Book of Mormon 21 - “Alma … Did Judge Righteous Judgments”

Lesson 21 looked at issues that are relevant to society as a whole: who our leaders are, how decisions should be made, what good government means, why we should avoid priestcraft, and how to prevent ourselves being drawn into teachings that are not in tune with gospel principles.

The Prime Minister of our country provides an example of how one man, in a position of power, can create negative results for an entire society, an entire country. He is self-opinionated and self-centred. His primary concern is not the people but amassing his own private fortune. He is owned by overseas banks. So many of his decisions are directly opposed to the welfare of this country and its people: asset sales, reduction of spending in health and education, a push for the TPP agreement, and dishonesty in communications. Since his term as Prime Minister commenced, we have seen a huge rise in homelessness, 

unemployment, and poverty. What surprises me is how he ever became Prime Minister. I have spoken to friends personally, on Facebook, and in social settings, and I have not found a single person who voted for him. This indicates a possible underlying problem. We must vote! We cannot sit back and say, “Well I am not going to vote. We have no politicians worth a vote!” If we do not vote, we cannot complain about the state of the nation.

When I look at our Members of Parliament, I can honestly say that one stands out as reliable, honest, caring, and hardworking. He is the MP for Mangere, a member in good standing, and a faithful priesthood holder. He displays a great love for the people in his electorate and engenders loyalty in return. I can imagine what it will be like when the leaders of church and state merge into one. I will be able to support these leaders with devotion and conviction. Nothing can guarantee good government, except when the leaders rely on the Lord’s direction. This can be seen when we compare the state of the Nephite nation under King Noah as opposed to under the leadership of King Benjamin or King Mosiah.

Brother Su'a William Seo, MP for Mangere, with some of my old students

I am still relieved that we live in a relatively peaceful country where the church is firmly established. I could not even imagine what it would be like to live in Uzbekistan or North Korea. To be quite honest, I would not like to be in America at the moment. Even a remote possibility of having Donald Trump as President would scare me. This man engenders disrespect, hatred, and intolerance.

In Mosiah 29, we learn some important things about governance. One thing we learn from Mosiah is that good governance provides a balance. This is illustrated in the diagram below (inspired by Wilcox, M. In the Book of Mormon: Gospel Study Companion, 2007).

In Mosiah 29:32 we are told that a wicked king leads to inequality in society. On one side of the scale we need to ensure that the rights and privileges of the people are protected. In Mosiah 29:33-34 we are told of the great weight that a political leader has to bear. We are also told about what is needed to balance the scale, i.e. that on the second side, every man must bear his part and accept personal responsibility. In Mosiah 29:38 we add one item to each side of the scale: on the first side, everyone must have an equal chance; and, on the second side, there must be accountability, each person must be willing to answer for his/her own sins.

We often read about the importance of accountability and transparency as key elements in a democracy, but the need for accountability extends from the elected leaders to groups and organisations that operate under private law. The need for individual citizens to be accountable is not seen as important (Accountability and transparency, http://democracyweb.org/node/42). In our materialistic world, all we hear is “rights…rights…rights”. The scale is completely tipped towards rights and privileges, while we ignore the need for accountability. Today, rights and privileges have become a license for sin, denying accountability. Guaranteeing rights and privileges must never be used as an excuse for sin (Wilcox, M. In the Book of Mormon: Gospel Study Companion, 2007).

As the Mosiah chapters come to an end, we learn about the new system of judges established in the Nephite nation. Alma was appointed as chief judge through a democratic process. In Alma 1 we learn about Nehor and the difficulties that arose through priestcraft. A definition of priestcraft is provided in 2 Nephi 26:29: “…priestcrafts are that men preach and set themselves up for a light unto the world, that they may get gain and praise of the world; but they seek not the welfare of Zion.” I understand this because of a personal experience. I used to write for an ESOL (English Second Language) magazine. At one stage, as part of my research, I was asked to interview three brothers. These brothers had made a pact, while they were still at school, that by the time they reached the age of 21 years, they would be millionaires. One went into the tourism industry and made a fortune. The second chose to follow an illegal means of acquiring wealth and ended up in prison. The third decided to start a church. He had become a millionaire at a very young age. My interview with him was disquieting. He certainly had charisma and charm. He was a convincing speaker. Yet, I was ill at ease throughout the interview. He had taken many of his ideas, beliefs, and even practices from the true gospel, but had changed doctrine to suit himself. Many people believe in his church and follow him. His influence grows steadily, as does his wealth. I can see why he appeals to people. He looks good, sounds good, and has even convinced himself that his words are the words of the Lord. After being with this man, I can understand why so many of the Nephites followed Nehor, and later Amlici (see Alma 2).

Nehor (left) & Amlici (right) - portraits by James H. Fullmer

Amlicites fighting by James H. Fullmer

We have so much evil around us in the world today. We have corrupt politicians, priestcraft, immorality, addictions, contention and warfare, good seen as evil and evil as good. So, how do we protect ourselves and our loved ones? The answer is in the simplicity of the gospel. We need to love the Lord and follow His teachings, live the gospel, pray, study, attend church meetings, attend the temple, and follow our leaders. If we are obedient, the Spirit will dwell in our hearts and in our lives. We will have the ability to discern the light from the darkness. We will never be alone. I know that I need the gospel, I need the Saviour’s love, I need the guidance of the Spirit. I cannot have these blessings if I do not earn them. Therefore, I need to be obedient and humble. I pray that I can do these things.