Vengeance is Mine

Vengeance is Mine.

The year is 350 A.D.  The Nephites have just been through terrible battles with the Lamanites. They have been winning lately (not in the strength of the Lord, though), pushing the Lamanites back to the narrow neck of land.  A treaty is made that the Lamanites and Gadianton robbers get everything south and the Nephites get everthing north.  There isn't any more fighting for ten years.  During this time of relative peace, Mormon is told by God to begin preaching repentance unto the Nephites. He is also told to establish His church again among the Nephites.(Mormon 3:2)  The Nephites harden their hearts and reject Mormon's preaching.  They don't realize that the Lord has spared them and has granted them a chance to repent. (Mormon 3:3) The war with the Lamanites begins again and under Mormon's leadership they effectively defend themselves at the narrow neck of land.  But, instead of being humble, they boast in their own strength, are filled with revenge and want to annihilate the Lamanites.  They decide to cross a line.  They go on the offensive. (Mormon 3:9-10) Mormon utterly refuses to lead them.  The Nephites don't make the connection that God was helping Mormon to deliver them. (Mormon 3:11,13) The Lord tells Mormon, "Vengeance is mine and I will repay..." (Mormon 3:15)

This crossing the line or going on the offensive is so blurred in our day that it's hard to tell if we do the same thing at a  national level.  It's as difficult for many of us to determine when we cross the line in our own lives.  Our culture rejects the notion that there is a line to be crossed.  As a Latter-day Saint, I didn't realize that this precept is a basic tenet of the gospel.

The concept of "Vengeance is mine and I will repay" teaches me that I can, in faith, leave many matters in the Lord's capable hands rather than going on the offensive.

So, as soon as I take something into my own hands to take revenge on another, I lose the Lord's support in the matter.  Do you see how this ties into forgiveness and the giving evil acts of others to God?  Is our desire to fight back, seeking revenge in a way?  I guess if you are defending yourself, that's okay.  But, where is the line that one crosses when they've gone too far.  This is vengeance.

Vengeance is being so angry at what someone else just did - because what they did was terrible - that if you have the power, or if you had the power, you would go after them to punish them.  Instead of taking steps to defend yourself you go on the offensive (or dream about what you would do if you could).  By doing this you cross the line and don't stand blameless.  Since you would if you could you're 'as' guilty as the person doing it.  Your heart is not cleansed.  When I say 'as guilty' I only mean that your heart is not right and that you are not ready to meet God.  I don't mean that you have put those thoughts into action which is a far worse step in the wrong direction.  God is merciful by allowing us to repent of our thoughts rather than taking the sometimes irreversible action.

Perhaps this doctrine of vengeance being the Lord's is just an extension of other eternal laws contained in the gospel.  For example, Christ taught that when slapped on the cheek, to turn the other cheek.  This resisting not evil could be construed as letting the Lord take care of the matter in the way that He sees fit.  When we choose not to judge what another person did against us as bad, we put the problem in God's hands.  This casting of our burdens unto the Lord is an act of faith.  We are saying to ourselves, our God, and perhaps, to the offending party, God judge between me and thee and reward thee according to thy deeds (DC 64:9).  Since we have demonstrated an act of faith, rather than taking the matter into our own hands (which is a just thing to do in some instances), God becomes bound to take care of the matter.  Whatever the way the Lord takes care of the problem is His perogative.  There's a 101 ways to skin a cat.

As we forgive others instead of taking vengeance, we are exercising faith.  Faith always precedes the miracle.

Taking the Low Road

My faith becomes stronger by keeping my covenants.  

Covenants are tied to my state of being-

Which has everything to do with believing deeply.  

With humility and with hope, I begin to implement the covenant as part of who I am. 

Keeping the covenant with intention changes my perspective and my attitude.  

Instead of feeling used, I choose to sacrifice my time in the service of others.  

I willingly accept church callings knowing that I will be sacrificing.  

In faith, the sacrifice is made holy and moves me to a new level of spiritual growth.

I seek to obey the next covenant.  

The natural man kicks in and the covenant makes no sense, it even looks foolish.  

In faith, I believe that Christ is telling the truth and modeling the truth. 

I meekly submit even though I don't understand.  

The culture all around me tells me to do the opposite.

The gospel law teaches me something different.  

As I believe in Christ and his teachings, I realize that I cannot do it alone.  

