This morning, I was listening to Alma 48, and I was stunned at the similarities between what was happening then (about 72 B.C.) and now. Amalickiah had been given the reigns to rule over Lamanites and was now seeking for more power. He caused them to grow even more angry at the Nephites. At this point, "he having accomplished his design thus far, yea, having been made king over the Lamanites, he sought also to reign over all of the land, yea, and all of the people who were in the land, the Nephites as well as the Lamanites." Then, they go into battle against the Nephites.
As I listened to this, I thought about modern politics. Men and women fight for positions of power. They take these positions they desire as they are appointed. Then, they strive to find a way to not be subjected to the other political party. There have been times that I have been fear of the political parties literally taking up arms against each other. Even those with good intentions are lead in directions they had not imagined.
We can fight against those trying to lead us astray. We can be like Captain Moroni and his army. We can "labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of [the] people." How do we do this? Verses 15 and 16 say:
And this was their faith, that by so doing so God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land: yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare them for war, according to their danger;
And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them..in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity.
As we fight for the our freedoms and the freedoms of others, it is important that we do so as directed by the Lord. When we keep our covenants, we can be lead to act as God would have us act: with compassion, determination, kindness, and firmness in our convictions. We can be the army of God.
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