Love is the answer

Alma 43

The beginning of the war chapters.  These chapters took on an entirely new meaning when I attended a class that suggested it is not talking war as much as it is talking about protecting our homes and families from the evil war that is being waged against us by Satan. 

There are key players in this particular war.  We have the Nephites who are followers of God (The Lord’s people) and then we have the Lamanites who were raised on the lies of their fathers.  They were raised to hate the Nephites.  The other groups of people are the Almalakites and the Zoramites.  These were apostates – people who at one time believed in God.  (These three groups are Satan’s warriors.)  It is made clear in v7 that the apostates’ hatred toward the Nephites was even worse than that of the Lamanites.  This is something to be reckoned with in our day.  We have good people who fall away from the church for whatever reason.  Some of them are angry for perceived injustices or blessings they feel they have been denied.  They will do anything to make the church look bad in the eyes of the rest of the world.  They will go to extreme lengths to fight Satan’s war against the powers of heaven.  This is why we need to guard carefully the membership of our people – especially our own homes. 

One thing that stands out to me and is almost humorous is the stupidity of those who fight against the Lord.  They don’t use common sense. The Nephites used strategy and counseled with a prophet for guidance on how to fight this war that was being waged against them.  Alma, a prophet of the Lord, knew their plan through revelation and gave sound advice.  There were fearful moments and some were lost, but they stayed true to their cause and cornered their enemy.  They could have obliterated the entire group of dissenters; but instead, they tried to talk sense.  You really can’t talk sense to a dissenter.  They have their ideas, and in their distorted minds, they are truth.

What does this tell me about my life today?  Well, certainly the only way to deal with anyone is through the power of love.  Love is a language that we all understand though it is unfamiliar to some.  Acceptance is another key.  We all need to feel accepted for who we are.  Find common ground and work from that common ground.  It’s easier said than done, but if it wasn’t doable, I don’t believe the Lord would have commanded us to love one another.