At first it requires 'blind' faith.  

I struggle to do the right thing and fail over and over again.  

But I pray, pleading for Christ's grace to change my heart so that I can obey this covenant.  

I want the gospel way life to be part of my being.  

I want my nature to change. 

Little by little the change begins to occur.  

This requires faith that what I cannot see is really there and valuable to me.  

It requires faith that this apparent foolishness will bring me happiness and joy.  

I feel pressure from all sides.  

No one seems to believe that it is possible to keep this covenant.

As I walk in faith, my anger subsides and disappears. 

I know that it is a gift of grace from God.  

Virtue begins to garnish my thoughts. 

I realize that my faith is bringing forth fruit.  

Miracles are manifesting themselves in my life.  

It is a miracle to have a natural desire removed by an unseen power.  

I no longer revile back when confronted.  

Contentiousness departs.  

I begin to try to forgive all those that have offended me.  

I want mercy for all my wrong doings so I am merciful to others.  

I even forgive those that have no idea the pain they have caused-

Or don't care or continue to hurt others like they did me.  

I pray for my enemies.

I begin to realize that the way is easy for the spiritually minded.  

The natural man and its natural world created an illusion which I believed.  

The new man is struck by the contrast between the two men within- 

The one receding and the other becoming stronger.  

I still have bouts where the natural man takes over.  

But, I trust in my God.  

People mock me for not taking action, 

For not fighting back, 

For not taking matters into my own hands.  

If taking the matter into my own hands causes me to drop back to the natural man, 

I will not do it.  

This seems foolish to many.  

I cannot judge them.  

I was there 

And still am there much of the time.   

This is why we judge good to be evil and evil to be good.

Covenant making steers me in the right direction.  

Although keeping a covenant has to do with obedience and works, 

I believe it is much more than just doing.  

We can all do things grudgingly or minimally.  

This is not faith.  

Why are we surprised when no good thing comes?  

Hungering and thirsting after righteousness brings with it great humility.  

We become aware of our weakness.  

It is impossible to make the change on our own.  

When we have arrived at this place - 

Viewing our own nothingness - 

This is 'all that we can do'.  

Grace steps in and rescues us.  

We know in every fiber of our being that we have been snatched- 

Rescued from the grasp of awful monster of despair.   

We have become new creatures.  

For....'without faith it is impossible to please him: 

For he that cometh to God must believe that he is, 

And that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him'.

The Remnant of Jacob, the Young Lion Among the Gentiles

Who is this remnant of Jacob that shall be among the Gentiles like a young lion? As I was studying this subject I found various scriptures that shed some light on the matter. My take off verses are 3 Nephi 20:15-16 "And I say unto you, that if the Gentiles do not repent after the blessing which they shall receive, after they have scattered my people - Then shall ye, who are a remnant of the house of Jacob, go forth among them; and ye shall be in the midst of them who shall be many; and ye shall be among them as a lion among the beasts of the forest, and as a young lion among the flocks of sheep, who, if he goeth through both treadeth down and teareth in pieces, and none can deliver."

The Gentiles that the Lord is referring to are the people that scatter the Lord's people on the American continent. They receive a great blessing from Lord: the gospel and a free land. This great blessing causes these Gentiles to become the greatest nation on earth. But, this blessing comes with a price: serve the God of the land even Jesus Christ. If the Gentiles don't, destruction comes. The Lord says. "Then shall ye..." - talking to the Nephites, calling them a remnant of the house of Jacob, -"... be as a young lion among a flock of sheep..." There is nothing the Gentiles can do. They are tread down and torn in pieces. I once found the neighbor’s dog in our chicken coup. It was a young dog. When I got to the coup it had broken the neck of every bird in the coup. It was just standing as innocent as can be looking at me as though it had just done the best job ever. If there were a hundred chickens the dog would have killed all one hundred all for the fun it. I imagine a young lion doing about the same thing among sheep.

In 3 Nephi 21:11-21 Jesus give more detail regarding what this remnant of Jacob will do to the unrepentant Gentiles. He quotes and amplifies Micah 5:7-15.

