Moroni 1:2-3 -- On Evil, Compromise, and Love

"For behold, their wars are exceedingly fierce among themselves; and because of their hatred they put to death every Nephite that will not deny the Christ.
And I, Moroni, will not deny the Christ; wherefore, I wander whithersoever I can for the safety of mine own life."
Moroni 1:2-3


This is an interesting ethical stance. I think sometimes we are willing to accept evil to get our way. If we were watching this in a movie, maybe we would be rooting for the hero to just say it, so he could live to fight another day. It's also an interesting war in the first place... solely about what you believe rather than about land or power. By demanding that in order to spare someone's life it isn't about tribe or skin color or specific lineage here, it is about the extermination of a specific belief system.

Despite our gray-area media and popular ethics, Moroni knew that there was no compromise with evil. Denying Christ isn't something you do, even to save your skin. In saying that, I don't imply that we should be at war with people who believe differently than we do however. There is no compromise with evil means that we absolutely do not do what the Lord has forbidden... but it doesn't mean that we shun or mock or hate those that have. Christ talked with, and loved, the woman taken in adultery and the woman at the well, and many other sinners. Not sinning ourselves never means hating other people.

It also doesn't mean that we have to confront or contend with those who disagree with us. Moroni wandered to find safety for himself... he didn't march up to the bad guys and force some pointless martyrdom. That isn't what God is asking us either. Instead, he asks us to live, and do what is right. He asks us to set an example to others in a kind and a gentle way, to live and let live, while finding common ground and encouraging improvement and goodness. Today, let's refuse to participate in evil absolutely, but not forget love and kindness towards others who, like us, are still sinning and figuring things out, even if they are trapped in sins that we have personally overcome, or can't understand.