Saturday, July 30, 2011

How a culture of exploitation acts when threatened

We have a prime example of how an exploitation culture acts when threatened as King Noah’s people are invaded by the Lamanites.
9 And the king commanded the people that they should flee before the Lamanites, and he himself did go before them, and they did flee into the wilderness, with their women and their children.
10 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue them, and did overtake them, and began to slay them.
11 Now it came to pass that the king commanded them that all the men should leave their wives and their children, and flee before the Lamanites.
12 Now there were many that would not leave them, but had rather stay and perish with them. And the rest left their wives and their children and fled.
13 And it came to pass that those who tarried with their wives and their children caused that their fair daughters should stand forth and plead with the Lamanites that they would not slay them.
14 And it came to pass that the Lamanites had compassion on them, for they were charmed with the beauty of their women. (Mosiah 19:11-14)
The worst offenders (the king and wicked priests) jettison the weakest who are dependent on them as soon as it becomes apparent that the weak are getting in the way of survival. When the exploited become a burden, they are left behind.

Others stay with their families, but they still try to exploit their daughters’ sex appeal to negotiate for survival. It doesn’t occur to these men to protect and defend their wives and children.

As a society, they only begin to achieve redemption from this terrible state by a sacrifice equal and opposite to their previous sin. This sacrifice occurs as they prevent the starvation of the widows and fatherless by giving food to them. It is debatable how much good it does their hearts to be commanded to do this by King Limhi instead of doing it of their own impetus, but it is a great improvement from the outright predation and selfishness of King Noah’s regime.

Sincere self-sacrifice ends exploitation.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh,I like this insight. It reminds me how in some places in the world people sell their daughters when they are in debt or poverty. It is sad that we are repeating the cycle the Book of Mormon shows.
- Heather from Women in the Scriptures

Curls said...

This just reminds me of how the US handled the recent banking crisis.

I know lots of Americans would disagree with that analysis, but it doesn't make it any less true. The Book of Mormon is SO applicable, it's incredible. There's no doubt in my mind that it was scripture written for US in our OUR day.

Michaela Stephens said...

Kimberly, could you explain to me what you mean? I'm not quite sure I understand when you say it reminds you of how the US handled the recent banking crisis.