Latter-day Satyagraha

.

Gordon B. Hinckley once said of the Book of Mormon that its ‘narrative is a chronicle of nations long since gone. But in its descriptions of the problems of today’s society, it is as current as the morning newspaper and much more definitive, inspired, and inspiring concerning the solutions of those problems. I know of no other writing which sets forth with such clarity the tragic consequences to societies that follow courses contrary to the commandments of God. Its pages trace the stories of two distinct civilizations that flourished on the Western Hemisphere. Each began as a small nation, its people walking in the fear of the Lord’.

‘But with prosperity came growing evils’, Hinckley continues. ‘The people succumbed to the wiles of ambitious and scheming leaders who oppressed them with burdensome taxes, who lulled them with hollow promises, who countenanced and even encouraged loose and lascivious living. These evil schemers led the people into terrible wars that resulted in the death of millions and the final and total extinction of two great civilizations in two different eras’.

In this light, it makes sense to view the Book of Mormon as an anti-war, pro-kingdom scripture. Andrew Bolton points to the ‘golden age’ of the repentant and responsive Nephites in the 4th book of Nephi who, in keeping the commandments of the resurrected Jesus, enjoying peace, faithful marriages, and all things common for nigh on 200 years. The fundamental reason to view the Book of Mormon as a document advocating nonviolence may be found in the following passage, according to Bolton:

And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which dwelt in the hearts of people. Later as the golden age began to decline the people hardened their hearts: for they were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. And they did smite the people of Jesus [...] and the people of Jesus did not smite again.

.

.

Although the above scripture lies at the centre of the history of the peoples of the Book of Mormon and describes the results of righteous living, the power of those lines stand in contrast to the last words of the prophet Mormon, before giving the golden plates to his son Moroni. Mormon, the abridger of the history of  his people, demonstrates a vivid concern with regards to the historical consequences of war among the children of Father Lehi and of the wickedness that led his people to destruction. He is eager to show to the remnant of the house of Israel, the indigenous peoples of the Americas  today, of  the things that led to the utter destruction of their ancestors, and describes in this manner the devastations that the infighting resulted in between the nephites and the lamanites, as well as among the jaredites:

And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was among the people, both of the Nephites and of the Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they delighted in the shedding of blood continually. And there never has been so great wickedness among all the children of Lehi, nor even among all the house of Israel as among this people.

.

.

And now behold, I, Mormon, do not desire to harrow up the souls of men in casting before them such an awful scene of blood and carnage as was laid before mine eyes; but I knowing that these things must surely be made known, and that all things which are hid must be revealed upon the house-tops [...] I write a small abridgment, daring not to give full account of the things which I have seen [...] that ye might not have too great sorrow because of the wickedness of this people.

For behold the Spirit of the Lord hath already ceased to strive with their fathers; and they are without Christ and God in the world; and they are driven about as chaff in the wind. They were once a delightsome people, and they had Christ for their shepherd; yea, they were led even by God the Father. But now, behold, they are led by Satan, even as chaff is driven before the wind, or as a vessel is tossed about upon the waves, without sail or anchor, or without anything wherewith to steer her; and even as she is, so are they.

In fact, this reminds me of what Gandhi once said: ‘an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth will make the whole world both blind and toothless’ or of Martin Luther King’s statement: ‘we live in a day and age where we have the choice between nonviolence or non-existence’. In addition, Patrick Mason in Possibilities for Mormon Peacebuilding suggests that the very title of the Book of Mormon is telling, ‘as it is named after the prophet-general Mormon, its chief editor and compiler. It should not surprise us that so much of the Book of Mormon is concerned – at times, almost obsessed – with war’. True, the book seems obsessed with war, but for a reason and with a purpose. This obsession must be seen in the light of where the name Mormon came from. He was named after the waters of Mormon, where the restoration of the covenants of God with the children of Lehi found place after Alma the older had preached the word he had heard from Abinadi.

.

.

The main purpose of the Book, as explained by Mormon himself on the title page, is to restore knowledge of the covenants God made with the house of Israel. This restoration of covenants, however, when seen in connection with the accounts of the prophets of the nephite nation puts forward a premise that the promises God has made to the fathers are dependent on the (direct-structural-cultural) righteousness of their children. That is why, the blood of the prophets are crying from the dust – not for revenge, but to show us a better way to the promised land: the kingdom of heaven on earth.

And now behold, I would speak unto the remnant of this people who are spared, if it so be that God may give unto them my words, that they may know of the things of their fathers; yea, I speak unto you, ye remnant of the house of Israel, and these are the words which I speak:

Know ye that ye are of the remnant of the house of Israel.

Know ye that ye must come unto repentance, or ye cannot be saved.

.

.

Know ye that ye must lay down your weapons of war, and delight no more in the shedding of blood, and take them not again (save it be that God shall command you).

Therefore repent, and be baptized in the name of Jesus, and lay hold upon the gospel of Christ (sermon to the nephites after his resurrection), which shall be set before you, not only in this record but also in the record that shall come unto the Gentiles from the Jews (sermon to the jews on the mount), which record shall come from the Gentiles unto you.

And ye will also know that ye are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; therefore ye are numbered among the people of the first covenant; and if it so be that ye believe in Christ, and are baptized, first in water, then with fire and with the Holy Ghost, following the example of our Savior (as the people of Jesus did – see above), according to that which he hath commanded us, it shall be well with you in the day of judgment. Amen.