They Did Bury Them Up Deep

After recording which cities of the Lamanites were converted unto the Lord, Mormon wrote, “These are they that laid down the weapons of their rebellion, yea, all their weapons of war” (Alma 23:13). Their conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ led them to set aside their weapons. Later, perhaps realizing that it would be too tempting to have these still close at hand, they went even further than this: “They took their swords, and all the weapons which were used for the shedding of man’s blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth. 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; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives” (Alma 24:17-18). What a powerful example they gave to all of us! Their story should still inspire us today to lay down our own weapons. For most of us, those are not physical weapons but the words and actions we use to punish others or get back at them or express our anger. On more than one occasion we have had our kids write down their biggest “weapon” on a piece of paper—such as hitting or scratching or biting—and we have helped them bury that paper in the ground outside. That hasn’t always eliminated the weapons completely, but it has been a good reminder to us to let go of anger and revenge and frustration and to focus on what ultimately has so much more power in the end: love.

               And yet, despite knowing this, I find that we are sometimes more like the Jaredites at the very end of their civilization than the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. Moroni recorded what happened as the people of Shiz and the people of Coriantumr killed each other: “And it came to pass that they fought all that day, and when the night came they slept upon their swords. And on the morrow they fought even until the night came. And when the night came they were drunken with anger, even as a man who is drunken with wine; and they slept again upon their swords. And on the morrow they fought again; and when the night came they had all fallen by the sword save it were fifty and two of the people of Coriantumr, and sixty and nine of the people of Shiz. And it came to pass that they slept upon their swords that night, and on the morrow they fought again” (Ether 15:20-24). Instead of burying their weapons, they did the opposite and slept with their swords. They were so attached to their swords, so addicted to revenge and bloodshed and fighting, that they kept their weapons with them day and night. Occasionally as tensions rise in our own personal relationships, we keep our figurative swords close and ready to vigorously defend our feelings and actions and viewpoints or to attack the faults and failings and differences of others. In those moments we would do well to remember the Anit-Nephi-Lehies, and instead of putting up angry words or writing defensive messages or giving hateful looks to those who offend us, we should let go of all our weapons and seek only to love as Jesus Christ would do. I love the feelings that the king of the Lamanites expressed as he forsook fighting forever: “And the great God has had mercy on us, and made these things known unto us that we might not perish; yea, and he has made these things known unto us beforehand, because he loveth our souls as well as he loveth our children; therefore, in his mercy he doth visit us by his angels, that the plan of salvation might be made known unto us as well as unto future generations. Oh, how merciful is our God! And now behold, since it has been as much as we could do to get our stains taken away from us, and our swords are made bright, let us hide them away that they may be kept bright” (Alma 24:14-15). The Lord has always been merciful to us too, and we should remember Him and His love as we are tempted to use our figurative weapons. Joy will only come to us as we bury them and humbly share instead His love with all those around us.