Anger Precedes Destruction
During my scripture study for three of the last four mornings, I have studied Moroni chapter 9.
It's not the most uplifting set of verses. The chapter heading states:
"Both the Nephites and the Lamanites are depraved and degenerate—They torture and murder each other—Mormon prays that grace and goodness may rest upon Moroni forever."
The time shows "about A.D. 401", but in reality this was written by Mormon, who died sometime after the great battle that occurred in A.D. 385. My guess is this was written sometime after Mormon returned to take command of the Nephite armies.
Remember in Mormon chapter 3, Mormon resigned from the command (about A.D. 362).
"9 And now, because of this great thing which my people, the Nephites, had done, they began to boast in their own strength, and began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren who had been slain by their enemies.
"10 And they did swear by the heavens, and also by the throne of God, that they would go up to battle against their enemies, and would cut them off from the face of the land.
"11 And it came to pass that I, Mormon, did utterly refuse from this time forth to be a commander and a leader of this people, because of their wickedness and abomination."
Then in chapter 5 it states:
"1 And it came to pass that I did go forth among the Nephites, and did repent of the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them; and they gave me command again of their armies, for they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their afflictions.
"2 But behold, I was without hope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them."
This was about A.D. 375, or about 10 years before the final battle.
My guess is the second epistle from Mormon to Moroni (in Moroni chapter 9) was written sometime after Mormon was given command of the armies again.
While the Nephites had all manner of wickedness among them, Moroni chapter 9 seems to indicate that anger was the tipping point.
A few verses from Moroni chapter 9 (I've bolded and Italicized some points):
" 3 And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another.
"4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.
"5 For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually."
"12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)"
"18 O the depravity of my people! They are without order and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands.
"19 And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and they delight in everything save that which is good; and the suffering of our women and our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written.
"20 And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people; thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling; and their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites."
"22 But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved; and I pray unto God that he will spare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto him, or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they repent and return unto him.
23 And if they perish it will be like unto the Jaredites, because of the wilfulness of their hearts, seeking for blood and revenge."
Seeking after "blood and revenge" is anger, and it is common to see, hear, or read of people taking vengeance on others.
I sometimes go to the 1828 Dictionary to get additional insight into words used. In this case, I looked up "anger" http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/anger. I've bolded some interesting parts of the definition.
"AN'GER, noun ang'ger. [Latin ango, to choke strangle, vex; whence angor, vexation, anguish, the quinsy, angina. Gr. to strangle, to strain or draw together to vex. The primary sense is to press, squeeze, make narrow; Heb. to strangle.]
"1. A violent passion of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury; usually accompanied with a propensity to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party. This passion however varies in degrees of violence, and in ingenuous minds, may be attended only with a desire to reprove or chide the offender.
"Anger is also excited by an injury offered to a relation, friend or party to which one is attached; and some degrees of it may be excited by cruelty, injustice or oppression offered to those with whom one has no immediate connection, or even to the community of which one is a member. Nor is it unusual to see something of this passion roused by gross absurdities in others, especially in controversy or discussion. anger may be inflamed till it rises to rage and a temporary delirium.
"2. Paint; smart of a sore or swelling; the literal sense of the word, but little used.
"AN'GER, verb transitive ang'ger.
"1. To excite anger; to provoke; to rouse resentment.
"2. To make painful; to cause to smart; to inflame; as, to anger an ulcer."
The adversary uses our passions as much as he can to tempt us, to addict us, to enslave us, and to cause harm to others.
I think hate is an expression of anger. Racism can be manifest through anger.
It's interesting that the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew roots of "anger" all have to do with strangling. Strangling is a violent act. And those who are strangled begin to feel the effects of hypoxia, where they begin to lose a sense of reason and rational thought. As blood flow and oxygen are restricted there are other feelings, some might refer to them as a "high." An interesting thing about hypoxia, is the person suffering from it seldom realizes they have a very serious, and potentially life-threatening problem.
There is an unfortunate trend, particularly among youth, referred to as the choking or fainting game (or other names). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choking_game
Basically someone intentionally chokes themselves, or someone else, to induce a perceived high. Unfortunately, many do die or end up in the hospital.
