Speaking of pronouns, let’s talk about the demonstrative pronoun, “this.” Like many words, it can play the role of different parts of speech, depending on the context in which it is placed. Like all other pronouns, “this” plays the role of a pronoun when it takes the place of a noun, as in the sentence, “This is my favorite movie.”
But “this” can also function as an adjective, as it does in the following verse:
For behold, this life is the time for men to prepare to meet God;… (Alma 34:32)
What is it about “this” life that makes it “this life?”
Growing up, I was taught that it was the singularity of this life that made it “this life”—that you could say, “…this [singular] life is the time for men to prepare to meet God…” and that that would align with Amulek’s intention in making the statement. As my understanding of God’s character grew, however, that interpretation became untenable, especially in light of other things said by Amulek. Continuing, he says:
…yea, behold the day of this life is the day for men to perform their labors. (Alma 34:32)
What is “the day of this life?” Does it have an opposite? It does. It is “the night.”
33 And now, as I said unto you before, as ye have had so many witnesses, therefore, I beseech of you that ye do not procrastinate the day of your repentance until the end; for after this day of life, which is given us to prepare for eternity, behold, if we do not improve our time while in this life, then cometh the night of darkness wherein there can be no labor performed.
34 Ye cannot say, when ye are brought to that awful crisis, that I will repent, that I will return to my God. Nay, ye cannot say this; for that same spirit which doth possess your bodies at the time that ye go out of this life, that same spirit will have power to possess your body in that eternal world. (Alma 34)
Now if you’re paying attention, these verses should generate a lot of questions. Here are some you might ask: “Why does Amulek use the imagery of “day” and “night?” If he has already introduced the idea of “this life,” why doesn’t he continue, using “death” (overtly, anyway) as its opposite? Wouldn’t that be simpler? Is there something that would be lost on us if he did? What do we know about “day” and “night” that would expand our understanding about “this life?”
I’ll hit “pause” here to give the reader some time to ponder these questions before moving on to part II.