Weapons of Rebellion

lds.org

The Lamanites to whom the sons of Mosiah preached embraced the gospel and became known as the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. "For they became a righteous people; they did lay down their weapons of their rebellion, that they did not fight against God any more, neither against any of their brethren" (Alma 23:7).

We are familiar with the story of these Lamanites burying their weapons and refusing to defend themselves, leading to their slaughter and later to the two thousand stripling warriors. But I think the above verse highlights a more important aspect of their conversion. It mentions first that they stopped fighting against God, then against the Nephites. While fighting righteous Nephites is also fighting God, I believe it was referring to all rebellion against God; that is, sin. The weapons of their rebellion were not just physical weapons but also everything that fights against righteousness. Their burying their weapons was a symbolic act of their complete repentance and dedication to remain clean at all costs, even death (Alma 24:7-19). They were making a covenant with God to never return to wickedness, and they succeeded (Alma 23:6).

Challenge: Discern what your weapons of rebellion are and bury them; that is, repent and never go back to that sin again! If it helps, take an item related to the sin (or write it down on a piece of paper) and bury it in the ground. Also, remember that taking the sacrament is our symbolic act of repenting and starting anew.