Giddianhi tried to appeal to the emotions of Lachoneus and the Nephites by flattering then in their efforts and using their terminology (“ye stand as if ye were supported by a god”) even though he didn’t believe a word of what he was saying. He also covered his bases by appealing to their emotions on the other side—stoking their fear by threatening their utter destruction. The goal of his letter was to shake them in hopes of defeating them before they even put up a fight.
I thought it was instructive that they taught all the robbers that they captured and allowed any to live freely if they renounced the lies of their secret combination. This wasn’t about exacting revenge, just making sure their former antagonists were living in reality. It’s what we should do with most of the January 6th rioters. Unfortunately we were slow enough in trying to identify them that their lies have had time to metastasize.
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