Power-Plays: On & On & On
As we read below, can we see latter-day parallels? Could we substitute:
Read On ~ BC 72:Nephites = those of every nation, kindred, tongue, religion, race, and people who (when not distracted*) believe in / advocate for / defend human rights and freedoms?
Amalekites / Zoramites = the leaders, alleged elites, supporters, and sustainers of corrupted science and government for the purpose of pursuing and protecting power, gain, and glory?
Lamanites = the distracted* population of every nation, kindred, tongue, religion, race, and people (including Nephite dissenters) whom the alleged leaders and elites seek to deceive, blind, stir up, control, and manipulate into supporting and carrying out their (oft-concealed) agendas for pursuing and protecting power, gain, and glory?
Church = the foundation of liberty?
5 And it came to pass that ... a man by the name of Zerahemnah was their leader.The above accounts detail only two of the many power-wars profiled in the ancient North / South American record. As for us, WE are now in the midst of the most egregious, murderous power-play in history.
6 And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites.
7 Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs.
8 For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage.
9 And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and their houses, and their wives, and their children, that they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies; and also that they might preserve their rights and their privileges, yea, and also their liberty, that they might worship God according to their desires.
10 For they knew that if they should fall into the hands of the [Amalekites / Zoramites /] Lamanites, that whosoever should worship God in spirit and in truth, the true and the living God, the [Amalekites / Zoramites /] Lamanites would destroy.1
3 Now the leader of those who were wroth against their brethren was a large and a strong man; and his name was Amalickiah.
4 And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their king; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for power.
5 And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalickiah, that if they would support him and establish him to be their king that he would make them rulers over the people.
6 Thus they were led away by Amalickiah to dissensions, notwithstanding the preaching of Helaman and his brethren, yea, notwithstanding their exceedingly great care over the church, for they were high priests over the church.
7 And there were many in the church who believed in the flattering word of Amalickiah, therefore they dissented even from the church; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi exceedingly precarious and dangerous, notwithstanding their great victory which they had had over the [Amalekites / Zoramites /] Lamanites, and their great rejoicings which they had had because of their deliverance by the hand of the Lord.
8 Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one.
9 Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men.
10 Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous' sake.2
1.AND now it came to pass that, as soon as Amalickiah had obtained the kingdom he began to inspire the hearts of the Lamanites against the people of Nephi; yea, he did appoint men to speak unto the Lamanites from their towers, against the Nephites.
2 And thus he did inspire their hearts against the Nephites, insomuch that in the latter end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges, he having accomplished his designs thus far, yea, having been made king over the Lamanites, he sought also to reign over all the land, yea, and all the people who were in the land, the Nephites as well as the Lamanites.
3 Therefore he had accomplished his design, for he had hardened the hearts of the Lamanites and blinded their minds, and stirred them up to anger, insomuch that he had gathered together a numerous host to go to battle against the Nephites.
4 For he was determined, because of the greatness of the number of his people, to overpower the Nephites and to bring them into bondage.
5 And thus he did appoint chief captains of the Zoramites, they being the most acquainted with the strength of the Nephites, and their places of resort, and the weakest parts of their cities; therefore he appointed them to be chief captains over his armies.3
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* 1: having one's thoughts or attention drawn away [from the truth of things as they really are] : unable to concentrate or give attention to something [of import]
2: harassed, confused, or deranged especially by strong feelings (source: https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/distracted )
(All bold emphasis added)
1. Book of Mormon | Alma 43:5-10
2. Book of Mormon | Alma 46:3-10
3. Book of Mormon | Alma 48:1-5
