“Prosper in the Land”

Alma 48:11-25

I appreciate the simplicity of the statements on prosperity found in this chapter. These verse give so much understand into our perspectives on faith and prosperity.

The Nephite nation was reluctant to go to war against their brethren, yet they understood that it was better to defend themselves than to permit themselves to be destroyed by the wickedness of the Lamanite dissenters.

“Moroni, On the Other Hand, Had Been Preparing”

Alma 48:1-11

I have been tempted as of late to dwell perhaps a little too much on the agenda of the anti-industrialists, assuming that much of today’s maladies are the result of technology and industrialization. I know deep down inside that this is not so, but rather it is man’s abuses of any age that are wrong. Many modern constructs are to be challenged though. Many ideas are still to be corrected.

Long before our present time, Amalickiah inspired the hearts of a people in his civilization to do war against the Nephites. There was no industrialization. There was no technology. And yet people gathered. People were influenced. The social experience was had and people chose one side or the other.

It is Babylon that we are fighting against — seeking for Zion.

Moroni is juxtaposed to Amalickiah in these verses. While Amalickiah is focused on a brute force power grab, Moroni is fortifying the faithful, actively putting into place measures that had never before been known among the Nephite civilization.

“By His Fraud, Gained the Hearts of the People”

Alma 47

Amalickiah understood the importance of deceiving the people or gaining their favor in order to complete he power grab. How different this is from King Benjamin, who also required a lifetime of work to pursue the opposite direction. King Benjamin was not a power grab, but rather a humble acknowledgement of duty that won the hearts of his people.

Amalickiah is self-imploding on a macro-scale.

Why do we need the Gospel of Jesus Christ? To prevent a people from being deceived as were the Lamanites. Without the protections afforded a believing people, wickedness can so easily encroach upon a society and deceive the whole body.

Woe unto you, when all amen shall speak bwell of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Luke 6:26

Perceived in His Spirit

Mark 2

Two thoughts impress me as I read this account this morning:

First, it was via his spirit that Jesus was able perceive the thoughts of others. I don’t understand exactly how that is done, but I do understand that is done by the power of the Spirit.

Second, Christ came to heal sinners. So he did this by being with them. He wasn’t afraid to sit down and be with them. This is the Christ that I follow.

–Que mantendrán sus derechos y su religión, para que el Señor Dios los bendiga–

Alma 46:19-20

Moroni animó a los de pueblo a hacer convenio para mantener sus derechos y religión, con el fin de que el Señor los bendijera. O sea, el Señor puede bendecir mejor los que mantengan la libertad, sus derechos y religión.

–Libertad que Dios les había concedido–

Alma 46:10-18

Moroni entendió la fuente y la razón por la libertad que había extendido a los Nefitas.

Fue –la bendición que Dios había enviado sobre la faz de la tierra por el bien de los justos.– (vs. 10) Al leer esto, me hace reflexionar como antes ellos tuvieron un rey. Esta nueva forma de gobierno, dio más libertad a los justos. Moroni entendió que este fue una bendición de Dios.

También pudo ver la gran necesidad de implorar a Dios para la preservación de las bendiciones que habían recibidos como pueblo.

Mas tú, cuando ores, entra en tu aposento, y cerrada tu puerta, ora a tu Padre que está en secreto; y tu Padre, que ve en lo secreto, te recompensará en público.

Mateo 6:6

“Many Plants and Roots Which God Had Prepared”

Alma 46:38-41

The bulk of these verses talks about the peaceful passing of many with their faith firmly intact. There is an interesting side thought that gives insights into how it was that so many died of just old age. (vs. 41)

Verse 40 talks about how because of the “many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases,” there were fewer that perished because of fevers or illness.

18 Yea, all things which come of the earth, in the season thereof, are made for the benefit and the use of man, both to please the eye and to gladden the heart;
19 Yea, for food and for raiment, for taste and for smell, to strengthen the body and to enliven the soul.
20 And it pleaseth God that he hath given all these things unto man; for unto this end were they made to be used, with judgment, not to excess, neither by extortion.

Doctrine and Covenants 59:18-20

“They Did Maintain Peace”

Alma 46:13-37

Captain Moroni, through very deliberate action against those that sought to alter the free government of the people, was able to maintain peace. He rallied the people to arms. He actively went after those who sought to destroy their government. He saw the disadvantage that it would be to lose the Amalikiahites to the Lamanites. He put to death those dissenters who would not enter into a covenant of peace.

Faith is action.

(And He Called It the Title of Liberty)

Alma 46:11-13

Moroni is angry with Amalickiah. Is this a justified angry? It seems to be. If justified, then upon what principles of understanding or knowledge does Moroni take action. In other words, upon what principles does Moroni place his faith (faith unto action)?

Anger is often the result of fear. Fear and faith cannot exist in the same being at the same time. If not fear, than can anger be unto faith? Or can one become angry because of their faith? This is what Moroni seems to be doing. But anger often results in lamentable or regrettable actions. Perhaps only when anger is a result of fear, not faith. A righteous indignation, or anger can produce dramatic or caustic results.

A Title of Liberty

So Moroni rents his coat and lists upon the things that are of most importance to him:

  • Our God
  • Our religion
  • Freedom
  • Our peace
  • Our wives
  • Our children

These are the things that Moroni saw as being threatened by the usurpation of Amalickiah: Faith and Family. He’s not concerned with prominence , power, property, or other possessions.