I'm not saying the choking game is the result of anger, but rather the high associated with strangulation is comparable to the "high" someone passionately charged with anger might feel. They become unreasonable, irrational, past feeling.
Too many people are too easily offended, or take offense, at the smallest thing. They proclaim tolerance, but they are intolerant of anything or anyone that might offend them in the least.
It is easy to see words laced with anger and hate online, particularly on forums, and comments, but increasingly in supposed articles. Anonymous posts are particularly vulnerable to these uncontrolled, intolerant, hateful, and anger filled comments.
But the result of anger is easily seen in news articles, online and on TV. The world of political correctness easily allows anyone to become offended about anything, particularly if some perceived "right" is being threatened or violated.
Violent video games, movies, TV programs, and other "entertainment" do much to de-sensitize people to violence, and acts of violence. While these do not absolve anyone from the fact that each person makes their own choices, they are factors to be considered.
So-called "reality" programs, sitcoms, and other shows (including "professional athletics) do much to promote anger. This can be through belittling others, sarcasm, negative comments, arguments, lack of respect, etc.
Mormon was likely born about A.D. 311 (he was 10 years old in Mormon chapter 1, which was about A.D. 321), so he was probably around 74 when he was killed. While he was continually surrounded by wickedness throughout his life, he was apparently familiar with the people enough to at least consider them, or some of them, "civil and delightsome" (Moroni 9:12) early in his life. This completely changed by the time he was 50 years old.
When Mormon withdrew initially resigned his command of the armies in A.D. 362, it was about 23 years before the Nephite nation was destroyed.
America is on the path towards destruction. Anger has become prolific, and infests every place it can take root.
The descriptions of the people in Moroni 9 are becoming similar to how many could be described in America today. Even throughout the world.
Satan and his followers are working extra hard to continually stir up the people "to anger one with another."
Pride comes before the fall, and there is the pride cycle. And the people need to be ripe in iniquity before God exercises judgment on them. Certainly there are plenty of warnings before the judgment destruction, and as often as the people repent and return to God the people are spared.
But pride leads to inequality and selfishness. Pride leads to anger against others as the proud seek to set themselves above others, and pull down and trample on those they perceive to be in their way.
Pride does come before the fall, but it seems that anger--persistent and continual--infects the people before their destruction. Anger causes people to become without, or past, feeling. Anger drives out the Spirit. Anger causes people to "delight in everything save that which is good." Anger causes people to seek out vengeance, "justice" as they may call it, without consideration for the rule of law.
The question is, how many more years before America falls?
Are we near the point where Mormon would resign his command, or is it more along the lines of when he was again given command of the armies?
Often is seems the path towards destruction is two steps towards and one step back (as some repent and return to God).
As I've stated elsewhere, I don't think we are quite at the destruction-will-happen-immediately point. I think it's still a few years off.
But things can change quickly.
Before that time, there will be an increase in warnings from God to repent and return to him. Warnings in the form of natural disasters, famine, and other calamities.
What is the opposite of "anger"? While there are a lot of possibilities, I think the best antonym to anger is charity, the pure love of Christ.
A couple chapters earlier Moroni gives a description of what charity is, and it is opposite of the effects of anger.
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (Moroni 7:45)
This is the solution to anger. But it would require people to become less self-absorbed, less prideful, more respectful and kind towards others, even those who may be different in their appearance, action, background, economic condition, thoughts, or any other way. It is not that we should condone evil acts, or support those who promote that which is contrary to God's commandments, but that we should be loving towards those who are astray and encourage and pray for them to return to God.
It's not the most uplifting set of verses. The chapter heading states:
"Both the Nephites and the Lamanites are depraved and degenerate—They torture and murder each other—Mormon prays that grace and goodness may rest upon Moroni forever."
The time shows "about A.D. 401", but in reality this was written by Mormon, who died sometime after the great battle that occurred in A.D. 385. My guess is this was written sometime after Mormon returned to take command of the Nephite armies.
Remember in Mormon chapter 3, Mormon resigned from the command (about A.D. 362).
