Alma 23

(April 4, 2013)
Two quick thoughts about this chapter.  First, it is amazing how much of a destructive influence those who have left the Church can have.  The Amulonites and the Amalekites were both significant obstacles for the Lord’s work amongst the Lamanites.

This, of course, leads to the second point – how much of a purist should we be when it comes to the First Amendment?  After all, the access that Aaron and his brothers had facilitated a great number of conversions, but the opposition from the apostates forestalled a great number as well.  Do we believe, as First Amendment purists believe, that the answer to false speech is true speech?  That the answer to bad speech is more speech?  If not, how do we coherently limit speech while still protecting the right to preach the Gospel?

I have always been a purist when it comes to the First Amendment (still am, I think).  But it makes for an interesting question.