General Mormon, with imminent destruction of the Nephite people apparent, warns the Gentiles of their destruction if they don't repent. He refers to the metaphor of the lion. After the Gentiles scatter the house of Israel in America (Mormon 5:20-21), the Lord will remember his covenant with the house of Israel and the prayers of the righteous. Mormon5:22-24 tells us that these Gentiles are in the hands of God.  If we they continue in their unrepentant ways a remnant of the seed of Jacob will tear them into pieces.  Mormon is seeing the future and giving us a warning, probably because the gradual decline, the current immence, and our myopic vision will make it very difficult to believe and see our fate. 

Isaiah refers to young lions who lay hold of their prey and none can deliver. In 2 Nephi 15:25-30, Nephi quotes Isaiah.  This young lion seems be coming from an external source instead of from within.  Perhaps this is a different young lion.

DC 87 talks of remnants marshaled vexing the Gentiles with a sore vexation. This may or may not be referring to the same remnant of Jacob or the young lion. But, I do find it interesting that those who stand in holy places will not be moved. The righteous are also protected from the young lion.  See DC 87:5-8.

In 3 Nephi 16, the Lord seems to be saying the same thing as 3 Nephi 20 and 21. But, He doesn't refer to the the young lion. In verse 14 the Lord says that He will 'suffer his people, who are of the house of Israel, to go through among them, and tread them down.' Perhaps there are multiple ways in which the Gentiles are destroyed (such as attack from other nations). The Gentiles who repent are numbered among the House of Israel. The rest are tread down. They have rejected the gospel of Jesus Christ. The nation no longer esteems moral, good behavior as important.  See 3 Nephi 16:11-15.


The remnant of Jacob, young lion prophecies are not generally discussed in Sunday School, probably because of they are disturbing and not very optimistic.  But, its good to search the scriptures to be forewarned, to be prepared, having done our part so the Spirit of the Lord can bring these things to our memory.

What is Wickedness According to Alma?

As I read the Book of Mormon over and over again, I come up with new insights. Today, I was reading Alma 6. Here, in verse 3, we are told that those who did not repent of their wickedness were blotted out and not numbered among the righteous. Here's the verse in full:

And it also came to pass that whosoever did belong to the church that did not
repent of their wickedness and humble themselves before God—I mean those who
were lifted up in the pride of their hearts—the same were rejected, and their
names were blotted out, that their names were not numbered among those of the
righteous.

I asked myself, how does Alma define wickedness? What is his criteria? I went back a chapter and found where Alma was using the word 'wicked' or 'wickedness'.  Alma tells the people in Alma 5:56-57 the following:

And finally, all ye that will persist in your wickedness, I say unto you that these are they who shall be hewn down and cast into the fire except they speedily repent.

And now I say unto you, all you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things; and behold, their names shall be blotted out, that the names of the wicked shall not be numbered among the names of the righteous, that the word of God may be fulfilled, which saith: The names of the wicked shall not be mingled with the names of my people;

This particular group of members of the church in Zarahemla were behaving so bad that Alma chose to use the above words!  What in particular were some of these members doing that Alma called wicked? Do the scriptures actually say anything specific? I went back a few verses in Alma 5 to find out. Alma does get specific! Here's verses 53 - 55:

And now my beloved brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?

Yea, will ye persist in supposing that ye are better one than another; yea, will ye persist in the persecution of your brethren, who humble themselves and do walk after the holy order of God, wherewith they have been brought into this church, having been sanctified by the Holy Spirit, and they do bring forth works which are meet for repentance—

Yea, and will you persist in turning your backs upon the poor, and the needy, and in withholding your substance from them?

In verse 53, Alma asks the members whether they, after explaining their sins, will continue to avoid the issues at hand. As they 'lay aside these things', they 'trample the Holy One under their feet'. This must mean that there are certain things that a believer cannot do - things that are so contrary to true discipleship, that if you do them it's as if you trample the Holy One under your feet!  He then outlines what trampling the Holy One means:

1. Puffed up in the pride of your hearts
2. Wearing costly apparel
3. Setting their hearts on the vain things of the world
4. Setting their hearts on their riches
5. Supposing that they are better one than another
6. Persecuting their brethren (who humble themselves and walk after the holy order of God).

In item 6 of the outline above, Alma introduces another group of members.  The contrast is stark and real. This other group of members are bringing forth works which are meet for repentance.  They have been sanctified by the Holy Spirit.  They have caught the vision of what it means to be a saint.  The 'wicked' group can't grasp this happiness.  It looks foolish to them and they fight against it (persecute their brethren).

