Critics Versus Truth
In our Book of Mormon reading, the encounter between Alma, Amulek, and the people of Ammonihah reveals how critics of religion react when confronted with its truth. Alma’s first encounter with the people of the city demonstrated close-mindedness and extreme disdain for his message. They knew his former role as chief judge and that he was the high priest in the church but rejected his authority. Their extreme pride led them to spit on him and cast him out of the city.
This hatred is prevalent in today’s world by those who think that religion has no value in modern society. The morality that accompanies religious teachings is being replaced by secular humanism that attempts to separate itself from its biblical roots. These critics sometimes resort to tactics similar to those Alma experienced.
The next phase of the story finds Alma returning to explain his message of redemption and truth. This time, he finds an ally in Amulek, prepared by an angel sent from God. After much preparation, Alma begins to deliver the gospel message again with enough conviction that the people can’t dismiss him easily and are forced to contend with him on a higher level. They begin to say that they might believe him if it wasn’t just one man who believes in such things, but when Amulek confronted them as a second witness, they had to resort to their legal system to silence them.
I think you can see where I’m heading with this. We are engaged in a constant battle between secular ideology and religious truth. But how can we know which belief system has merit? Despite the many failures of the church over the centuries, the underpinnings of religion’s morality remain the basis of Western Society.
Now, back to our story. One of the lawyers who questioned Alma and Amulek realized the weakness of his argument. Zeezrom had the good sense to recognize the truth when he saw it and joined with Alma and Amulek after a bout with serious repentance. However, that didn’t end the ignorance and hostility of the people, who then resorted to one of the most vile scenes depicted in the Book of Mormon. Anyone who believed the truth, including men, women, and children, was taken and burned alive.
The parallels we see in today’s world are clear. We must decide where we stand, and we must stand. We cannot be silent. We can take courage from the examples of facing down those who seek to replace the truth of God with the sophistry and philosophies of secular ideology.
In short, people consumed in wickedness will stop at nothing to destroy the truth. However, “The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished, and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done.” (Joseph Smith Jr.) That is how the truth works.