"9 And now, because of this great thing which my people, the Nephites, had done, they began to boast in their own strength, and began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren who had been slain by their enemies.
"10 And they did swear by the heavens, and also by the throne of God, that they would go up to battle against their enemies, and would cut them off from the face of the land.
"11 And it came to pass that I, Mormon, did utterly refuse from this time forth to be a commander and a leader of this people, because of their wickedness and abomination."
Then in chapter 5 it states:
"1 And it came to pass that I did go forth among the Nephites, and did repent of the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them; and they gave me command again of their armies, for they looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their afflictions.
"2 But behold, I was without hope, for I knew the judgments of the Lord which should come upon them; for they repented not of their iniquities, but did struggle for their lives without calling upon that Being who created them."
This was about A.D. 375, or about 10 years before the final battle.
My guess is the second epistle from Mormon to Moroni (in Moroni chapter 9) was written sometime after Mormon was given command of the armies again.
While the Nephites had all manner of wickedness among them, Moroni chapter 9 seems to indicate that anger was the tipping point.
A few verses from Moroni chapter 9 (I've bolded and Italicized some points):
" 3 And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another.
"4 Behold, I am laboring with them continually; and when I speak the word of God with sharpness they tremble and anger against me; and when I use no sharpness they harden their hearts against it; wherefore, I fear lest the Spirit of the Lord hath ceased striving with them.
"5 For so exceedingly do they anger that it seemeth me that they have no fear of death; and they have lost their love, one towards another; and they thirst after blood and revenge continually."
"12 (And only a few years have passed away, and they were a civil and a delightsome people)"
"18 O the depravity of my people! They are without order and without mercy. Behold, I am but a man, and I have but the strength of a man, and I cannot any longer enforce my commands.
"19 And they have become strong in their perversion; and they are alike brutal, sparing none, neither old nor young; and they delight in everything save that which is good; and the suffering of our women and our children upon all the face of this land doth exceed everything; yea, tongue cannot tell, neither can it be written.
"20 And now, my son, I dwell no longer upon this horrible scene. Behold, thou knowest the wickedness of this people; thou knowest that they are without principle, and past feeling; and their wickedness doth exceed that of the Lamanites."
"22 But behold, my son, I recommend thee unto God, and I trust in Christ that thou wilt be saved; and I pray unto God that he will spare thy life, to witness the return of his people unto him, or their utter destruction; for I know that they must perish except they repent and return unto him.
23 And if they perish it will be like unto the Jaredites, because of the wilfulness of their hearts, seeking for blood and revenge."
Seeking after "blood and revenge" is anger, and it is common to see, hear, or read of people taking vengeance on others.
I sometimes go to the 1828 Dictionary to get additional insight into words used. In this case, I looked up "anger" http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/anger. I've bolded some interesting parts of the definition.
"AN'GER, noun ang'ger. [Latin ango, to choke strangle, vex; whence angor, vexation, anguish, the quinsy, angina. Gr. to strangle, to strain or draw together to vex. The primary sense is to press, squeeze, make narrow; Heb. to strangle.]
"1. A violent passion of the mind excited by a real or supposed injury; usually accompanied with a propensity to take vengeance, or to obtain satisfaction from the offending party. This passion however varies in degrees of violence, and in ingenuous minds, may be attended only with a desire to reprove or chide the offender.
"Anger is also excited by an injury offered to a relation, friend or party to which one is attached; and some degrees of it may be excited by cruelty, injustice or oppression offered to those with whom one has no immediate connection, or even to the community of which one is a member. Nor is it unusual to see something of this passion roused by gross absurdities in others, especially in controversy or discussion. anger may be inflamed till it rises to rage and a temporary delirium.
"2. Paint; smart of a sore or swelling; the literal sense of the word, but little used.
"AN'GER, verb transitive ang'ger.
"1. To excite anger; to provoke; to rouse resentment.
"2. To make painful; to cause to smart; to inflame; as, to anger an ulcer."
The adversary uses our passions as much as he can to tempt us, to addict us, to enslave us, and to cause harm to others.
I think hate is an expression of anger. Racism can be manifest through anger.
