Category: Scripture Notes
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Trust and social capital
When the people could no longer trust their government they turned to the gross where they felt they could trust each other. These were primarily based on family relationships. such a fractured society those with little suicidal capital would be the most vulnerable. Considering how over coincides with lack of social capital I would guess…
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Carried away by pride
It will always amazed me that many judges in the land would turn to secret combinations to kill innocent men so soon after their nation was nearly destroyed by secret combinations simply because they testified in favor of repentance. When people are carried away in price they can be led to do any iniquity.
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A reprieve
Between periods of gross wickedness, the Nephites had some years or righteousness during the lifetime of Jesus. Sadly they didn’t most of that time flirting with secret combinations which nearly destroyed them twice in three decades.
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A late siege
The fact that the rivers tried to lay siege against the Nephites makes more sense when I consider that they did so after the Nephites had been sheltered together for four years. It would be reasonable to expect that their supplies were low by that time. Reasonable, but incorrect.
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Hidden agenda
What made Giddianhi write his invitation/threat? The obvious motive was to convince the Nephites to surrender but I wonder why. He must have expected that winning an all out war would be costly and not certain to succeed. I suspect he also was growing tired of living in the wilderness and subsisting of what plunger…
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Delayed response
The Nephites and Lamanites were in a much more sure position relative to the Gadianton rivers because they were slow to recognize or acknowledge the problem that was blossoming around them. Had they recognized and responded earlier the problem may not have grown to the proteins that it did – not unlike or current pandemic.
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Cultural touchpoints
Periodically things happen which are so significant, memorable and impactful that everyone in the affected culture at the time remembers them. The prophecies of Samuel were like that – otherwise after five years the people would have thought little about them. In our history things such as the bombing of Pearl Harbor, the assassination of…
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Blind disobedience
The people who did not wish to believe we’re willing to make up any excuse, no matter how baseless, to convince themselves that the prophets were driven by selfish motives. They would not believe the clear indications that the only motive was love and concern.
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Possible source of envy
How did the Nephites feel when Samuel said that the Lamanites would be preserved even if they fell into iniquity because of their steadiness when they were converted.? Is it possible that they were envious it that they felt Samuel was suggesting that God would play favorites.
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Silently righteous
Surely there were many people in Zerahemla who heard the words of Samuel and quietly rejoiced to hear someone preaching publicly about Christ. While the rents if the city overall were wicked the were doubtless some righteous among them who felt they had to live their faith in hiding (and a small number like Nephi…