Alma 46:1-22
46:1-10 - The people in the church are beginning to turn to wickedness again, “notwithstanding the preaching of Helaman and his brethren, yea, notwithstanding their exceedingly great care over the church, for they were high priests over the church… (And) notwithstanding their great victory which they had had over the Lamanites, and their great rejoicings which they had had because of their deliverance by the hand of the Lord.” And the leader of these dissensions “was a large and a strong man; and his name was Amalickiah. And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their kind; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for power.” So a few points here, first off, Helaman and the other leaders of the church are working hard to keep the people close to the Lord, but Amalickiah has that much more pull on the people, and to an extreme degree at that, making his followers angry, so much so that “they were exceedingly wroth, insomuch that they were determined to slay them.” Amalickiah is so persuasive that he’s convinced those who follow him that it’s best to KILL those who did believe the words of Alma, that’s crazy. Secondly, Amalickiah has been able to persuade “the lower judges of the land” to support him by promising them power once he’s in control of the government. I thought that even the lower judges of the land were supposed to be those who were appointed by the voice of the people, so it would seem that they weren’t true to their constituency, and not only that but this is the same thing that I think about the drug world and organized crime. If someone will do it for you, they will do it to you the first chance that it serves them to burn you, what makes these judges think that a wicked Amalickiah would have even one shred of loyalty to them once they have helped him achieve his objective to enslave the people? So often, people are so eager for power, and they’ll do whatever it takes to make it happen, but then they expect fair treatment, kept promises, and fidelity once their “work” has been done. Not only did the lower judges buy Amalickiah’s load of crap but “there were many in the church who believed in the flattering words of Amalickiah, therefore they dissented even from the church.” I’m trying really hard to think of what kind of flattering lies that someone could tell me to get me to believe that doing something for them would benefit me better than keeping the commandments of God, I’m honestly trying really hard, but I can’t come up with anything, which makes me wonder what the difference is between what I know to be true about God and man, and what these Nephite dissenters think is true, but so quickly turn away from to gallop gladly after Satan, and my answer comes in the cross reference for verse 8, an October 2012 general conference address entitled “Beware Concerning Yourselves,” in which Elder Anthony D. Perkins taught that “the twin guardrails of deep personal conversion and strong family relations help keep us on this heavenly highway.” Deep personal conversion, this is the difference. I came back to church when I was about 23 years old, after a 6-7 year hiatus from church activity, and I was pretty committed then, I tried to do my best at my callings, I was learning how to keep the commandments again, I was trying to get back on track spiritually, but then my relationship with my then husband fell apart and after literally 2 years of trying to reconcile and prayerful consideration, I filed for divorce. It was then that I faced the situation of being single, raising kids alone, and grieving the loss of a 10 year marriage and I did not hold fast to the gospel, I went crazy and did whatever I wanted for about 3 months, and I'm not talking simple stuff like swearing, it was really really bad and eventually I couldn't deny the fact that I felt awful, alone, totally vulnerable and I knew that I was doing wrong and so I cut all that off, and started the repentance process. But as I looked back, especially now how far I've come, I wonder, did my quick turn from the gospel to self destruction mean that I didn't believe in Jesus in the first place? And what I've decided is that no, I did believe in Jesus and the gospel, but I didn't have a deep personal conversion, like I would like to think that I have more of now. Looking back at all the horrid things that I've done, I'm sick, literally, sick thinking about it, and I reflect on the decision making process that I used then and what I use now and before it was all about distraction and me and selfishness, and God was an overbearing chauvinist man who was telling me what to do. Now I see the commandments and I love them, I learn about Jesus and I love him, I want to do my best because he loves me and has given me so much and has suffered for me, I want to listen to his counsel because he's my best and perfect friend. I believe that this is the difference between those who followed after Amalickiah and those who remained faithful to the gospel. The dissenters didn't see the gospel as protection and love, they saw the gospel as rules and a party pooper. I'm devoted to Christ, not because I fear him but because I love him, they are devoted to themselves because they don't believe that there is anything better out there for them.
