Mosiah 25:1-13
Upon the arrival of the people of Alma to the land of Zarahemla, king Mosiah caused that the records that had been kept by the people of Zeniff, and also the account of Alma, should be read among all the people of Zarahemla, which at this point in time now consisted of Nephites, Mulekites, and the newly joined people of Limhi and Alma (though they too were also descendants of Nephi).
As I've contemplated the purposes for which king Mosiah would cause to read this history, there are a couple of thoughts that impress me about this. I am reminded also of President Hinckley's emphasis on our own pioneer history. Strategically, here king Mosiah had received a notable influx of new citizens among their own, the natural human tendency, without understanding of where they were coming from and what hardships they had endured, would probably have given way to gossiping and other forms of potentially harmful misunderstandings. To completely eradicate such a tendency, and to create a bond among the existing citizens and these new comers, very wisely king Mosiah decided to publish their history among his own people.
There were other benefits to be had, as well. Perhaps the more notable benefit was the testimony of Abinadi which was found at the heart of this story. The spiritual significance and testimony of the Savior was universally applicable and as beneficial to the people at Zarahemla as it was to Alma and those who followed him.
As mentioned earlier, having heard the account of the people of Zeniff and Alma prepared the people of Zarahemla to completely accept and embrace the these new comers. That there is no account of contention or difficulties among the church at this time is also evident of the wisdom of king Mosiah's proactive decision to make available this account among the people.
It also strikes me as important that having heard this account may have become a converting point of testimony among the people of Zarahemla. While not on the same level as conversion as what the people of Alma had experienced in testing their faith, by any means, it was still a spring board for faith. In this regard, I see the Savior in these verses just as one would in any history of spiritual pioneers.
The presentation of this record among the people caused great reactions of sympathy and joy. (vs. 8 and 9) What is most interesting however is the revelatory nature of the experience that caused the children of Amulon to completely forsake their fathers. This final point is one of profound implication. Because of their wickedness, Amulon and his associates lost their posterity, or suffer a separation from their families. The implication of such were both immediate and eternal.
Upon the arrival of the people of Alma to the land of Zarahemla, king Mosiah caused that the records that had been kept by the people of Zeniff, and also the account of Alma, should be read among all the people of Zarahemla, which at this point in time now consisted of Nephites, Mulekites, and the newly joined people of Limhi and Alma (though they too were also descendants of Nephi).
As I've contemplated the purposes for which king Mosiah would cause to read this history, there are a couple of thoughts that impress me about this. I am reminded also of President Hinckley's emphasis on our own pioneer history. Strategically, here king Mosiah had received a notable influx of new citizens among their own, the natural human tendency, without understanding of where they were coming from and what hardships they had endured, would probably have given way to gossiping and other forms of potentially harmful misunderstandings. To completely eradicate such a tendency, and to create a bond among the existing citizens and these new comers, very wisely king Mosiah decided to publish their history among his own people.
There were other benefits to be had, as well. Perhaps the more notable benefit was the testimony of Abinadi which was found at the heart of this story. The spiritual significance and testimony of the Savior was universally applicable and as beneficial to the people at Zarahemla as it was to Alma and those who followed him.
As mentioned earlier, having heard the account of the people of Zeniff and Alma prepared the people of Zarahemla to completely accept and embrace the these new comers. That there is no account of contention or difficulties among the church at this time is also evident of the wisdom of king Mosiah's proactive decision to make available this account among the people.
It also strikes me as important that having heard this account may have become a converting point of testimony among the people of Zarahemla. While not on the same level as conversion as what the people of Alma had experienced in testing their faith, by any means, it was still a spring board for faith. In this regard, I see the Savior in these verses just as one would in any history of spiritual pioneers.
The presentation of this record among the people caused great reactions of sympathy and joy. (vs. 8 and 9) What is most interesting however is the revelatory nature of the experience that caused the children of Amulon to completely forsake their fathers. This final point is one of profound implication. Because of their wickedness, Amulon and his associates lost their posterity, or suffer a separation from their families. The implication of such were both immediate and eternal.
It's cool, how you're studying The Book of Mormon.
ReplyDeleteI can't believe any grown person can be inspired by the work of plagiarism known as The Book of Mormon. Alma and the sons of Mosiah... a rip off of Paul in the New Testament. As for your point of angels intervening to protect the church, I'm not surprised you would think that. The church teaches people to value the institution above themselves, often to the detriment of the people in the church, in the form of depression, guilt, and suppression of a person's true self. Additionally, what adult can trust in an institution that teaches people to testify that something is true to help them learn the truth of it? "A testimony is found in the bearing of it." What?! Thanks Boyd K. Packer, that is basic brainwashing. I know of no other subject, discipline, conviction, science, whatever, on this earth that uses that process to establish the truth or falsehood of something. And the reason for that singularity is not because it's god's only divine way in the realm of spiritual matters- it's cause it works on people. It gets results, gets people believing and doing, giving, sacrificing. All fine things in and of themselves, but what are they directed at? The institution. And the people are servants to a smiling, peaceful oligarchy. Why not just let people be free? Cause the institution will suffer!
ReplyDeleteAnyway, I chanced upon your blog while looking up some other stuff. And, I am saying all this as someone who faithfully served a mission and was a full tithe payer, etc till I was about 30. The benevolently oppressive nature of the church finally got to me. You are a smart cat, use your brain and stop wasting your life with all this gobbeldy gook. Respectfully, Doug.
Hey Doug,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your thoughts. I'm not one to contend with another on their personal beliefs. I just hope that you can find a personal relationship with Christ some other way.
Best,
Brent
Hello, Doug,
ReplyDeleteI happened upon this blog post and your reply today, and it just so happens that Sunday I gave a Relief Society lesson on the growth of the Church (“An Ensign to the Nations, a Light to the World”). We actually discussed the issue of why would we want to rejoice because the church (an institution, an “organized religion”) is growing.
As you point out, institutions, or organized religions, have bad press. There’s something automatically suspect about them.
I think the key word here is “organized.” What does God do? He organizes. He organized matter, so we have a nice place to live, a lovely planet, a splendid galaxy, a superb universe. No one complains about Him organizing matter; they seem to like that sort of organization, though they prefer to believe He didn’t do it.
He organizes families. Latter-day Saints believe this is an eternal organization, while everyone else recognized that it should at least last through this life. No one complained about that until recently. Now it’s common to arrange some other sort of combination and call it a family. Or to abandon the idea of permanency altogether and replace it with short-term associations, ad-hoc arrangements. And to call any grouping of compatible people a “family.”
He organized the Church. It may be an institution, but it’s His institution. Jesus, who didn’t have much in the way of home or material possessions while He walked His earth, refers to it in the Book of Mormon and the Doctrine & Covenants as “My Church.” Out of respect for Him, I am happy to build up His Church – His Institution.
Best regards, Naomi