God protects his righteous servants. He allows them to face all sorts of trials and afflictions, but death has no power to take their life until their work is completed. The logic goes like this: if one is righteous and still has an assignment, or work, to perform for the Lord, then no power on earth, or in hell, can take the life of that righteous servant before the task is completed. Both of those prerequisites must exist to receive divine deliverance and protection. If either one, or both, of those prerequisites are missing, if the person is no longer righteous, or if they have fulfilled all their missions, then they no longer have divine protection or deliverance from death.
The scriptures teach this lesson over and over. In fact, the Book of Mormon begins by declaring that it “will show unto [us] that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of deliverance” (1 Nephi 1:20). Nephi teaches that those who are chosen (have an assigned work to be done) are blessed even unto the power of deliverance (protected from death) because of their faith (righteousness). The scriptures contain several stories on this point.
The Lord delivered Moses from death as a baby. Pharaoh ordered the male Hebrew babies to be killed, but the Lord intervened (through a serious of righteous servants, most of whom were women) to keep Moses out of death’s grasp; Moses had a work to do for the Lord and it had not yet been completed.
This same story repeats with the birth of our Savior Jesus Christ. God delivered Jesus from Herod’s death decree by instructing Mary and Joseph to flee. During Jesus’ ministry there were several times that the Jews tried to kill Him, but they were unable to do so because Jesus’ time had not yet come, and His work had not been completed (John 8:59; 10:31-39). Additionally, we are taught that as soon as Jesus’ work was completed, divine protection ceased, and Jesus was allowed to die (John 19:30).
Joseph Smith has a similar story. He was called to lay the foundation for the restoration. Throughout his life there were numerous attempts to kill him. However, shortly after he announced that his work was completed, divine protection ceased, and an murderous mob finally reached him. In the winter of 1843-1844, with only a few months to live, Joseph Smith spoke to the Twelve Apostles and said this: “I know not why; but for some reason I am constrained to hasten my preparations, and to confer upon the Twelve all the ordinances, keys, covenants, endowments, and sealing ordinances of the priesthood… for, said he, the Lord is about to lay the burden on your shoulders and let me rest awhile; and if they kill me… the kingdom of God will roll on, as I have now finished the work which was laid upon me, by committing to you all things for the building up of the kingdom according to the heavenly vision, and the pattern shown me from heaven” (Gordon B Hinckley quoting Parley P. Pratt. The Joseph Smith III Document and the Keys of the Kingdom, April 1981 General Conference. Emphasis mine). Death could not take Joseph Smith until his divine work was completed.
Abinadi experienced divine protection while preaching to the wicked king Noah. After King Noah heard Abinadi’s call to repentance he became angry and commanded his servants to “slay” Abinadi (Mosiah: 13:1). The Lord had other plans for His servant. Abinadi responded by saying “Touch me not, for God shall smite you if ye lay your hand upon me, for I have not delivered the message which the Lord sent me to deliver; neither have I told you that which ye requested that I should tell; therefore, God will not suffer that I shall be destroyed at this time. But I must fulfill the commandments wherewith God has commanded me” (Mosiah 13:3-4). Abinadi could not be killed because his work was not completed. As we know, almost immediately after he finished preaching, King Noah again commanded that he should be put to death. Because Abinadi had completed his mission, the Lord allowed death to take him.
Alma taught Amulek this same principle. When both men were bound and forced to watch the death of many innocent believers Amulek worried that “perhaps they will burn us also” (Alma 14:12). Alma responds, “be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.” In other words, because they had a work to complete, God would not allow them to die until their work was accomplished.
This principle applies to us. We can each say, “if I am righteous and the Lord entrusts me with a work, then there is no force on earth or hell that can take my life. If I am righteous and have a work to do, then I am safe. If I am righteous and have completed my work, then I may go to rest in my God because I have finished my work faithfully. If I am not righteous, then I have no protection, nor do I have rest in my God.” The only thing that should occupy one’s mind is righteous. If righteous, all will be well in both life and death. If unrighteous, then there is need for repentance. God does not spare all righteous from death because of agency; however, He will accomplish His works through His servants and provide divine intervention where necessary.
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