Alma 24

I had two thoughts this morning as I read about the converted Lamanites in the land of Nephi. As king over all the Lamanites was converted to the Lord -

"...for the king had been converted unto the Lord, and all his household; therefore he sent his proclamation throughout the land unto his people, that the word of God might have no obstruction, but that it might go forth throughout all the land, that his people might be convinced concerning the wicked traditions of their fathers, and that they might be convinced that they were all brethren, and that they ought not to murder, nor to plunder, nor to steal, nor to commit adultery, nor to commit any manner of wickedness." (Book of Mormon | Alma 23:3)

It becomes apparent that those that commit all manner of wickedness cannot handle government leadership that is righteous and that might limit their desires to commit inquity for -

"...the Amalekites and the Amulonites and the Lamanites who were in the land of Amulon, and also in the land of Helam, and who were in the land of Jerusalem, and in fine, in all the land round about, who had not been converted and had not taken upon them the name of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, were stirred up by the Amalekites and by the Amulonites to anger against their brethren.
2 And their hatred became exceedingly sore against them, even insomuch that they began to rebel against their king, insomuch that they would not that he should be their king; therefore, they took up arms against the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi." (Book of Mormon | Alma 24:1 - 2)

Why is this so? Mormon comments -

"...thus we can plainly discern, that after a people have been once enlightened by the Spirit of God, and have had great knowledge of things pertaining to righteousness, and then have fallen away into sin and transgression, they become more hardened, and thus their state becomes worse than though they had never known these things." (Book of Mormon | Alma 24:30)

In wonder if this will be the case if a honest, wise, and righteous leader such as king Mosiah and Benjamin ever becomes the President of this country. Will there be a major rebellion of the wicked.

The second thought is why would the converted Anti-Nephi-Lehies bury their weapons of war and not defend themselves when the Lord has always taught that the righteous have the right to defend themselves. I think is was more of a personal thing where we know that these lamanites had previously -

"...delighted in wars and bloodshed..." (Book of Mormon | Jacob 7:24)

I believe that these people feared that by defending themselves, in some of their actions, those feeling of delighting in bloodshed may return. I sense that for them, it was best to not even take a chance. Therefore they buried their swords.

In many ways, we to should bury that which we may have had unrighteous desires for to avoid the tempatation of those desires ever returning.