7. Turning their backs upon the poor, the needy and withholding their substance from them.

Alma calls these things 'persisting in your wickedness' in verse 56.  Is there a message for our day as members of Christ's true church.  I'll let you decide.

I changed my mind.  The message is obviously the same for our day.  One problem (that is really hard for us to see) is that when we are puffed up in pride we don't think we are (see Alma 26:21).  When we can afford really nice things (costly apparel being the metaphor), we don't think twice about how it effects our discipleship.  Are we laying aside the temporal doctrine of Christ?  When our goal is to obtain riches and get the things of the world, do we do it for the right reasons (see Jacob 2:19)?  If we have riches, do we quietly or not so quietly believe that somehow we are better than those who are struggling?  When these things are brought to our attention do we resist, discounting the person telling us of the doctrinal inconsistency that we might be living?  The resisters of the past would say 'away with him!  He has a devil!'  Do we inadvertently withhold our substance the poor and needy by having so much debt that we can barely give or by diverting our funds into whatever (investments or toys) so it's as if we are turning our backs upon them, walking by them and noticing them not (see Mormon 8:39)?  Could we be mocking the poor just by 'adorning ourselves with costly apparel (again, a metaphor)'?  As we 'lay these things aside' do we 'trample' the Savior under our feet?  To 'lay these things aside' means to not want to think about them.  It means to avoid these weightier matters and focus on other lighter things.

These are questions I have mostly for myself.  It takes time for me to shift my thinking to Book of Mormon thinking.  It feels like I am going against everything I was modeled and taught.   I remind myself that the ways of God are considered foolish to the natural man (see Alma 26:21)  and that gives me courage to persist in practicing my discipleship. The promise is happiness (see 2 Nephi 9:42-43).

The Cause of Amalickiah's Dissension - Part 2

The Cause of Amalickiah's Dissension - Part 2

In our previous discussion (Part 1) Helaman and his brethren went around the land prescribing rules and order (regulation) for the church.  What they were preaching offended a segment of church members.  These members were proud and exceedingly rich and would not walk uprightly before God.(see Alma 45:24)

As we move into in Alma, chapter 46, this dissension evolves into an all out battle.  The dissenters got so angry that they wanted to kill their brethren.  Why?  We don't have enough information to know exactly what their gripe was but it looks like two opposing paradigms are clashing.  As I think about the opposing paradigms, I make the following observations.

1. Both paradigms have large followings.  
2. The rich church members, that are proud, prefer one paradigm.
3. The balance prefers what is being preached by Helaman and the brethren.
4. Helaman is preaching what his father preached.(see Alma 31:5)
5. Alma, Helaman's father, preached hard doctrine against the rich that are proud.
6. One of Alma's definitions of walking in the pride of one's heart was the wearing of fine twine apparel, thus making a mock of their brethren.(see Alma 5:53,55)
7. Alma preached that the true temporal tenet of Christ's gospel was living in equality, voluntarily giving of one's surplus to the priests to be redistributed to those in need. He taught what his father taught. (See Mosiah 18:27-29)
8. This doctrine clashes with the 'I earned it and do what I want with it - and I am surely not going to give it away!' doctrine of the world.(see Alma 30:28)
9. A Christian in 73 B.C. not wanting to live this doctrine yet wanting to be a member of the church for all other reasons, good and bad, ended up having their 'I'm a member in good standing' paradigm put into question because of Helaman's preaching of the word in its purity.(see Alma 45:23)
10. A good way to get rid of the offending doctrine is to either kill off the other group or establish a king to take charge and change the religious laws of the country.(see Alma 46:1-2)

It appears to me that church had great influence in Nephite government.  Perhaps, at this time a majority of the people were members of the Christian church.  The reason why I note this is for some reason, dissension from the church moved immediately into the political arena, dividing the people into two camps.  The division becomes a revolt.(Alma 46:1).

Those that will not change their ways and hearken to the words of Helaman gather against  them.  They were so angry with their believing brethren that they want to kill them.(Alma 46:2).  Now the leader of this division was Almalickiah.  They wanted him to be their king.  He and his party had political control over much of the government.  His words were so convincing that many members dissented from the church.

And we know the rest of the story.  Almalickiah defects to the Lamanites and eventually through intrigue and fraud becomes their king and starts another war with the Nephites.

