Historical Narrative - Pride, Priestcrafts, and Secret Combinations

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series

The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality.  This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today.

This article will serve as an introduction to the historical narrative portions of the Book of Mormon which address the topic of inequality.  This history also builds the stage for the following sub-series on the Book of Mormon.

As it turns out, the majority of the book's narrative speaks to inequality in some form or another.

Economic Elements of the Historical Narrative

As was stated in Understanding Inequality in the Book of Mormon - Pt I, the Book of Mormon rarely talks about economic inequality as we would today, and instead uses religious terminology and themes to address 'iniquity' - which is a type of wickedness usually involving social inequities.

Before we take a look at the economic elements of the narrative it would be useful to describe as best I can the general economics of the book.

From what I can tell, most people in the narrative appear to practice subsistence agriculture - this is to say small farms with the purpose of feeding one's family.  At times the narrative specifically mentions the rise of specialists - lawyers, merchants, weavers, politicians, craftsmen, etc - but the abundance of these specialists appears to be the exception to the norm during certain periods of wealth.

In the narrative, there are no businesses, no corporations, or really anything similar to our complex modern economic system.  The only "for profit" organizations are "secret combinations" - cults which seek to deceive and murder to become rich and powerful.

With such a simple subsistence economic system there are only three quick ways to become rich - to be a king and tax the people, to use religion in order to deceive people, or to rob the people by stealing from them directly, or otherwise ensuring that resources are not distributed to them.  As all of these methods are considered 'iniquity', the Book of Mormon addresses the "rich", and those that "set their hearts upon riches" and commit iniquities, very harshly.

The narrative generally describes 'rich' and 'poor' in relative terms, with only a few clues as to the absolute wealth and poverty of the people.  One clue that is offered is that the rich separate themselves from the poor by wearing "costly apparel", which to me signifies that the rich were simply wealthy enough to pay specialists for their needs, rather than to make clothing themselves.  My guess is this means that the absolute inequality in the narrative was, for the most part, probably pretty minor, with the average rich likely only having a few times more the resources as the average poor.

Nothing like today where something like the richest 50 families own more than the poorest half of the planet.

But the absolute inequality is not what matters in the narrative - it's the relative inequality that causes problems.

What is Contained in this Sub-Series

With the above items in mind, let's look at some of the elements which we will address in this sub-topic series:

The Law of Moses - Throughout the Book of Mormon, it is mentioned that the people strictly follow the Law of Moses, but we are not given details about what this means.  There are several aspects of the Law of Moses that theoretically regulate the economy in ways which limit inequality, including the law of the Sabbath Day and Jubilee.

Iniquitous Kings - In the first half of the narrative, as well as the book of Ether, the people are ruled by kings.  At times, these kings are terribly wicked, and exact harsh taxes on the people in order to live lavish lifestyles.  These taxes are very hard on the people, and are the primary cause of inequality in the early half of the Book of Mormon.

Because of the economic inequality which iniquitous kings cause, kings are abolished, and the Nephites form a new church and a new government dedicated to correcting inequalities, and a renewed interested in justice, equity, democracy, and the Law of Moses.

The Pride Cycle - Throughout the narrative, the Nephites go through cycles, where economic inequality is introduced, leading the rich to become prideful and to begin persecuting the poor.  In these cycles, 'pride' is a consequence of inequality, and is manifested through inaction on correcting iniquities, justification of the poor, and persecuting the poor by withholding resources.

Consequences of Inequality and Pride - This article takes a closer look at the consequences of economic inequality, including the creation of new inequities in education and justice, and serious social problems described as 'strifes', 'envyings', and 'malice'.  In order to counteract the inequities and their consequences, the church of God and the government of the people act to counteract inequality.

     A Note on Envy - The Book of Mormon frequently mentions 'envy' as a emotion coinciding
     every instance of pride and inequality in the book, however it provides little details about what is
     meant by the word.  This article explores a possible explanation of the word using modern
     examples.

Priestcraft - Priestcraft refers to anytime religion is used to make individuals rich and/or famous.  It is manifested by people twisting religion in order to deceive people into giving them money directly, or to convince them that economic inequalities are not wrong, and therefore there is no moral obligation to correct it.

Priestcraft is a serious problem all throughout the narrative, but especially from the book of Alma on. Eventually, priestcrafts become the ideological underpinnings of all economic inequality in the Book of Mormon.

Secret Combinations Pt I - Secret combinations are cults of people who will do whatever they can to become rich - generally through deceit, robbing, and even murder.  At times they work in the shadows and put their own members in powerful political positions and then become rich through robbing the poor; and at other times they use warfare and chaos to plunder the land.  With every strategy they seek to destroy the government and laws of the land that put limits on their greed and punish their iniquities.

