Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 24:17-18
"And now it came to pass that when the king had made an end of these sayings, and all the people were assembled together, they took their swords, and all the weapon which were used for the shedding of man's blood, and they did bury them up deep in the earth.
And this they did, it being in their view a testimony of God, and also to men, that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man's blood; and this they did, vouching and covenanting with God, that rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives; and rather than take away from a brother they would give unto him; and rather than spend their days in idleness they would labor abundantly with their hands."
I cried reading this whole chapter. I always do because it touches my heart so. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies were so throughly converted that when they learn their brother Lamanites are coming to destroy them they refuse to take up arms to protect themselves. They are so worried that to take lives after having repented of the murders they have committed in their pasts that they would rather die themselves. That takes such an amazing love for God to never want to sin again.
The people gathered together and buried their weapons of war. This is where the old Indian tradition of "burying the hatchet" comes from when making peace treaties. The Anti-Nephi-Lehies laid down to die when their enemies came upon them, instead of breaking their oath to God to never take up the sword again. Their very act of calling out to God as they were slain, broke the hearts of those killing them, and they too were converted. The scene just makes me weep. Never could a more righteous and beautiful people have ever walked this earth.
Day 298 Tami Fitzgerald Harris
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