A DEFENDER OF THE FAITH

 

For as long as this earth exists, there will be an Amalickiah who opposes the truth (Alma 46:1-3). The Amalickiah who lived in 73-72 B.C. was a man who desired power over the people and who led away others from the truth by his flatteries and promises that they too can be rulers over others if they would give him their support (v 4-5). Thus he sought to overthrow the freedom and liberty of the people. Remind you of someone???

Enter Moroni and his title of liberty. His passion for his God and preservation of righteouesness leaves me breathless. Such a pure and righteous desire can only invite the spirit of God to ignite the hearts of the people. Imagine Moroni navigating the streets of Zarahemla waving his rent coat as the title of liberty and crying with a load voice inviting people to enter into a covenant of obedience (v 12-20). So strong were the flames of the spirit that people came running to him dressed in armour and rending their garments as a token of their covenant (v 21-22).

Here is the lesson for us today. Note that Moroni’s title of liberty was about freedom to choose God and obedience to His commandments which Amalickiah and the dissenters would have taken away had they risen to political power (v 13).  Despite the valiant efforts of Helaman and his brothers, who were high priests, to care for the spiritual welfare of the people, political ambitions were fostered by the lower judges of the land as a means to draw people away from the Church (v 4-7). The Church members who dissented followed the doctrine of the adversary and his thirst for power to destroy the spiritual welfare of those whom he sought to rule over.

We fight the forces of darkness today which seek to take away our spiritual liberty. Satan still seeks to rule over us. He employs subtle means and ways to control us. Using his worldly enticements of popularity, power and praise, he employs the following tactics:

HIS THREE DOCTRINES:

1. There is no punishment for sin;

2. There is nothing after death;

3. He does not exist.

HIS THREE LIES:

1. Just once won’t hurt;

2. No one will know;

3. Everybody is doing it.

HIS VALUE SYSTEM:

1. Selfishness;

2. Self-indulgence;

3. Immediate gratification.

HIS SALES TECHNIQUES:

1. Pacifying;

2. Flattering;

3. Lulling.

HIS GOAL:

1. To steal our spiritual identity;

2. To kill our faith in God;

3. To destroy our commitment to Christ.

In his prayer to God, Captain Moroni was clear that the attack on freedom was specifically an attack on  Christians (c 13-14). To preserve people’s faith in Christ, ‘he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land’ (v 36). Whichever way they looked, the Nephites were reminded of their standard of liberty and the covenant they made with God for the preservation of their freedom.

Moroni was a man who was ‘firm in the faith of Christ’ (Alma 48:13). Mormon said ‘If all men were like  Moroni, the very powers of hell would be shaken forever and the devil would have no power over us’ (v 17). Imagine the power we would have if we never faltered in our faith in Christ. Imagine how quickly we would become like Him. We would be moving heaven and earth by our very existence.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: AI Generated)