This chapter begins a different kind of division among the
Nephites. It is not a division between
believers and non-believers, but rather one of believers versus believers. Both groups believed in the Lord, but some,
led by a man named Nehor, believed that all men would have eternal life,
whereas the Christians believed that eternal life wasn’t automatic. Nehor’s preaching made him a wealthy man, and
when he became rich, he was overcome with pride (see verse 6). Thus overcome, Nehor contended over doctrine with
the now elderly Gideon to the point of killing him. Under Nephite law, Nehor was sentenced to
death for murder. And even though he
confessed that his preaching hadn’t been of God (see verse 15), the popularity of
his teaching wasn’t diminished. And the
two groups continued fighting against each other. Ultimately many of the Christians also began
to be proud (verse 22) and began to contend warmly with the Nehors. This chapter teaches us that pride is the
father of contention. Let us watch
ourselves carefully and understand that whenever we find ourselves arguing,
pride is somewhere in the equation. Let
us humble ourselves and bring greater peace into our lives, as Alma and the
Christians managed to do in verse 28.
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