It's interesting that the Latin, Greek, and Hebrew roots of "anger" all have to do with strangling. Strangling is a violent act. And those who are strangled begin to feel the effects of hypoxia, where they begin to lose a sense of reason and rational thought. As blood flow and oxygen are restricted there are other feelings, some might refer to them as a "high." An interesting thing about hypoxia, is the person suffering from it seldom realizes they have a very serious, and potentially life-threatening problem.
There is an unfortunate trend, particularly among youth, referred to as the choking or fainting game (or other names). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Choking_game
Basically someone intentionally chokes themselves, or someone else, to induce a perceived high. Unfortunately, many do die or end up in the hospital.
I'm not saying the choking game is the result of anger, but rather the high associated with strangulation is comparable to the "high" someone passionately charged with anger might feel. They become unreasonable, irrational, past feeling.
Too many people are too easily offended, or take offense, at the smallest thing. They proclaim tolerance, but they are intolerant of anything or anyone that might offend them in the least.
It is easy to see words laced with anger and hate online, particularly on forums, and comments, but increasingly in supposed articles. Anonymous posts are particularly vulnerable to these uncontrolled, intolerant, hateful, and anger filled comments.
But the result of anger is easily seen in news articles, online and on TV. The world of political correctness easily allows anyone to become offended about anything, particularly if some perceived "right" is being threatened or violated.
Violent video games, movies, TV programs, and other "entertainment" do much to de-sensitize people to violence, and acts of violence. While these do not absolve anyone from the fact that each person makes their own choices, they are factors to be considered.
So-called "reality" programs, sitcoms, and other shows (including "professional athletics) do much to promote anger. This can be through belittling others, sarcasm, negative comments, arguments, lack of respect, etc.
Mormon was likely born about A.D. 311 (he was 10 years old in Mormon chapter 1, which was about A.D. 321), so he was probably around 74 when he was killed. While he was continually surrounded by wickedness throughout his life, he was apparently familiar with the people enough to at least consider them, or some of them, "civil and delightsome" (Moroni 9:12) early in his life. This completely changed by the time he was 50 years old.
When Mormon withdrew initially resigned his command of the armies in A.D. 362, it was about 23 years before the Nephite nation was destroyed.
America is on the path towards destruction. Anger has become prolific, and infests every place it can take root.
The descriptions of the people in Moroni 9 are becoming similar to how many could be described in America today. Even throughout the world.
Satan and his followers are working extra hard to continually stir up the people "to anger one with another."
Pride comes before the fall, and there is the pride cycle. And the people need to be ripe in iniquity before God exercises judgment on them. Certainly there are plenty of warnings before the judgment destruction, and as often as the people repent and return to God the people are spared.
But pride leads to inequality and selfishness. Pride leads to anger against others as the proud seek to set themselves above others, and pull down and trample on those they perceive to be in their way.
Pride does come before the fall, but it seems that anger--persistent and continual--infects the people before their destruction. Anger causes people to become without, or past, feeling. Anger drives out the Spirit. Anger causes people to "delight in everything save that which is good." Anger causes people to seek out vengeance, "justice" as they may call it, without consideration for the rule of law.
The question is, how many more years before America falls?
Are we near the point where Mormon would resign his command, or is it more along the lines of when he was again given command of the armies?
Often is seems the path towards destruction is two steps towards and one step back (as some repent and return to God).
As I've stated elsewhere, I don't think we are quite at the destruction-will-happen-immediately point. I think it's still a few years off.
But things can change quickly.
Before that time, there will be an increase in warnings from God to repent and return to him. Warnings in the form of natural disasters, famine, and other calamities.
What is the opposite of "anger"? While there are a lot of possibilities, I think the best antonym to anger is charity, the pure love of Christ.
A couple chapters earlier Moroni gives a description of what charity is, and it is opposite of the effects of anger.
"And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things." (Moroni 7:45)
This is the solution to anger. But it would require people to become less self-absorbed, less prideful, more respectful and kind towards others, even those who may be different in their appearance, action, background, economic condition, thoughts, or any other way. It is not that we should condone evil acts, or support those who promote that which is contrary to God's commandments, but that we should be loving towards those who are astray and encourage and pray for them to return to God.
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