Study Peace with the Book of Mormon
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How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings; that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good; that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth; … (Abinadi speaking truth to power and to his accusers)
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Study Peace with the Book of Mormon
Much of the Book of Mormon deals with military conflict. It teaches that war is a result of iniquity. 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/pro-peace scripture. The website “latter day satyagraha” is undertaking to study peace – and not war – with the Book of Mormon through the relatively new field of Peace Studies, asking the fundamental question: will humanity ever find a way to settle its differences without resorting to the violence of war? I hope I can provide a balanced and educated view on “war and peace” in the Book of Mormon...
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.Introductory Lesson:
reading the book of mormon with pacifist eyes
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1 Nephi 1–5: Why Nephi killed Laban?
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1 Nephi 6–10: I have a dream – like Lehi of old
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1 Nephi 12–15: I have seen the destruction of my people
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1 Nephi 16–18:
He leads the righteous into precious lands
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1 Nephi 19–22:
even their God do men trample under their feet
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2 Nephi 1:
this land was made for you and me
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2 Nephi 2–3: free forever to live in peace or die in war
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2 Nephi 4:
why am I angry because of mine enemy?..
2 Nephi 5-8:
they shall be a scourge unto thy seed
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2 Nephi 9 – 11:
he suffers the pains of every living creature
2 Nephi 12 – 17:
let us beat our swords into ploughshares
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2 Nephi 18–24:
the Everlasting Father,the Prince of Peace
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2 Nephi 25–27:
he denieth none that come unto him
2 Nephi 28–30:
they shall not hurt nor destroy in all my holy mountain
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Chapter 13 – 2 Nephi 31–33
ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ
Chapter 14 – Jacob 1–4
Chapter 15 Jacob 5–7
Chapter 16 – Enos, Jarom, Omni, Words of Mormon
Chapter 17 Mosiah 1–3
Chapter 18 – Mosiah 4–8
what did gandhi and king benjamin have in common
Chapter 19 Mosiah 9–17
Chapter 20 Mosiah 18–24
Chapter 21 Mosiah 25–29
Chapter 22 Alma 1–4
Chapter 23 Alma 5–7
Chapter 24 – Alma 8–12
a lost and fallen people – mormon conflictology
Chapter 25 Alma 13–16
Chapter 26 Alma 17–22
Chapter 27 Alma 23–29
Chapter 28 Alma 30–33
Chapter 29 Alma 34–35
Chapter 30 Alma 36–42
Chapter 31 Alma 43–51
Chapter 32 Alma 52–58
Chapter 33 Alma 59–63
Chapter 34 Helaman 1–4
Chapter 35 Helaman 5–9
Chapter 36 Helaman 10–12
Chapter 37 Helaman 13–16
Chapter 38 3 Nephi 1–5
Chapter 39 3 Nephi 6–10
Chapter 40 3 Nephi 11–14
Chapter 41 3 Nephi 15–18
Chapter 42 3 Nephi 19–23
Chapter 43 3 Nephi 24–30
Chapter 44 4 Nephi 1
teachings for the young, the rich and the beautiful
Chapter 45 Mormon 1–5
Chapter 46 Mormon 6–9
the book of mormon, an anti-war document
Chapter 47 Ether 1–5
Chapter 48 Ether 6–10
Chapter 49 Ether 11–15
Chapter 50 Moroni 1–8
Chapter 51 Moroni 9–10
Chapter 52 Epilogue
