Alma 47:18 -- On Evil as Normal

"And it came to pass that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died."
Alma 47:18


What struck me about this verse today is how normal it seems compared to how wrong such a thing is. It reminded me of the verse in Matthew 10 that says "... be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves" (verse 16). That is a hard balance to find, especially in a world where violence seems so normalized. Kind of the same idea as being in the world but not of it... how do we stay in the world, understanding the wisdom thereof, without letting some of the creepiness of all of it seep into our souls?

I don't really have the answer, but it is a good question. I think maybe priorities and balance are the key. We have to put God first... not necessarily because he is the super-coolest (though he of course is), but actually because it is NEEDED for our own safety and sanity. He is the one that can protect us from the world, and from our own bad habits, and from that blackness staining our souls. His commandments are there to help us not to lose ourselves where we start shaping ourselves to fit the world, rather than the other way around... setting an example and helping to shape the world in God's way.

Today, let's turn to the Lord for help in keeping the world out of our minds and hearts, so that we can stay dedicated to God and his work (and save our sanity). Let's remember that evil should not be normal, and what kind of a future we are working for. ... And hey, let's try praying and thinking of God more often than we see/consider violence on television or in the news. Maybe also try reading our scriptures more often than we read arguments and put-downs on social media. Balancing out the good with the bad couldn't hurt. :)