Craig,

I am still trying to grasp the wasted effort issue.  Where was the Captain Moroni a 100 years ago?  Why didn’t we make sure that our children’s education process (50 years ago) wasn’t dominated by Globalist scholars that would effectively influence our minds by excluding real freedom related teachings (and God) and including socialist ideas (along with many other things).  Indoctrinating the children is always the key to what happens in the next generation.  Even the Mormons quietly called Ezra Taft Benson an extremist kook (John Birch Society, None dare call in conspiracy, The Constitution, a Heavenly Banner, etc.) in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and 80’s. 

Now some of America have awakened (more than when I was involved and called a Kook in 1990) to their awful dilemma.  Is it too late?  Is there too much evil contention in the hearts of some (on both sides) to really make difference for good (instead of plunging America further into a dangerous polarization)?

Let’s both read Ether 8 one more time (I don’t remember exactly what it tells us to do) and do that.  If I remember correctly, Mormon seems to infer that it’s too late.  Jesus infers that it will be too late.  Nephi infers it too.  Some have the conditions of repentance as the only remedy.

Anyways, we need to know the truth about our Constitution so when the day comes that it is carried away, we understand the principles behind.  At least I know this.

-Scott

The Cause of Amalickiah's Dissension - Part 1?

What was the cause of Amalikiah's dissension?

Amalickiah was a leader of group of dissenters that sought for governing power over the Nephites (Alma 46:4).  But, what led up to this rift that produced a new war between the Nephites and the Lamanites?


The Nephites had successfully repulsed the Lamanites in 73 B.C.  They fasted and prayed, rejoicing of their deliverance from the hands of the Lamanites.  Alma confers the preaching of the word to his son, Helaman and departs ((Alma 45:19).  Helaman realizes that regulations (corrections) needed to be made in the church and goes forth to establish the church again throughout all the land (v.21).

After appointing priests and teachers over the churches, dissensions begin to occur.  Some members wouldn't give heed to their words (v.23).  What were the words that these members rejected?  It has to do with growing proud, having exceedingly great riches and growing rich in their own eyes (v.24).  This pride (growing rich in their own eyes) caused these members not to give heed to their words.  What were the rich all upset about?  


The church in Alma's time had adopted a tradition (a doctrinal tenant) that had been passed down from the beginning of the Nephite civilization.  Jacob taught it ( Jacob 2:17-19). King Benjamin taught it (Mosiah 4:26); Alma the Elder taught it (Mosiah 18:27-29) and Alma required obedience to it (Alma 4:12,13,15, Alma 5.53-55,59-60) or have their names blotted out (Alma 6:3).  The tradition goes something like this: We as Christians, having good desires towards God and towards our fellowman, choose to walk humbly before God, manifesting our faith in Christ by giving our surplus riches to the poor in order to help them and maintain a temporal equality among the members of the church.


The rich that grew proud in their own eyes did not like this doctrine.


We will see in Part 2 of this discussion that Amaliciah was part of this group of dissenters and became their leader.