Alma 61

 (All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 green6/21 8/22 Brown 10/23.) 

CHAPTER 61

Pahoran tells Moroni of the insurrection and rebellion against the government—The king-men take Zarahemla and are in league with the Lamanites—Pahoran asks for military aid against the rebels. About 62 B.C.

  1 Behold, now it came to pass that soon after Moroni had sent his epistle unto the chief governor, he received an epistle from ^aPahoran, the chief governor. And these are the words which he received: Pahoran was quick to respond to correct Moroni's "story"
  2 I, Pahoran, who am the chief governor of this land, do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army. Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great ^aafflictions, yea, it grieves my soul. Acknowledge; compassion
  3 But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions, yea, insomuch that they have risen up in ^arebellion against me, and also those of my people who are ^bfreemen, yea, and those who have risen up are exceedingly numerous.
  4 And it is those who have sought to take away the judgment-seat from me that have been the cause of this great iniquity; for they have used great ^aflattery, and they have ^bled away the hearts of many people, which will be the cause of sore affliction among us; they have withheld our provisions, and have daunted our ^cfreemen that they have not come unto you. What words of flattery did they use to lead away the hearts of many? Promises of wealth? ease? no consequence for choices? no rules? no accountability? false gods? incorrect view of God? Flattery is a test you can use to discern what you are being taught is true or not. If it appeals to the carnal man, then it is false. If it causes the natural man to feel uncomfortable then it is probably true... watch out for flattery! This applies to discerning true and false revelations and visitations.
  5 And behold, they have driven me out before them, and I have fled to the land of Gideon, with as many men as it were possible that I could get.
  6 And behold, I have sent a proclamation throughout this part of the land; and behold, they are ^aflocking to us ^bdaily, to their arms, in the defence of their country and their ^cfreedom, and to avenge our ^dwrongs.
  7 And they have come unto us, insomuch that those who have risen up in rebellion against us are set at defiance, yea, insomuch that they do fear us and durst not come out against us to battle.
  8 They have ^agot possession of the land, or the city, of Zarahemla; they have appointed a ^bking over them, and he hath written unto the king of the Lamanites, in the which he hath joined an alliance with him; in the which alliance he hath agreed to maintain the city of Zarahemla, which maintenance he supposeth will enable the Lamanites to conquer the remainder of the land, and he shall be placed king over this people when they shall be conquered ^cunder the Lamanites. Interesting that he's already a "king", but he thinks he can secure that position by uniting with the Lamanites and being a "king" under their rule...
  9 And now, in your epistle you have ^acensured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek  for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us ^cfree. He sees Moroni's intention and doesn't take it personally. He unites with his "greatness of heart" over preserving rights and liberty in God.
 10 And now, behold, we will resist wickedness even unto bloodshed. We would ^anot shed the blood of the Lamanites if they would stay in their own land. Ah....there you have it. You do not fear resisting wickedness, even if it brings persecution, war, or death. "Stand for truth and righteousness at ALL times, in ALL things, in ALL places! (Feels appropriate to post this here:)

MESSAGE TO THE UNVACCINATED: (AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

  "Even if I were fully vaccinated, I would admire the unvaccinated for withstanding the greatest pressure I have ever seen, even from partners, parents, children, friends, colleagues and doctors.
  People who were capable of such personality, courage and critical ability are undoubtedly the best of humanity. They are everywhere, in all ages, levels of education, states, and ideas. They are of a special kind; they are the soldiers that every army of light wants to have in its ranks. They are the parents that every child wants to have and the children that every parent dreams of having. They are beings above the average of their societies, they are the essence of the people who have built all cultures and conquered horizons. They are there, next to you, they look normal, but they are superheroes.
  They did what others could not, they were the tree that withstood the hurricane of insults, discrimination and social exclusion. And they did it because they thought they were alone, and believed they were the only ones.
  Banned from their families' tables at Christmas, they never saw anything so cruel. They lost their jobs, let their careers sink, had no more money...but they didn't care. They suffered immeasurable discrimination, denunciation, betrayal and humiliation...but they kept going
  Never before in humanity has there been such a "casting", now we know who are the best on planet Earth. Women, men, old, young, rich, poor, of all races or religions, the unvaccinated, the chosen of the invisible ark, the only ones who managed to resist when everything collapsed.
  That's you. You passed an unimaginable test that many of the toughest Marines, commandos, Green Berets, astronauts and geniuses could not withstand.
  You are made of the stuff of the greatest who ever lived, those heroes born among ordinary men who glow in the dark."

 11 We would not shed the blood of our brethren if they would not rise up in rebellion and take the sword against us.
 12 We would subject ourselves to the ^ayoke of bondage if it were requisite with the justice of God, or if he should command us so to do. Sounds like two different things... Does God ask us to submit to bondage sometimes? Isn't submitting to bondage not standing for truth and righteous even unto death? 
 13 But behold he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our ^atrust in him, and he will deliver us. Is he saying God doesn't command them to subject themselves in this particular case or as a general rule...
 14 Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our ^awords, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us ^bresist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God. Always try "words" first...
 15 Therefore, come unto me speedily with a few of your men, and leave the remainder in the charge of Lehi and Teancum; give unto them power to conduct the ^awar in that part of the land, according to the ^bSpirit of God, which is also the ^cspirit of freedom which is in them. Interesting...the Spirit of God is also the spirit of freedom. Seems like you cannot claim to have the Spirit of God if you do not also feel a spirit of freedom. Does that mean that everyone who is passively submitting to the bondage rule of covid don't have the spirit of God?
 16 Behold I have sent a few provisions unto them, that they may not perish until ye can come unto me.
 17 Gather together whatsoever force ye can upon your march hither, and we will go speedily against those dissenters, in the strength of our God according to the faith which is in us. This is the only way to fight - in the strength of God and with faith in Him.
 18 And we will ^atake possession of the city of Zarahemla, that we may obtain more food to send forth unto Lehi and Teancum; yea, we will go forth against them in the strength of the Lord, in the spirit of freedom and we will put an end to this great iniquity.
 19 And now, Moroni, I do joy in receiving your epistle, for I was somewhat worried concerning what we should do, whether it should be just in us to go against our brethren.
 20 But ye have said, except they repent the Lord ^ahath commanded you that ye should go against them.
 21 See that ye ^astrengthen Lehi and Teancum in the Lord; tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and also all those who ^bstand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free. And now I close mine epistle to my beloved brother, Moroni.  This is our promise and faith also...or should be. Fear not! God will deliver you. Stand fast in that liberty which God has given you to make you free! The following feels appropriate here: