Alma 47
Alma 47
Fraud and degrees. Those are two of the words that stick out to me. Amalickiah could have "stormed the castle," aggressively overtaking the Lamanites. But he chose to coax and manipulate, hiding his evil deeds in the shadows.
Isn't that how the adversary works? He coaxes and lies, making sin appear harmless, even fun- or even liberating. He uses fraud, by degrees, to slowly and stealthily coax us under his control.
Amalickiah was brilliant- the way he saw the 'big picture,' understood the psychology of people, and planned his moves months in advance. This chapter couldn't have unfolded in a few days or a week. It was months in the making, I am sure. Brilliant is not good when used for an evil cause.
The last verse speaks to how the dissenters were more wicked than the Lamanites, who never believed in the first place. I look at it this way: faith is planted like a seed in our hearts, and it grows, creating a cavity or space in our hearts where our testimonies abide. When we turn away from the truth- from what we once knew- that space is empty. It fills up with all the greed, pride and selfishness the Adversary loves. The new contents make the once-soft believing heart into a cold and hard one.
There must have been times, curing this whole time, when Amalickiah was alone in his thoughts. I wonder if he thought of the teachings of Helaman, the courage of captain Moroni. I wonder if he had family left behind, a wife, children. Did he think of them? Or was he so cold-hearted and empty from his dissension.
Such a sad tale. But, also a great warning for us these days. There are modern-day Amalickiah's everywhere, using fraud and trying to coax us into doing wrong. We must be ever vigilant.
Fraud and degrees. Those are two of the words that stick out to me. Amalickiah could have "stormed the castle," aggressively overtaking the Lamanites. But he chose to coax and manipulate, hiding his evil deeds in the shadows.
Isn't that how the adversary works? He coaxes and lies, making sin appear harmless, even fun- or even liberating. He uses fraud, by degrees, to slowly and stealthily coax us under his control.
Amalickiah was brilliant- the way he saw the 'big picture,' understood the psychology of people, and planned his moves months in advance. This chapter couldn't have unfolded in a few days or a week. It was months in the making, I am sure. Brilliant is not good when used for an evil cause.
The last verse speaks to how the dissenters were more wicked than the Lamanites, who never believed in the first place. I look at it this way: faith is planted like a seed in our hearts, and it grows, creating a cavity or space in our hearts where our testimonies abide. When we turn away from the truth- from what we once knew- that space is empty. It fills up with all the greed, pride and selfishness the Adversary loves. The new contents make the once-soft believing heart into a cold and hard one.
There must have been times, curing this whole time, when Amalickiah was alone in his thoughts. I wonder if he thought of the teachings of Helaman, the courage of captain Moroni. I wonder if he had family left behind, a wife, children. Did he think of them? Or was he so cold-hearted and empty from his dissension.
Such a sad tale. But, also a great warning for us these days. There are modern-day Amalickiah's everywhere, using fraud and trying to coax us into doing wrong. We must be ever vigilant.
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