Never negotiate with the Devil

Mosiah 19

Gideon goes after the King of the Nephites who is evil. He chases him to a tower and is in position to slay him, but the king notices that the Lamanites are coming after them. He talks Gideon into sparing his life so they can fight the battle at hand. The kind is more concerned for his own life than his peoples'. He talks some of the men into fleeing and leaving their families. COWARDESS! Some decide to stay but they use their fair daughters to soften the Lamanites. It works. This is still COWARDESS in my eyes. They agree with the Lamanites that if they will leave them alone they will pay 50% of evereything they own to be left alone. The Lamanites like this and agree. BONDAGE! The King is eventually killed and his son Limhi is made ruler over the people. He is a better man. Peace began to return, although there were guards all around them to keep them from fleeing. This lasted for two years.

When we don't do the right things for the right reasons, we can expect that the goodness will not continue for long. Such is the case today. The king was a coward which led his people into serious bondage.

What can be learned from this chapter? Never negotiate with the devil! His interest is not in your best interests in the least. You will be caught in his trap and be in bondage to him.