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HIDDEN
LDS/JEWISH INSIGHTS #31
Book of Mormon Gospel Doctrine Supplement by Daniel Rona
Weekly E-mail Reminder
<< FIRM IN THE FAITH OF
CHRIST >>
Alma 43 - 52
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(1.) MODERN PARALLELS:
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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.
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(2.) JUSTIFICATION FOR WAR:
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"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)
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(3.) MORONI'S
"CUNNING" AND ISRAEL'S "APACHE HELICOPTERS:"
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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."
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(4.) ONE-THIRD SIDED WITH
VIOLENCE AND FORCE:
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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."
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(5.) A REASON FOR NOT
BEHEADING:
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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.
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(6.) DEMISE OF DICTATORSHIPS
- MUTATION OF MONARCHIES:
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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.
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