In Secret Combinations Pt II - Gadianton Robbers we look at the most dangerous secret combination, the "Gadianton Robbers", who sought to become rich by destroying the government which combated inequalities.  Once that was accomplished, they enriched themselves and persecuted the poor.

Dissension and War - Throughout the narrative, laws and religious principles are put into place to limit kings, priestcrafts, persecutions, strife, and secret combinations - but the wicked who would do anything to become rich simply dissent from the church and from their own government in order to practice commit their iniquities more easily.  When the Nephites act to limit or stop these dissensions, the dissenters join neighboring peoples to wage on God's people to destroy the government once and for all.

Most wars then in the Book of Mormon are fought over the whether the few should be free from laws and morality to commit iniquities, at the expense of the rights of the many, or whether a strong government and religion should exist to punish iniquities and to correct inequalities.

Racial Inequities - Most of this series will focus on economic inequality, following the predominant content of the Book of Mormon, but there are a few insights concerning racial equality which could be interesting to address here.

This article explores the possibility that racial tensions between those belonging to the tribes of Judah, Ephraim, and Manasseh fueled the priestcrafts, secret combinations, dissensions, and war mentioned above.

Twilight of the Nephites and Conclusions - This concluding article to this chapter recaps the principles provided above through reading 4 Nephi and the concluding saga of the Nephites.  The people finally obtain peace when economic inequality is completely done away with.  Once inequality returns, and along with it pride, persecution, priestcrafts, and secret combinations, the people are eventually destroyed.

I hope you enjoy, and feel free to comment.

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents

Dissension and War

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series

The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality.  This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today.

What Does Dissension and War Have to do with Inequality?

Throughout all of the Book of Mormon, war is a constant; in some periods of the Book of Mormon there is a new war every couple of years, or at least every generation.  After the laws of Benjamin, Mosiah, and their judge successors are established, groups who dissent from the government and the dominant religion also become common.

The frequent dissensions and warfare are connected to each other, as well as connected to the cycles of inequality, iniquity, priestcrafts, and secret combinations discussed in this sub-series.

Dissension

The reason people dissent from the Nephite government and people is because they want to practice iniquities, and find that it would be easier outside of the strict laws of the land.  Mass dissensions occur as a reaction to expanded social pressures against iniquities - including the laws of King Benjamin and Mosiah, as well as Alma and Nephihah, discussed in the articles on Iniquitous Kings and Priestcraft respectively.  Throughout the books of Alma and Helaman, every time there is a mention of new laws establishing "justice and equity" there is thereafter another wave of dissenters.

Dissenters leave the church because its main function among the Nephite people is to preach against economic wickedness and to correct inequities.  Within the church and Nephite community prophets railed against the iniquities of the people.  Coinciding with each wave of dissenters in the Book of Mormon is a prophet preaching against economic wickedness, and preaching for equality.  While many repented of their economic sins in response to these teachings, others chose to reject the message; and leaving the church and its community made this rejection easier.

If the timing of their dissensions wasn't enough evidence, Nephite writers also always point out the inequality, persecution of the poor, and other iniquities that these dissenters are so quick to commit once they are away from the rest of civilization. 

War

And what about war?  What does it have to do with inequality?  And how is warfare connected to iniquity and dissensions?

In general, warfare affects those in poverty to a much greater extent than those who are wealthy.  Wealthy families have resources to mitigate the horrors of warfare, and wealthy locations are generally more sheltered from the economic effects of warfare.  One example from the Book of Mormon of this is in Mosiah 21, when King Limhi establishes a welfare program to assist the widows and children of those who died in the wars previous, who would have otherwise starved without the assistance (v. 16-17).

As for iniquity and dissensions - it is Nephite dissenters, driven by their greed and lust for power - that initiate the majority of the wars in the Book of Mormon.  Once Nephite dissenters leave their communities and their government, if they are not immediately destroyed, they end up joining the Lamanites and then riling them up to war against the righteous Nephites.

Why would dissenters do this?  In order to destroy the laws of the land which bound their greed before, and to establish themselves and kings and rulers over their peers - free to enrich themselves at the expense of the poor.

War is connected to inequality because inequality is what every war in the Book of Mormon is about.  Most conflicts boil down to two polar opposite systems - on the one hand is a society with political and religious freedoms, and strong economic laws and beliefs which ensure those freedoms and equity among the people; and on the other hand is a society which wants to become rich and powerful through the disintegration of such laws and beliefs, and will sacrifice freedoms and will rob and plunder everyone, especially the poor, to do it.  

