Alma 43 - 52

(1.) MODERN PARALLELS: The politics and wars that follow in the chapters being studied show the use and abuse of both the justice and mercy examined in the previous lesson. There are parallels to Israel's modern history as rights and obligations are being challenged and then balanced with ideologies and political aspirations. Israel is not seeking for monarchy or power over one ethnic group or another. Rather, an existence promised by God along with coexistence of others in the same land.

(2.) JUSTIFICATION FOR WAR: "Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church." (Alma 43:45)

(3.) MORONI'S "CUNNING" AND ISRAEL'S "APACHE HELICOPTERS:" Zerahemna denied Moroni's success as rooted in faith and in God-given destiny. He claimed that the Nephite's weaponry and state-of-the-art military skills gave them an advantage over the Lamanites. A parallel to that can be seen in Israel's modern history. Those who choose to fight against Israel deny Israel's claim rooted in faith and in a God-given destiny. They complain about USA's state-of-the-art military aid to Israel, an unfair advantage over "Palestinians."

(4.) ONE-THIRD SIDED WITH VIOLENCE AND FORCE: Please note that most of the Arabs under (and not under) "Palestinian Authority" do not wish to fight. Polls done in the area of the Palestinian Authority, repeatedly show that the popular vote for the Palestinian leader seems to be considerably less than a majority of the entire population. Only about one-third side with violence and force. Please note that the figures were about the same in the "War in Heaven."

(5.) A REASON FOR NOT BEHEADING: For years I wondered what the reason was that Zarahemna's life was spared . . . even when he attacked Moroni at the "Peace Conference." Anyone traveling to Mayan ruins in Central America soon learns that in some "ball games" the winner gets decapitated as the audience witnesses this "exciting" event. If Zarahemna would have been decapitated instead of receiving a "hair cut" - he would have been the "winner!" At least, his people, with such a lust for blood, would have interpreted it that way.

(6.) DEMISE OF DICTATORSHIPS - MUTATION OF MONARCHIES: The ultimate resolution to conflict is following the instruction and counsel of the Messiah in accepting his eventual arrival and rule. Then the rights and obligations and the ideologies and political aspirations will be righteously balanced. Powers usurped by monarchies or dictatorships will disappear as the Savior appears and leads with justice and mercy.