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...
As the 53rd chapter of Alma opens we read of a reunion between Lehi and fellow fighter Moroni: "Now behold, this Lehi was a man who had been with Moroni in the more part of all his battles; and he was a man like unto Moroni, and they rejoiced in each other’s safety; yea, they were beloved by each other" (Alma 53:2). Reading this account of Moroni’s reunion with Lehi reminds me of the strength and enrichment I get from wonderful friends who inspire and support me. Very rarely are we able to be in the same place at the same time, but I watch this cohort from a distance through the lens of social media and find encouragement in the idea that we are all running similar courses in parallel. In the rare moments where we are privileged to be together to talk, laugh, reminisce, and dream about the future, I imagine what Lehi and Moroni must have felt as they enjoyed a brief reprieve from the personal battles they were each embroiled in to connect and uplift each other.
At this point in the struggle between the Nephites and the Lamanites, we are reintroduced to the people of Ammon. The people of Ammon were Lamanites who had been converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They faced extermination for their beliefs, and fled their native land to seek asylum among the Nephites. They had made a covenant to never again take up arms, even in self defense, and had enjoyed the military protection of the Nephites (Alma 27:3).
What stood out to me in this reading of Alma Chapter 53 was a passing comment by Alma that the people of Ammon "never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites" (Alma 53:19). I don't know the population of the people of Ammon, but they were no doubt a sizable group of asylum seekers who flooded into the land of the Nephites seeking protection. I can only assume they brought with them foreign food, clothing, customs, and maybe language. They were granted a land of their own, the land of Jershon, which was carved out of Nephite territory. The Nephites garrisoned troops around the borders of Jershon to protect them. In fact, the Nephites fought a brutal battle against the Lamanites in which "there was a tremendous slaughter among the people of Nephi," and "there was a great mourning and lamentation heard throughout all the land" (Alma 28:3-4). How could Alma possibly say that the people of Ammon "never had hitherto been a disadvantage" when the Nephites had clearly paid such a high price to harbor them? What prompted the Nephites to see the people of Ammon as being deserving of their assistance in the first place? Alma's comment says more about the attitude of the Nephites than the circumstances of the people of Ammon. It reveals the immense value they placed on the comfort and safety of others. As I think about the times when I have acted on kind impulses, it occurs to me that I have never been disadvantaged by a service rendered, no matter how high the cost.
Understandably, when the people of Ammon saw the Nephites besieged by the Lamanites, they wanted to help. "It came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compassion and were desirous to take up arms in the defense of their country" (Alma 53:13). Thousands of youth from the people of Ammon volunteered to fight so that they could help the Nephites and so that their parents would not have to break their vow of pacifism. "And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all--they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him" (Alma 53:20-21).
Application Questions
Which of your friends and family members leave you feeling inspired and bring out the best in you? How can you be more deliberate about connecting with them on a regular basis?
What people or circumstances strain your generosity? Why do you see them as a 'disadvantage?' How can you reframe your thoughts to be motivated by love?
How can you emulate the attributes of the warrior youth that volunteered to help the Nephites?
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