Whether or not Almalickiah was a Christian himself (which seems to be inferred) he didn't like what Helaman was preaching and preached against it.  Amalickiah's teachings were probably Nehor doctrine similar to what Korihor taught.  I can imagine what he may have taught: everyone ought to have their agency to decide how to use their riches.  You created your wealth through your own industry and you should enjoy the fruits of your labors.  Don't fear the priests or some unknown God.  In fact, redistribution to the poor is kind of foolish.  They brought  their financial woes upon themselves.  And the agency argument goes on and on.  It reminds me of a scripture in 2 Nephi.  2 Nephi 9:30, 42-43.  The things of the wise and prudent are always hid from the rich that are proud.

The Cause of Amalickiah's Dissension - Part 1

What was the cause of Amalikiah's dissension?

Amalickiah was a leader of group of dissenters that sought for governing power over the Nephites (Alma 46:4).  But, what led up to this rift that produced a new war between the Nephites and the Lamanites?


The Nephites had successfully repulsed the Lamanites in 73 B.C.  They fasted and prayed, rejoicing of their deliverance from the hands of the Lamanites.  Alma confers the preaching of the word to his son, Helaman and departs ((Alma 45:19).  Helaman realizes that regulations (corrections) needed to be made in the church and goes forth to establish the church again throughout all the land (v.21).

After appointing priests and teachers over the churches, dissensions begin to occur.  Some members wouldn't give heed to their words (v.23).  What were the words that these members rejected?  It has to do with growing proud, having exceedingly great riches and growing rich in their own eyes (v.24).  This pride (growing rich in their own eyes) caused these members not to give heed to their words.  What were the rich all upset about?  


The church in Alma's time had adopted a tradition (a doctrinal tenant) that had been passed down from the beginning of the Nephite civilization.  Jacob taught it ( Jacob 2:17-19). King Benjamin taught it (Mosiah 4:26); Alma the Elder taught it (Mosiah 18:27-29) and Alma required obedience to it (Alma 4:12,13,15, Alma 5.53-55,59-60) or have their names blotted out (Alma 6:3).  The tradition goes something like this: We as Christians, having good desires towards God and towards our fellowman, choose to walk humbly before God, manifesting our faith in Christ by giving our surplus riches to the poor in order to help them and maintain a temporal equality among the members of the church.


The rich that grew proud in their own eyes did not like this doctrine.


We will see in Part 2 of this discussion that Amaliciah was part of this group of dissenters and became their leader.

Modern Day 'Scientific' Views Toward Religion Nothing New - Part 2

After using a kind of empiricism (since I can't see it, it doesn't exist) to debunk any sort of faith in Christ, prophecies and any internal manifestation that anybody has had that has brought them joy, peace, testimony or a witness from God, Korihor goes on telling his listeners that, with all these 'foolish things' removed, man is free to do whatever he wants. His doctrine is so common in the world that we don't see it for what it really is: a doctrine resulting from pure unbelief.

And here it is:

1. Every man fares in this life according the management of the creature.
2. Therefore, every man prospered according to his genius.
3 Every man conquered according to his strength.
4. Whatsoever a man did was no crime.

The resulting effects of Korihor's preaching leads many to lift up their heads in their wickedness. They have received license from Korihor to so anything they want. Along with the economic doctrine stated above, many people fall into sexual transgression. You might as well do whatever to want because when a man was dead, that was the end there of.

I see the affects of Korihor's doctrine across America and the world. Do you see it? Instead of trying to further ascertain what the Korihorian traditions are in our our world today, why not establish some principles that correct these false ideas? Mormon and Alma were decrying these false doctrines, so why don't we? Perhaps the following adjustments could be made to Korihor'steachings stated previously:

1. We all collectively fare in this life according to the management of each individuals unique gifts and talents.
2. Therefore, we all prosper collectively according to each of our God-given geniuses.
3. No man need conquer because of the love of God spreading forth into the hearts of man.
4. Having a good desire toward God and man, giving freely, believing that all temporal and spiritual gifts are to be used for the betterment of society as a whole is The Way. Perhaps it's a crime to do otherwise.

Korihor's 'there is no crime' dog eat dog, 'it's mine' doctrine, stirs up the carnal, natural parts of the human psyche. Instead, we ought to be teaching mankind how to attain to a higher plain of existence. The gospel of Jesus Christ, if followed, does exactly that.