Alma 2:5-10 -- On Violence and Obedience

"And it came to pass that the people assembled themselves together throughout all the land, every man according to his mind, whether it were for or against Amlici, in separate bodies, having much dispute and wonderful contentions one with another.
And thus they did assemble themselves together to cast in their voices concerning the matter; and they were laid before the judges.
And it came to pass that the voice of the people came against Amlici, that he was not made king over the people.
Now this did cause much joy in the hearts of those who were against him; but Amlici did stir up those who were in his favor to anger against those who were not in his favor.
And it came to pass that they gathered themselves together, and did consecrate Amlici to be their king.
Now when Amlici was made king over them he commanded them that they should take up arms against their brethren; and this he did that he might subject them to him."
Alma 2:5-10


Sometimes it feels like we're right inside the scriptures, you know? Looking back at this event from the Book of Mormon, I was wondering how we could liken things to our day "that it might be for our profit and learning" (1 Nephi 19:23). We're talking about the scriptures here and I don't feel like this is primarily a political question. Although obviously people felt strongly in the scriptures on either side, and people feel strongly both ways now, God is trying to teach us something higher than that.

In this account we can tell who is right and who is wrong by who started a war. We don't know the circumstances of the voting or whether there was anything shady going on, or whether Amlici had any good justifications for what he did. I'm guessing that there were good people on both sides... but in the end, it became a question of obedience to God. No matter whose side was right, in the end the contention and anger and ultimate violence of taking up arms against their brethren and starting a war was wrong, because it was against God's law and contrary to his teaching.

When we hate others and choose to fight them, whether we can understand their way of thinking or agree with them, or have anything in common with them or not, then we are fighting against God himself, who told us clearly that whatever we do or don't do to others is something we are doing or not doing to him (Matthew 20:40, 45). As his followers, we can't get around that truth.  Today, let's take a hard look at our own attitudes and hatreds and take a step back and ask ourselves if we are being Christlike, and if our actions were directed at God whether they would be justified.

Today, instead of looking at the wrongs of the people around us, let's pray for our own souls, involving God in our lives and asking for his help in knowing how to think and act during this time, and especially how to love those we disagree with.