. We must act on the plan in order for it to act on us. Why is it that only the penitent are saved? Because Mercy and Justice act together. How can I feel sorry for someone who feels no remorse for what they've done? How can God justly forgive us if we feel no sorrow for our sins, if we are not penitent? He cannot. Mercy does not destroy Justice, but rather expands it.