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9 - 15 Mar - Learn With Joy and Not With Sorrow - Jacob 1 - 4

Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome.  Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4).   This priority was not only reflecte...
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Alma 47 - Thus by His Fraud ... He Obtained the Kingdom


Chapter 47 details how Amalickiah executed his cunning strategy to take control of the army, murder the king, and ascend to the throne. He incited the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites, but not all of the Lamanites were willing to go to war. The king of the Lamanites sent Amalickiah with the soldiers that supported the king to compel the dissenting Lamanites to fight. Instead, Amalickiah used it as an opportunity to take control of the army. "Now it was not Amalickiah’s intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom" (Alma 37:8).

After multiple entreaties, Amalickiah persuaded the leader of the dissenting soldiers, Lehonti, to meet with him, and "Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti’s hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army (Alma 47:13). Amalikiah appealed to Lehonti's fear, avarice, and desire for self-preservation. Beguiled by the appealing offer of to take control of their combined forces, Lehonti didn't sufficiently question Amalikiah's motives. Amalickiah's servants poisoned Lehonti by degrees, and Amalikiah succeeded Lehonti as the leader of the combined army. 

Once Amalickiah had taken control of the army, he set his sights on the throne. As Amalickiah returned to the city the king came out to meet him and "Amalickiah caused that his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they went and bowed themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of his greatness. And it came to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth" (Alma 47:22, 24). Seeing their fallen king, the king's servants fled, and Amalickiah  concealed his own guilt by accusing the king's servants of killing the king: "They all testified unto [the queen] that the king was slain by his own servants; and they said also: They have fled; does not this testify against them? And thus they satisfied the queen concerning the death of the king. And it came to pass that Amalickiah sought the favor of the queen, and took her unto him to wife; and thus by his fraud, and by the assistance of his cunning servants, he obtained the kingdom" (Alma 47:34-35).

What is maybe most remarkable and tragic about the violence and corruption corruption of Amalickiah and his followers is that is was not a function of ignorance. "Now these dissenters, having the same instruction and the same information of the Nephites, yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord, nevertheless, it is strange to relate, not long after their dissensions they became more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites" (Alma 47:36). Their wickedness was willful. On my first analysis of this chapter, it was easy to see parallels between Amalickiah and corrupt demagogues of our day. But I don't believe the primary purpose of the scriptures is for us to identify fault in others. Instead of finding similarities between Amalickiah and others, what similarities can I find between Amalickiah and myself? One approach invites animosity and self-righteousness, the other humility, introspection, and repentance. While my sins may be on a different scale that those of Amalickiah (or Laman, or Lemuel, or Lot...) we all suffer from the same spiritual ailments. Seeing their failings can help me see and avoid dangers in my own heart. 


Application Questions

In what ways do I willfully disobey God despite my religious education and promptings of the Spirit. 

How do I 'conspire' with others to make and/or enable bad choices? In relatively benign ways, like gossiping, tolerating inappropriate behavior, or bending personal standards, am I making it easier or harder for myself and others to choose the right?



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