Examples of Wars and Dissenters

There are several dissenting groups listed below, but their story is all the same - the laws of the government and people prohibit economic wickedness, the people become wealthy and this wealth invites a desire to commit iniquities, iniquitous people dissent from the government in search of riches, and then they use the Lamanites to wage war on their own people to reach their goals. 

King Noah's Priests and Amulonites

Continuing with the story covered in Iniquitous Kings, King Noah and his Priests become so wicked and iniquitous that the people are left with only one option - violence.  King Noah is deposed and put to death, but his accomplices escape into the wilderness.  A good man named Limhi takes Noah's place as king (Mosiah 19).

The Priests of Noah, led by a man named Amulon, happen upon a group of Lamanite women bathing.  The women are kidnapped by the followers of Amulon, who again escape into the wilderness.  The Lamanites wage war on Limhi's people, thinking that it was Limhi's people kidnapped the women.  This misunderstanding is cleared, nevertheless the relationship between Limhi and the Lamanites remains poor thereafter, with Limhi's people essentially enslaved to the Lamanites (Mosiah 20-21).

Meanwhile, Amulon is able to ally his people to a different group of Lamanites using the very women he kidnapped.  They discover Alma's equitable society, and true to their nature they enslave Alma's people, and set themselves up as rulers over them (Mosiah 23-24).  Fortunately, Alma and his people eventually escape from Amulon and his Priests, and then join Mosiah's people and help form an equitable church.

Over the next several decades, Amulon and his priests remain among the Lamanites.  They set up a false church among the Lamanites in order to rob them, and eventually join the Order of Nehors when they too dissent to the Lamanites.  They and their descendents, as well as other dissenters, convince the Lamanites to initiate several wars with the Nephites (Alma 21; 22; 24; 25; and 43).

The Order of Nehors - Amlicites, Amalekites, and Zoramites

After Nehor is killed in Alma 1, a secret combination called the "Order of Nehors" continues the priestcrafts and money-making strategies of Nehor.  Laws are established to limit the iniquities and inequality of priestcraft, thus beginning the first wave of dissenters from the government.

In Alma 2 a man after the Order of Nehors named Amlici seeks to change the law in order for himself to become king, and therefore have the economic and ideological power of the iniquitous kings of the past; as well as to reverse the laws which placed limits on the greed of him and his secret combination.  He fails to gain the votes of the people, so he takes the people that follow him and set to take power by force.

The Nephite armies drive the Amlicites out of the land.  The Amlicites then rally with an army of the Lamanites and convince them to go to battle with the Nephites.  After much bloodshed in Alma 3, the Nephites are eventually victorious.

The Amalikites are a dissenter group first mentioned in Alma 21, which is presumably some time after their dissension.  While there is no record of their initial dissension, it is mentioned that they are after the Order of Nehors, so they most likely dissented in order to practice their inequality-causing priestcraft, like the Amlicites.

The Amalikites, along with the Amulonites mentioned above, set up false churches among the Lamanites in order to rob and swindle them.  These churches are the primary reason the Sons of Mosiah had such a difficult time on their mission (Alma 21-22) - and also the primary reason the Lamanites go to war with the Nephites in Alma 24.  When the Sons of Mosiah do find converts in the Lamanites, and establish an equitable society among them, it is the Amalekites that convince the Lamanites to go to war with their own people (Alma 27).

The Zoramites also dissent from the Nephites in order to practice priestcrafts, as detailed in the article on Priestcrafts (Alma 30-35).  Once the preaching of Alma and his missionaries destroys the Zoramites' ability to take advantage of their poor, they dissent from the Nephites, joining the Amulonites and Amalekites in initiating war after war with the Nephites (Alma 43).  These dissenters and their descendents become as numerous on their own as the remaining Nephites,..

Because of the fierce hatred that the Amalekites and Zoramites had of the Nephites, they are appointed as captains in each conflict against the Nephites.  They ensure that the Lamanites continue their warfare, even when the majority of the Lamanites oppose the war (Alma 43; 48).  They also force the Lamanites to conduct their warfare without any armor, while they themselves were protected in the best armor available.

The church which the Ammulonites, Amalekites, and Zoramites set up among the Lamanites exists long after the dissenters are gone gone, and plays a part in convincing many Lamanites to join the Gadianton Robbers in 3 Nephi 1.

Amalikiah's Dessenters
 
In Alma 45 a pride cycle occurs, leading to a division among the people between those that followed the religion, and those who grew proud because of their riches.  In the following chapter it is revealed that the leader of the prideful is a man named Amalikiah - not to be confused with the Amalekites mentioned above.  Amalikiah seeks to be king, and so he flatters many people to dissent from the church of God, and to seek to change the laws of the land in order to remove the liberty and equality of the people by making him king.

