Good vs Evil - Alma 23 - 25 (a re-post, with new content)

In these chapters, I thought it was interesting how the people of God (the good guys) were on an entirely different track from those who opposed them (the bad guys).  Below I have listed hi-lites of the major events of these chapters.  You will note that I have categorized the events by which camp the event was centered around. I think this paints a clear picture of good vs evil in a way that is hard to miss.  It also emphasized the movement of members of one group to the other group.  More about this later...

Events in these chapters that pertained mainly to God's people - those who were trying to live the word of God (A.K.A the Good Guys) 

• The Lamanite king (Lamoni's father, king over the entire land),  now thoroughly converted,  issues a proclamation to the people to not impede the missionary efforts of Ammon,  Aaron, or their companions: Alma 23:1-6
• The people who are converted are listed: Alma 23:8-14.
• The righteous people desire to be called by a new name and choose the name Anti-Nephi-Lehi. They are an industrious people and prosper: Alma 23:16 -18.  On a side-note, a word about the name the righteous people chose:  Anti-Nephi-Lehi.  I always wonder why they included the "Anti" with this name... Most dictionary definitions given say that anti, whether a preposition, an adjective or a noun, means "against or opposed to".   In my mind, Ammon's converted Lamanites were clearly no longer against the teachings of Lehi and Nephi.  Why are they anti?  In my quest to understand this, I searched several dictionaries to find the origin of the word or prefix "anti".  I found in Dictionary.com that in the late 18th century one of the meanings of anti was "to reverse or undo".  Certainly, King Lamoni, his father King Laman, and their people totally reversed their lives from sin to righteousness.  I would guess that in the history of mankind there are few other people who had reversed their lives more than the Anti-Nephi-Lehites.  Their conversion was undoubtedly a "mighty change".  More on this below.
• The king's son is named Anti-Nephi-Lehi and is anointed ruler over the Lamanite people.  Soon after,  his father dies: Alma 24:3-4
• Ammon, Aaron & their brethren  counsel with King Anti-Nephi-Lehi and king Lamoni about what to do to protect their people after learning they are going to be attacked by their enemies.  Alma 24:5
• King Anti-Nephi-Lehi, as thoroughly converted as his father was, refuses to take up arms in defense.   In a stirring address to his people, he commands them to not take up arms and convinces them to never wage war upon their brethren: Alma 24:6-16.
• The righteous Anti-Nephi-Lehite people bury their their weapons,  Alma 24:17
• The Anti-Nephi-Lehite people meet the oncoming Lamanite army, and many are slaughtered as they pray to their God.  Over a thousand righteous people are killed without any resistance.    
• Many of the unbelieving Lamanite army,  stung by guilt, throw down their weapons & join the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi.  Not one of these, however,  were Amulonites or Amalekites: Alma 24:24-26, 29
• Members of the Lamanite army return home after an unsuccessful campaign against the Nephites and many of the Lamanites then join themselves to the Anti-Nephi-Lehite people, where they live the gospel and bury their weapons: Alma 25:13-17

Events that were mainly pertaining to the Lamanites who opposed the righteous people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi:

• The Amalekites, Amulonites,  and the unbelieving Lamanites band together in hatred against the king & the people of  Anti-Nephi-Lehi.  They rebel against their king and make preparations for war against the newly converted people:  Alma 24:1-2, 4
• The Lamanite army,  consisting of Amalekites, Amulonites and Lamanite unbelievers make war on the Anti-Nephi-Lehites to remove the king from power.  They murder 1,005 of the righteous people, who submit without any resistance.  It is the Amalekites & the Amulonites who do most of the killing:  Alma 24:20-22, 28-29
• The Amulonites & Amalekites in the Lamanite army are angry because many of the Lamanite soldiers stopped killing the Anti-Nephi-Lehites, who had died rather than fight: Alma 25:1
• The remainder of the Lamanite army leaves and takes their anger out on the Nephite city of Ammonihah, utterly destroying it.  Later, they are completely routed by the Nephite army:  Alma 25:2-3.  Many of the Lamanites who were slain by the Nephite army were Amulonites: Alma 25:4-5
• Descendants of Amulon carry on the tradition of killing by fire. They are hated and hunted by the Nephites and the Lamanites:  Alma 25:7-9

Do you see how the two camps differed?  I discovered that the righteous group always seemed to be outwardly focused (gratitude to God, concern for their brethren - even those who were attacking), but the other side was self focused and anger actuated.  Which would be more Godly in their actions?  I think it is plainly evident.

I said earlier that I would talk about the one-way movement of people from one side to the other.  Obviously, I'm referring to the Lamanites who joined the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi after attacking their unarmed brothers.   This is not a simple defection from one political entity to another,  it is much deeper than that.   It is an "anti" - a reversing of their life-long beliefs, a life change of direction... a change of heart.  It is a conversion that started by the remorse of stinging guilt or by the possibility of a better life.  It is a conversion that is nurtured by the spirit in recognition of truth, as taught by the sons of Mosiah and their companions.  It is a conversion that was completed and cemented by the visitation of the Holy ghost as each convert embraced a testimony of the gospel.

There are many things that can be discussed and learned from these chapters.   I would be remiss if I didn't mention the inspiring and instructive address by king Anti-Nephi-Lehi.  His words were more than just a sermon and they were more than an eloquent plea for obedience.   King Anti-Nephi-Lehi wove a tapestry of persuasive symbolism, rich with gospel truth.   Re-read chapter 24 of Alma and as you do, consider the symbolism:

• "All we can do to repent" = the extent to which man must go to truly repent
• "Our stains" = sin
• "Bright swords" = clean hearts, full repentence
• "Bury our weapons" = put off or forsake sin,  commit to righteousness
• "Blood of our brethren" = blood of Christ

There is much to think about and absorb in the king's address.   I would urge each of us to re-read and ponder it.

The end result of King Anti-Nephi-Lehi's address was that his people, clearly hearing and agreeing with the king's message, indeed buried their weapons.  Then, trusting in God, they went out to meet the oncoming horde armed only with their faith and trust.  They sacrificed their lives but not their integrity; they gave their obedience to their king and to their God; they kept their swords - and their souls - bright, thereby truly qualifying for the highest rewards of Heaven.  

How brave is that?   More to the point,  how trusting in the goodness of God!  And how righteous were the Anti-Nephi-Lehites!

Don