In My Anger

Mosiah Chapter 20 (read here)

Background: King Noah is dead. His priests are hiding out in the wilderness because they cowardly left their families to save their own lives. Noah's son, Limhi, has taken over the kingdom and entered into an oath with the king of the Lamanites. They pay half of all their income to the Lamanites and are in turn left to live in peace.

In this chapter, the priests of Noah kidnap 24 of the daughters of the Lamanites and in his rage, the Lamanite king attacks Limhi's People. So before asking questions he assumes they are guilty and goes in and starts killing people. Limhi fights back. The Lamanite king is wounded and brought to Limhi to explain his actions. Limhi in turn explains about his father and his priests. They then explain everything to the Lamanite people and they are at peace once again.

What I find interesting about this chapter is that the killing was needless and could have been completely avoided if everyone has stopped to ask some questions before charging in.

The king says in verse 15 "...I have broken the oath because they people did carry away the daughters of my people; therefore, in my anger I did cause my people to come up to war against thy people"

lesson: don't act in anger.

also verses 26-26

"And it came to pass that they followed the king, and went forth without arms to meet the Lamanites. And it came to pass that they did meet the Lamanites; and the king of the Lamanites did bow himself down before them, and did plead in behalf of the people of Limhi.
And when the Lamanites saw the people of Limhi, that they were without arms, they had compassion on them and were pacified towards them, and returned with their king in peace to their own land"

Without arms or without defense. They were not defensive. In the first part of the chapter the Lamanites get angry and come at the people of Limhi, to which the people of Limhi then defend themselves and their families. But then the Leader is wounded and humbled and must listen to Limhi's point of view. They are pacified and they part in peace.

Lesson: Don't act in anger. Ask questions. Understand an other's point of view. Be humble and not defensive. offensive behavior inspires defensive tactics from the opposing party. If you want to understand and solve a problem don't approach in anger, it will only cause unnecessary casualties.