46:11-22 - CM is furious that Amalickiah and his minions are wreaking so much havoc among the people so he makes a grand stand for freedom when "he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it- In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children- and he fastened it upon the end of a pole." This was his message to the people, to stand fast in the cause of liberty so that they could be free with their families. I have to keep reminding myself that this amazing man, this spiritual giant did all this when he was probably younger than I am now. CM put on his armor and "he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land." They were outnumbered significantly, but CM still petitioned God to help them maintain their freedom, if there were any left that would believe. The IM teaches that "rallying others for a righteous cause takes courage." The IM then goes on to quote President Ezra Taft Benson as teaching, "Improve your community by active participation and service. Remember in your civic responsibility that 'the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing....' Do something meaningful in defense of your God-given freedom and liberty.' President Benson further taught: 'In that sacred volume of scripture, the Book of Mormon, we note the great and prolonged struggle for liberty. We also note the complacency of the people and their frequent willingness to give up their liberty for the promises of a would-be provider... Moroni, like the prophets whose words are recorded in the Book of Mormon, spoke of the Americas as a chosen land- the land of liberty. He led the people in battle who were willing to fight to 'maintain their liberty...' This is our need today- to plant the standard of liberty among our people throughout the Americas. While this incident occurred some seventy years B.C., the struggle went on through one thousand years covered by this sacred Book of Mormon record. In fact, the struggle for liberty is a continuing one- it is with us in a very real sense today." There was an interesting statement in there, when he said "we also note the complacency of the people and their frequent willingness to give up their liberty for the promises of a would-be provider." I found tis to be quite profound, it comes back to the natural man, and people's desire to be cared for, rather than to be caring. There will always be people out there seeking for power and who seem willing to do anything for it, but how can they ever be successful if there are more people to convince? Promises, people refusing to think critically about situations, and are too scared or lazy to stand up and say "hey that's enough." I think that CM hits it on the head in verse 18 when he reasons that "surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions." There are few people who are willing to believe in something enough to be "despised" for it, and there are even less that are willing to stand, sometimes alone, against all the forces of hell and be the one. But CM is the one, he's willing to stand alone, and he's willing to lead those who are courageous enough to stand with him onto victory, through faith in the Lord. In fact, when CM takes his Title of Liberty and "went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air" and called all his fellow believers and lovers of freedom to arms, there was a great response. He cried out his message and "the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God." There must have been much turmoil among the "silent majority" of the people who saw the evil deeds and planning of Amalickiah and were terrified that they would be enslaved. And I know how it feels when it seems like there is no hope, like there is nothing that you can do to prevent something really horrible from happening, and these righteous Nephites must have seen CM and, as their beacon of hope, flocked to him saying "We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at they feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression." This is significant because they just ended a huge horrific battle with the Lamanites, and my guess is that the majority of those who fought in that battle were those are now making this covenant with God. Generally, those who are willing to fight to the death to prevent a foreign enemy from enslaving them, typically aren't eager to throw away their hard won freedom with both hands to a domestic enemy. The lower judges that were so easily ensnared by Amalickiah probably didn't have to go to war, either they were too old, or their professions prevented it, that's just my guess, but my point is that when these men made this covenant with God to either keep his commandments or to be destroyed by their enemies if they become wicked, they know exactly what that means, they know the seriousness, the horror of what will befall them if they break their covenant. They aren't men of blood but they are men who know war and are willing to face it to preserve their freedom with God on their side, or are willing to die by the sword if they don't remain faithful to their covenants of righteousness. They knew exactly what they were promising, and that's what showed that they didn't fall for Amalickiah's craziness because they had a deep personal conversion to the gospel and a love of God.
46:11-22 - CM is furious that Amalickiah and his minions are wreaking so much havoc among the people so he makes a grand stand for freedom when "he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it- In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children- and he fastened it upon the end of a pole." This was his message to the people, to stand fast in the cause of liberty so that they could be free with their families. I have to keep reminding myself that this amazing man, this spiritual giant did all this when he was probably younger than I am now. CM put on his armor and "he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land." They were outnumbered significantly, but CM still petitioned God to help them maintain their freedom, if there were any left that would believe. The IM teaches that "rallying others for a righteous cause takes courage." The IM then goes on to quote President Ezra Taft Benson as teaching, "Improve your community by active participation and service. Remember in your civic responsibility that 'the only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing....' Do something meaningful in defense of your God-given freedom and liberty.' President Benson further taught: 'In that sacred volume of scripture, the Book of Mormon, we note the great and prolonged struggle for liberty. We also note the complacency of the people and their frequent willingness to give up their liberty for the promises of a would-be provider... Moroni, like the prophets whose words are recorded in the Book of Mormon, spoke of the Americas as a chosen land- the land of liberty. He led the people in battle who were willing to fight to 'maintain their liberty...' This is our need today- to plant the standard of liberty among our people throughout the Americas. While this incident occurred some seventy years B.C., the struggle went on through one thousand years covered by this sacred Book of Mormon record. In fact, the struggle for liberty is a continuing one- it is with us in a very real sense today." There was an interesting statement in there, when he said "we also note the complacency of the people and their frequent willingness to give up their liberty for the promises of a would-be provider." I found tis to be quite profound, it comes back to the natural man, and people's desire to be cared for, rather than to be caring. There will always be people out there seeking for power and who seem willing to do anything for it, but how can they ever be successful if there are more people to convince? Promises, people refusing to think critically about situations, and are too scared or lazy to stand up and say "hey that's enough." I think that CM hits it on the head in verse 18 when he reasons that "surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions." There are few people who are willing to believe in something enough to be "despised" for it, and there are even less that are willing to stand, sometimes alone, against all the forces of hell and be the one. But CM is the one, he's willing to stand alone, and he's willing to lead those who are courageous enough to stand with him onto victory, through faith in the Lord. In fact, when CM takes his Title of Liberty and "went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air" and called all his fellow believers and lovers of freedom to arms, there was a great response. He cried out his message and "the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God." There must have been much turmoil among the "silent majority" of the people who saw the evil deeds and planning of Amalickiah and were terrified that they would be enslaved. And I know how it feels when it seems like there is no hope, like there is nothing that you can do to prevent something really horrible from happening, and these righteous Nephites must have seen CM and, as their beacon of hope, flocked to him saying "We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at they feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression." This is significant because they just ended a huge horrific battle with the Lamanites, and my guess is that the majority of those who fought in that battle were those are now making this covenant with God. Generally, those who are willing to fight to the death to prevent a foreign enemy from enslaving them, typically aren't eager to throw away their hard won freedom with both hands to a domestic enemy. The lower judges that were so easily ensnared by Amalickiah probably didn't have to go to war, either they were too old, or their professions prevented it, that's just my guess, but my point is that when these men made this covenant with God to either keep his commandments or to be destroyed by their enemies if they become wicked, they know exactly what that means, they know the seriousness, the horror of what will befall them if they break their covenant. They aren't men of blood but they are men who know war and are willing to face it to preserve their freedom with God on their side, or are willing to die by the sword if they don't remain faithful to their covenants of righteousness. They knew exactly what they were promising, and that's what showed that they didn't fall for Amalickiah's craziness because they had a deep personal conversion to the gospel and a love of God.
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