Fear God more than the enemy

(Note:  I apologize for the black font.  I am clueless how to change it.)

Alma 54

Ammoron and Moroni negotiate for the exchange of prisoners.  Moroni is so smart.  He says he's willing to exchange, but he'll release one prisoner for one of his families.  That would seem fair enough.  No, Ammoron is insulted and says boldly that he can take them anyway.

I am in awe of Moroni and his bold reply to Ammoron.  As I was reading this morning, I couldn't help but wander into the future.  Will there be a day when we are negotiating with the enemy to return those prisoners taken who love the Lord?  Will our negotiations be with an enemy we can see, or is our enemy going to be Satan?  Will we ever say to someone, ". . .you have fought against the people of the Lord. . ." (v8)?  It is hard for me to imagine the persecutions and troubles we've been promised we will have before the Savior will return.

This is nothing more than rambling this morning.  I was again intrigued at the lie Ammoran has embraced from his fathers in v17>  He says Moroni's fathers wronged their brethren, that they robbed them of their right to the government when it rightly belonged unto them.  I know how these lies start.  Lies work for those who use them.  They get te sympathy they are looking for and it is pride that keeps them from admitting the truth.  Yes, the big P-word. 

So what do I take away from reading this morning?  I need to be bold in bearing my testimony and beliefs, as was Moroni.  Don't negotiate with the adversary.  Fear God more than the enemy.  And at all costs, do not let pride get in the way of my progression.  I has the power to drag one down to the depths of hell in this life as well as the next. 

(Note:  I've also learned not to cut and paste into a document that has unknown HTML characters in it.  I apologize for the black font.  I'm clueless on how to change it and I've spent enough time trying.)