_8. The Redemption of Those Who Die Without Law:_ Moreover, it appears that Mercy has special claims upon those men and women, and also upon nations and races who know not the Gospel. The first Nephi in speaking of the Atonement of Christ and its effects where proclaimed and rejected, says: "Wherefore he [God] has given a law; and where there is no law given there is no punishment; and where there is no punishment, there is no condemnation; and where there is no condemnation, the mercies of the Holy One of Israel have claim upon them because of the atonement; for they are delivered by the power of him [Christ]; for the atonement satisfieth the demands of his justice upon all those who have not the law given to them, that they are delivered from that awful monster, death and hell, and the devil, and the lake of fire and brimstone [See Alma xii:17],[A] which is endless torment; and they are restored to that God who gave them breath, which is the Holy One of Israel."[B] [Footnote A: The torments of the ungodly sinners are likened unto a lake of fire and brimstone by this writer, Nephi. Not that the sinners are plunged into a lake of fire and brimstone as so-called orthodox Christians teach. Indeed, in the above passage there is a definition of what the lake of fire is--it is "endless torment," which ever exists for the punishment of impenitent sinners--each one partaking of it to such a degree and for such time as is necessary to satisfy the demand of justice. In this very chapter above quoted Nephi says of the wicked: "And their torment is as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flames ascend up for ever, and have no end."] [Footnote B: Nephi ix:25, 26.] And so Moroni: "For the power of redemption cometh on all they that have no law; wherefore, he that is not condemned, or he that is under no condemnation, cannot repent; and unto such baptism availeth nothing."[A] [Footnote A: Moroni viii:22.] To this also agrees the teachings of Paul: "For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law:[A] and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law."[B] [Footnote A: I venture the suggestion, basing it on the sense of the whole passage, that it should read: "Shall also be judged without the law."] [Footnote B: Rom. ii:12.] LESSON XXI. (Scripture Reading Exercise.) SYMBOLS OF THE ATONEMENT. ANALYSIS. I. The Two Great Christian Symbols. II. Baptism. 1. Introduction and Formula. 2. Symbolism of Atonement in Baptism. 3. Realities Give Virtue to Symbols. III. The Sacrament of the Lord's Supper--Eucharist.[A] 1. The Prayer of Consecration--Formula of. 2. Symbolism of the Atonement in the Eucharist. 3. Realities Back of Symbols. REFERENCES. All the texts and contexts of this lesson, and also Matt. xi:26-29; Luke xxii; I Cor. xi:23-30. Doc. & Cov., Sec. xx. Moroni ix, v.