After a battle with Amlicites which brings on a war with Lamanites, many Nephites are killed and the crops are destoyed. The people humble themselves and many join the Church of God. After about a year things become extremely prosperous, ... and the people of the church began to wax proud, because of their exceeding riches... which they had obtained by their industry (Alma 4:6). Having the things of the world has always been a strong elixir. What do these members do with their prosperity? They are lifted up on pride of their eyes [and] they began to wear very costly apparel (v.6). They like to show others that they can afford the nice things. They like the feeling of being above others.
But, it doesn't stop there. After being "lifted up in the pride of their eyes, and to set their hearts upon riches and upon the vain things of the world, ... they began to be scornful, one towards another..." Don't judge me for liking nice things! To scorn is to deride; to make a mock of; to ridicule as contemptible. The proud members were scorning the humble members for doing something that they didn't like.
What were the humble members doing? They may have been just as industrious as the others. I believe they were holding to the teaching that to believe in Christ means to only use riches to help others. They didn't use their riches to buy nice things. They freely gave of their substance to create an equality among men. They did this because they believed it and it feels right.
Jacob gave was the first who give the mandate. King Benjamin repeats the mandate and Alma and Alma the Younger make it a requirement for continuing membership in the church. What is the mandate? Here it is. In Jacob 2:16 Jacob ties pride with the destruction of the soul, "O that he would rid you from this iniquity and abomination. And, O that ye would listen unto the word of his commands, and let not this pride of your hearts destroy your souls!"
He then gives the mandate,(v.17)"Think of your brethren like unto yourselves, and be familiar with all and free with your substance, that they may be rich like unto you."
Jacob then clarifies that we must first seek for the kingdom of God. He talking about receiving the change of heart, the rebirth. He says (v.18) "But before ye seek for riches, seek ye for the kingdom of God." It is definitely hard to be free with substance until you have cast off the natural man!
Jacob then reasserts the mandate. We read (v.19)"And after ye have obtained a hope in Christ ye shall obtain riches, if ye seek them; and ye will seek them for the intent to do good—to clothe the naked, and to feed the hungry, and to liberate the captive, and administer relief to the sick and the afflicted." After we are self sufficient and then are blessed with riches, the sole purpose of these riches is to help others. This mandate is passed done from one generation to another until Alma uses it as one of the tenants in establishing the church of God.
Let's get back to Alma 4. The last part of verse 8 say, "and they began to persecute those that did not believe according to their own will and pleasure." Anybody who speaks against this new doctine of acquiring wealth for personal enjoyment without regard to those around them was persecuted. The proud look good; they are look confident; they don't understand the things of the Spirit. They like how they look; they like how they feel. My industry got me where I am now. Its mine. I earned fair and square. Thus, I can wear nicer things than YOU. You are judging me for wanting nice things!
But they still want to come to church. They still want to be part of the community of believers. Isn't it interesting that the wearing of costly apparel in Book of Mormon times indicated to spiritual leaders of the church that the member was walking in the pride of his or her heart! We say in our day that one can't use the same measuring stick because you can't tell what is in the heart. I agree to a point since we, as a church, might not be sufficiently instructed regarding what the living the gospel really requires of those who choose to follow their savior. But, I sometimes wonder if unknowingly walk in the pride of our hearts. We have been so steeped in a competitive dog eat dog (American) paradigm that we can't comprehend anything else. On the surface it (dog eat dog) seems like a fair way to do things. But Christ isn't about fair, He's about love. And love demands treating each other as if we are each other's brother and sister. That we share freely. That we desire our brother to be like unto us. Christ wants equality. When we become part of the ransomed hosts these disires of brotherhood, love and temporal equality feel natural and desirable to us. The natural man thinks all this is foolishness.
Alma then gives a discourse in Zerahemla that helps everyone who reads it measure their own pride and discipleship. I will tackle this on another day!
Send me you comments! -Scott
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