Stirs Them Up to Anger

Nephi made this prophesy about the adversary in the last days: “For behold, at that day shall he rage in the hearts of the children of men, and stir them up to anger against that which is good” (2 Nephi 28:20). We certainly see the fulfillment of that today. As President Nelson said in the most recent general conference: “The present hostility in public dialogue and on social media is alarming. Hateful words are deadly weapons. Contention prevents the Holy Ghost from being our constant companion.” This was a reminder of the message he gave a couple of years ago when he spoke of “the venomous contention that infects our civic dialogue and too many personal relationships today.” He taught, “Civility and decency seem to have disappeared during this era of polarization and passionate disagreements. Vulgarity, faultfinding, and evil speaking of others are all too common. Too many pundits, politicians, entertainers, and other influencers throw insults constantly. I am greatly concerned that so many people seem to believe that it is completely acceptable to condemn, malign, and vilify anyone who does not agree with them. Many seem eager to damage another’s reputation with pathetic and pithy barbs!” The Savior gave us this warning when He visited the Nephites and Lamanites: “For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another” (3 Nephi 11:29). We have to be vigilant to remember that any dialogue intended to stir us up to anger against each other does not come from God. Satan is working hard to divide us and pit us against each other over any subject that brings contention.  

             As a book written for our day, the Book of Mormon gives a powerful warning against this kind of dialogue that divides and stirs up anger. In particular, we see how the Nephite dissenters and Lamanite rulers stirred the Lamanites up to anger against the Nephites, causing terrible wars and the death and suffering of thousands. For example this was the case for Zerahemnah who led the Lamanite armies when they joined forces with the Zoramites. We read, “And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites. Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs. For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage.” He sought to instill hatred and anger in the hearts of the Lamanites so they would fight against the Nephites. This continued when they were in battle: “And [the Lamanites] were inspired by the Zoramites and the Amalekites, who were their chief captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, who was their chief captain, or their chief leader and commander; yea, they did fight like dragons, and many of the Nephites were slain by their hands, yea, for they did smite in two many of their head-plates, and they did pierce many of their breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger” (Alma 43:6-8, 44). Later in the battle after some refused to fight any further, “Zerahemnah was exceedingly wroth, and he did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger, to contend more powerfully against the Nephites” (44:16). Once Amalickiah took over, he did the same thing: “He had taken those who went with him, and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites” (Alma 47:1). After Amalickiah killed the Lamanite king, he again went to work inspiring the Lamanites to anger: “And now it came to pass that, as soon as Amalickiah had obtained the kingdom he began to inspire the hearts of the Lamanites against the people of Nephi; yea, he did appoint men to speak unto the Lamanites from their towers, against the Nephites” (Alma 48:1). Because of these speeches against the Nephites and these words stirring up the Lamanites to anger, Amalickiah and others were able to manipulate the people to go to war against the Nephites. Their example is a powerful reminder of where angry discourse and words that stir us up to hatred will lead us. We must be careful not to let ourselves be led away by the many voices which want to inspire us to anger against others, even if we feel the message has merit. Words that stir us up to anger against others can only come from one place, and the story of the wars in the Book of Mormon is an important reminder to reject these messages.