Inside Out

I was impressed yesterday by a scripture towards the end of Alma chapter 4. The Nephites have just survived an insurrection but are struggling with problems in their church and their society. Alma, the chief judge over the people and high priest over the church, decides to give up the judgement seat and devote himself to the ministry.

"And this he did that he himself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might preach the word of God unto them, to stir them up in remembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure testimony against them." (Alma 4:19)

I thought this was interesting in light of the rioting, looting, and violence taking place around the country the past few days. I don't think any of it leads to a meaningful solution. The outcome of the election won't change anything. Legislation and government programs will be attempted but fall short. Bickering on social media only makes things worse.

Alma realized what Ezra Taft Benson expressed in his 1985 general conference talk, "Born of God":

"The Lord works from the inside out. The world works from the outside in. The world would take people out of the slums. Christ takes the slums out of people, and then they take themselves out of the slums. The world would mold men by changing their environment. Christ changes men, who then change their environment. The world would shape human behavior, but Christ can change human nature."

A month later, Benson became The President of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints following the death of Spencer W. Kimball, and like Alma, became the high priest over the church.