In these chapters it is interesting to see how the people fall into the pride cycle. Nehor sets up the people to follow after iniquity. Even after he was put to death it states in verse 16 "Nevertheless, this did not put an end to the spreading of priestcraft through the land; for there were many who loved the vain things of the world, and they went forth preaching false doctrines; and this they did for the sake of riches and honor."
In the next two chapters it mentions the Amlicites fulfilling the word of the Lord by marking their heads. They also join up with the Lamanites and come up against the Nephites and how thousands of them are slain.
Alma chapter 4 Alma gives up his seat as chief judge so he can devote his full attention to the teaching of the gospel. By doing so enabled him to go and convert thousands to the church.
19 "And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them."
It was always amazing to me how short a time passed between when they were righteous and wicked. Pride works very fast....but so does repentance.
ReplyDeleteWhen we fall into the pride cycle, we -- even active members of the Church -- are very vulnerable to any and all wicked ideas and philosophies and pursuasions and justifications that Satan so subtly customizes for us. And then pride keeps us from discerning truth from error. The mighty power of the faith of the prophet of the Lord is the only thing strong enough to shake some of the prideful up enough to help them humble themselves enough to see the truth.
ReplyDelete