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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 14
advantage of their nonresistance on the Jewish sabbath, and a thousand souls were slain. However,
the Hasidaeans came to their rescue and saved them from extermination (I Maccabees 2:33-48 ).
Nonresistance or noncooperation was used successfully by Mahatma Gandhi in modern times in
India. It finally led to their independence from the British in 1950.
Alma 14:43 And this they did, it being in their view a testimony to God, and also to men, that they
never would use weapons again for the shedding of man's blood;
They would give up their own lives rather than destroy their brethren and commit sin (44,45). This
takes love as well as courage. This is a remarkable instance of moral determination. Man has a
built-in mechanism for self- preservation. But in this instance high idealism and faith triumphed
over nature. For one or a few to be so loyal to humanitarian principle is conceivable but for a
whole army to do so is marvelous.
THE LAMANITES REFUSE TO CONTINUE THE SLAUGHTER, VER. 49-65
Alma 14:49 Now when the people saw that they were coming against them, they went out to meet them,
and prostrated themselves before them to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord;
The Lamanites were not impressed by this meekness at first, but after they had slain 1,005, "they
did forbear from slaying them" (51). By this time they became remorseful and "threw down their
weapons of war, and they would not take them again, for they were stung for the murders which
they had committed" (53). Those whom they slew were righteous, "and not a wicked man. ..among
them; but there were more than a thousand (Lamanites} brought to the knowledge of the truth"
(55). The historian notes that it was the Amalekites and Amulonites of the order of Nehor who did
the killing, and none of them "joined the people of the Lord" (57). Thus, he pointed out, once a
people has been enlightened by the Spirit of God, and they have "fallen away into sin. ..they
become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known
these things" (58).
Alma 14:60 And they did no more attempt to slay the people of Anti-Nephi- Lehi at that time; but they
took their armies and went over into the borders of the land of Zarahemla, and fell upon the people who
were in the land of Ammonihah and destroyed them.
Among those slain "were almost all the seed of Amulon and his brethren, who were the priests 0£
Noah" (62). Those who were left went to the east wilderness, usurped power and authority over
the Lamanites, and burned them for their belief (63). After these losses many Lamanites began "to
disbelieve the traditions of their fathers," and "there were many of them converted in the
wilderness" (65).
ABINADI'S PROPHECY FULFILLED, VER. 66- 78
Alma 14:68 And behold they are hunted at this day, by the Lamanites: thus the words of Abinadi were
brought to pass, which he said concerning the seed of the priests who caused that he should suffer death
by fire.