On Tuesday, November 1st we visited the city of Mirandela. This city is located 40 minutes away from us. We have attended Church there but never had much time to explore the city. The population is about 26,000.
There is a medieval bridge built in the 16th century over the Tua river. This bridge is now a pedestrian only bridge and is 775 feet in length. Some sources say the bridge was originally built by the Romans. The bridge is in the background.
“And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.” (Alma 31:5)
There are several examples of how the sword can effect the minds of people. For example:
“And it came to pass that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, he [Moroni] caused to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom.” (Alma 46:35)
“And it came to pass that there were four thousand of those dissenters who were hewn down by the sword; and those of their leaders who were not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison, for there was no time for their trials at this period. And the remainder of those dissenters, rather than be smitten down to the earth by the sword, yielded to the standard of liberty, and were compelled to hoist the title of liberty upon their towers, and in their cities, and to take up arms in defence of their country.” (Alma 51:19-20)
However, a “more powerful effect” occurs when someone is converted.
“The people of the church did have great joy because of the conversion of the Lamanites” (Hel. 6:3)“And there were about three hundred souls who saw and heard these things; and they were bidden to go forth and marvel not, neither should they doubt. And it came to pass that they did go forth, and did minister unto the people, declaring throughout all the regions round about all the things which they had heard and seen, insomuch that the more part of the Lamanites were convinced of them, because of the greatness of the evidences which they had received. And as many as were convinced did lay down their weapons of war, and also their hatred and the tradition of their fathers. And it came to pass that they did yield up unto the Nephites the lands of their possession.” (Hel. 5:49-52) This is an example of how “the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just” (Alma 31:5) Yielding up the land to the Nephites was just.
Likewise a group of dissenters are converted “and immediately returned to the Nephites to endeavor to repair unto them the wrongs which they had done.” (Hel. 5:17)
One of the greatest examples of the “more powerful effect” is the preaching of Nephi and Lehi (great grandsons of Alma the younger) they “did preach with great power, insomuch that they did confound many of those dissenters who had gone over from the Nephites, insomuch that they came forth and did confess their sins and were baptized unto repentance, and immediately returned to the Nephites to endeavor to repair unto them the wrongs which they had done. And it came to pass that Nephi and Lehi did preach unto the Lamanites with such great power …unto the great astonishment of the Lamanites, to the convincing them, insomuch that there were eight thousand of the Lamanites who were in the land of Zarahemla and round about baptized unto repentance, and were convinced of the wickedness of the traditions of their fathers.” (Hel. 5:17-19)
Another example: “And it came to pass that the Lamanites did hunt the band of robbers of Gadianton; and [see note below on repetitive resumption] they did preach the word of God among the more wicked part of them, insomuch that this band of robbers was utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites.” (Hel. 6:37)
Earlier Mormon explains that the Lamanites “did use every means in their power to destroy” (v20) the Gadianton robbers.
Appears that “the more wicked part of them” (v37) refers to “the more wicked part of the Lamanites” (v18) Therefore the word of God was preached unto the more wicked part of the Lamanites and not necessarily to the Gadianton robbers. The Gadianton robbers meanwhile “were utterly destroyed from among the Lamanites” (v37)
Brant Gardner said: “Many ancient writers were faced with need to insert a later text into an earlier document, or perhaps to simply write an aside to the main text. To mark this inserted, out-of-line, text into their document, they used a technique that has been called repetitive resumption. The name is basically the description.
When faced with an inserted text, there are two important points. The first is the departure point in the original text. The second is the return to the original text. To mark the insertion, ancient authors would repeat important information from the departure text.” (Book of Mormon Minute, 1 Ne. 6:1-6, Part 1)
Alma explains to Helaman: “For because of the word which he has imparted unto me, behold, many have been born of God, and have tasted as I have tasted, and have seen eye to eye as I have seen; therefore they do know of these things of which I have spoken, as I do know; and the knowledge which I have is of God.” (Alma 36:26)
Conversion often occurs when people remember past teachings.
“For many of them, after having suffered much loss and so many afflictions, began to be stirred up in remembrance of the words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their land; therefore they began to disbelieve the traditions of their fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power unto the Nephites; and thus there were many of them converted in the wilderness.” (Alma 25:6)
Enos writes: “And I will tell you of the wrestle which I had before God, before I received a remission of my sins. Behold, I went to hunt beasts in the forests; and the words which I had often heard my father speak concerning eternal life, and the joy of the saints, sunk deep into my heart.” (Enos 1:2-3)
Alma describes his conversion to Helaman: “behold, I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.” (Alma 36:17)
President Boyd K. Packer said: “True doctrine, understood, changes attitudes and behavior. The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior.” (Ensign, Nov. 1986, “Little Children”)
President Ezra Taft Benson said: "It is not just that the Book of Mormon teaches us truth, though it indeed does that. It is not just that the Book of Mormon bears testimony of Christ, though it indeed does that, too. But there is something more. There is a power in the book which will begin to flow into your lives the moment you begin a serious study of the book. You will find greater power to resist temptation. You will find the power to avoid deception. You will find the power to stay on the strait and narrow path. The scriptures are called “the words of life” (D&C 84:85), and nowhere is that more true than it is of the Book of Mormon. When you begin to hunger and thirst after those words, you will find life in greater and greater abundance." (General Conference- October, 1986 "The Book of Mormon-Keystone of Our Religion")
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