"And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites.
Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs."
Alma 43:6-7
The idea of preserving hatred here is interesting, and scary... in this case they were doing it on purpose, stirring up people to go to war against the Nephites. I wonder if sometimes that we do the same thing. Nurse grudges and hold on to hatred far past the point where it is even serving as an emotional vent. When we do that, we are effectively living with an open wound and not allowing it to heal. Just because the damage is spiritual rather than physical doesn't mean that it doesn't harm us just as much, and perhaps more, and harden our hearts so that we are less open to feeling the spirit of the Lord, and less capable of sincere love and affection for others.
Today, let's learn from this awful example and stop preserving hatred. It's difficult, I know, to get over things where we feel that we have been wronged or cheated or intentionally used. It's hard to learn to love our enemies ... but that is exactly what Christ asks us to do. And this is why. Because it is eating us alive. Let's work on letting it go, and healing our own hearts. Let's learn joy and love rather than hatred and sorrow and resentment. God can help us. Let's ask him.
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