More from the Era of Alma and Ammon

* It’s odd how casually and offhand we get a few verses in Chapter 28 mentioning a horrific war with bodies piled up all over.

Read carefully the switch to the reign of the judges was a disaster.

the fifteenth year of the reign of the judges is ended.

10 And from the first year to the fifteenth has brought to pass the destruction of many thousand lives; yea, it has brought to pass an awful scene of bloodshed.

11 And the bodies of many thousands are laid low in the earth, while the bodies of many thousands are moldering in heaps upon the face of the earth; yea, and many thousands are mourning

This is a fact. The fact does not mean that the switch was wrong or that Monarchy is the One Perfect System. But it is a fact and when or if we turn to the Book of Mormon for political insights, it is a fact we need to take into account.

Nephite Modernity–https://www.jrganymede.com/2024/06/12/32551/

(If you do decide to use the reign of the judges to guide your beliefs about politics, you should also take into account that the reign of the Judges was not The Republic of the United States except with more feathers and turquoise).

*  Alma 26 reminds me of something Elder Bednar once said. Repentance isn’t a fix to the plan. Repentance is the plan.

And now behold, my brethren, what natural man is there that knoweth these things? I say unto you, there is none that knoweth these things, save it be the penitent.

22 Yea, he that repenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good works, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the mysteries of God;

*  The people of Ammon (the ANLs) covenant to live without war in the land of Jershon, under Nephite protection, in return for which they will materially support Nephite armies. I believe this story is genuine. Nonetheless, it sounds like a GREAT myth justifying an oppressive relationship: you guys are disarmed and have to pay taxes and its justified because you as a people are so bloodthirsty. We saw the same logic play out earlier in the oppression of the people of King Limhi and of Alma the Elder in the wilderness. However, the 2,000 stripling warriors seem to interrupt this narrative and may prevented it from being turned to evil in the Nephites’ later wicked days.

*  Was Samuel the Lamanite an Ammonite?