This second death is not,
then, the dissolution or annihilation of both spirit and body, but banishment from the
presence of God and from partaking of the things of righteousness.
In speaking of the transgression of Adam, the Lord has said: "Wherefore, I, the Lord God,
caused that he should be cast out from the Garden of Eden, from my presence, because of his
transgression, wherein he became spiritually dead, which is the first death, even that same
death which is the last death, which is spiritual, which shall be pronounced upon the wicked
when I shall say: Depart, ye cursed."222. 23

The second death is spiritual; it is banishment from the presence of the Lord. It is similar to
the first spiritual death, which has passed upon all men who have remained unrepentant and
who have not received the gospel. Those who have suffered the first spiritual death or
departure, which is a shutting out from the presence of God, have the privilege of being
redeemed from this death through obedience to the principles of the gospel. Through
baptism and confirmation they are born again and thus come back into spiritual life, and
through their continued obedience to the end, they shall be made partakers of the blessings
of eternal life in the celestial kingdom of God.
Those who partake of the second death are those who have had the spiritual light and have
rebelled against it. These remain in their sins in their banishment.

Alma in the
Book of Mormon has clearly and forcefully depicted their status in the following words:
"And now behold, I say unto you then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a
spiritual death; then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall
also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness."