By USN Columnist Morgan Philpot / Jul 11, 2020

I’m always amazed at the wisdom contained in the Book of Mormon. In Alma Chapter 14, a ‘free and democratic’ city finds itself in a state of public turmoil and discord stirred up by a few dissenters. However, the dissent-leaders are gaining followers and it is alleged that the general welfare of the city is put at risk.

The story tells us that the people of the city were angry with these dissenters and their two leaders because they had “reviled against their law” and against the people themselves.

The people bound the dissent-leaders and their followers and took them before the authorities. In accord with the local rights of due process, the dissenters were tried and after many testimonies and witnesses against them, it was determined that they were guilty and must suffer the death that was prescribed by their law for treason and blasphemy. Death by fire, or death in a lake of fire and brimstone. The dissenters were then executed for their crimes.

Afterwards, the leaders of these dissenters were put into prison and after being in prison for some time they were visited by the local leaders and officials and were given a chance to prove and to defend themselves. However, to the horror of the people and their leaders an earthquake struck and the dissent-leaders broke their bands and they escaped the prison.

Witnessing this scene of mayhem, the people fled from the scene and from the two convicted criminals who escaped any further punishment for their crimes. All the local leaders and officials, and every other person in the prison, were killed by the collapse.

(Alma 14: 1-29)

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