As I mentioned in the previous blog, “Thoughts for Come Follow Me lessons for August 2024”, I was going to take a bit of time to decide whether or not to include this part. SInce I wanted to get this out in a timely manor, not too much time has past. Here is my conclusion to my previous lesson thoughts.
As with all the sections that we cover in the “Come Follow Me,” studies of the Book of Mormon, the topic is something that is very relevant to our current lives. I am personally very concerned about the similarities that we have today. In these two lessons the Nephites are struggling on two fronts (although one side is not mentioned in much detail). At this point in their history their continual conflict with the Lamanites had been stalled due in part to the dissension between two factions of the Nephites - The Kingmen and the Freemem.
While, in these lessons, they are largely are speaking of the conflicts between the Nephites and the Lamanites I am going to take it in a broader context, especially since the conflict between the King-men and the Freemen is a contributory factor in why the Nephites were being defeated by the Lamanites. In Alma 51:2, it stated: for behold, there were a part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the law should be altered. I first assumed that this was a civil discussion about a minor aspect of their politics. However, it soon became clear that it was much more than that! It was not a minor aspect that they were disagreeing on, it was one of the major points that King Mosiah had set up to change the method in which the Nephites were governed. Following the change enacted by King Mosiah, Judges ruled over the Nephites. As Mosiah was stepping down from being their King, and none of his sons would accept the responsibility, King Mosiah proposed that the people be ruled by Judges. This was to avoid some problems, which King Mosiah prophetically saw, from cropping up. As I further read in Alma, I understood one of the problems that he foresaw. It became clear to me that this was a ploy to gain more power by the lower judges. This was because those judges were told by those of high birth that they would be granted more power once this change had been made. This contention became widespread among the Nephites - even when Captain Moroni had squelched it. In fact it is pointed out that, when the Lamanites came to conquer the Nephites, the King-men, who were still around, rejoiced and even tried to help the Lamanites in this battle. As I thought back on how this started as a simple protest I saw that while peaceful dissent can be an opportunity, it can also be a method of bringing conflict to the forefront.
Unfortunately this is as true in our times as it was back then. There are a myriad of people from all walks of life and points of view that have been speaking out. They have been doing so passionately and emphatically. That is their privilege. It is also their right, so long as they do so legally, conscientiously and respectfully. However, we all must also be mindful that with this privilege comes another overriding responsibility. That of being true to God given principles and commandments. Personally I feel this should govern our personal feelings and dictate our personal loyalties. I feel that this is an important time in the history of mankind where we need to not only take a stand. However we need to make sure that it is the correct stand. We also need to do it in a way that is respectful and gives value to those we are debating with - even when their values are contrary to our own.
It is my testimony that not only can we do this, we must, to the best of our abilities, do this. I say this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
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