Captain Moroni - the most well known military hero of the Book of Mormon - rallies the believers in God against Amalikiah in defense of the freedoms of their country.  Note that Captain Moroni marches in defense of the government and laws of the land, and against greed, iniquity, and the secret combination of Amalikiah which sought to destroy the law of the land, and the freedom in the land to practice religion (Alma 46).

Amalikiah and his people flee from Captain Moroni's army, but are caught before reaching Lamanite territory.  Amalikiah and a small number of people escape to the Lamanites, but the majority are taken by Moroni and punished according to the law.  Although the remnant swear to support the cause of freedom, they likely later become the 'King-men' mentioned below.

Once Amalikiah escapes to the Lamanites he uses treachery, murder, and intrigue to become king of the Lamanites.  He uses his new-found power, his followers, and all of the previous dissenters to wage the longest war in the Book of Mormon, covering Alma chapters 46 to 62.  His goal in waging a war is simple - destroy the government, laws, and religion of the Nephites, and become rich ruler over the entire land.

King-men

Amalikiah's war against the Nephites initially was disastrous for him.  Although his army and people were far larger than the Nephites, the Nephites were a righteous people - in other words the antithesis of the greed, iniquity, priestcrafts, and inequality of Amalikiah and the Nephite dissenters - and their righteousness translated to more confident, capable, and happy troops, effective and equitable defense strategies, and strength from God.

As the war progresses however, the Nephites begin to lose the war.  It is revealed that the cause of their failure is wickedness among the Nephites in the form of a secret combination referred to as the 'King-men'.  The King-men are wealthy people of 'high birth' who, like Amalikiah, seek to change the law of the land to allow themselves to be kings.  The Chief Judge of the land refuses their request, and the King-men rebel by refusing to take up arms in defense of their country, hoping for the Lamanites to come and destroy the other Nephites (Alma 51).

Captain Moroni's army arrives to settle the problem with the King-men.  There is a vote put to the people, granting him emergency powers to deal with the King-men.  He and his army then march out against the King-men and "pull down their pride and their nobility" (Alma 51:17-18).  I am not exactly sure what that means, but I am guessing it involves breaking up their secret combination and tearing town their displays of wealth, iniquity, and inequality.  Some King-men are killed, and the rest are imprisoned.

Unfortunately, about five years later it appears that the King-men broke out of prison and grew even more powerful until they had taken over the capital of the land, led by a man named Pachus.  The Chief Judge and Captain Moroni combine their forces and combat the King-men.  Laws are established to punish secret combinations and those who refuse to fight because of their secret combinations.  Those dissenters who do not harken to the laws are put to death (Alma 60-62).

The war with the Lamanites ends soon after the Nephite's inner conflicts are resolved.  The people prosper and become more wealthy, but, remembering the iniquity which caused the recent war, did not set their hearts upon wealth, and instead humble themselves, creating a prosperous and equitable society.

Gadianton Robbers, the New Antagonists

The books of Helaman and 3 Nephi have several more examples of dissensions.  In Helaman 3-4 it is again Nephite dissenters, leaving during a period of intense inequality and a government establishing laws supporting "justice and equity", that manipulate a war-fatigued Lamanite people to declare war on the Nephites.  Because of the iniquity and inequality of the Nephite people they lose the war, and their lands are taken by the Lamanites.

The Nephites are humbled and repent of their iniquities.  Eventually, they are rescued by a miraculous conversion of the Lamanites to the religion of the Nephites - all of the Lamanites except the remaining Nephite dissenters that is.  The Lamanites, now converted, are thereafter no longer the antagonists of the story.

With nowhere to dissent to, wicked Nephites instead turn to the creation of secret combinations, including the Gadianton Robbers.  The rest of the book of Helaman and 3 Nephi chronicles the dissensions and wars with the greed and iniquities of the Gadianton Robbers, which has already been reported in Secret Combinations Pt. I and Secret Combinations Pt II.

Conclusion

The wars in the Book of Mormon are caused by greed, iniquity, and inequality.  The majority of the wars are initiated by dissenters who leave the Nephite society because religious beliefs and laws exist which limit their ability to become rich.  Once they leave the Nephite society, they manipulate the Lamanites into destroying the religion, government, and laws which they came to hate.

Why is this important?  These chapters reveal that Nephite wars are really about economic freedom.  They fight over whether one should be free to commit iniquities - to steal, rob, deny resources, persecute the poor, deceive, practice priestcraft, murder, to form secret combinations, and whether it was right that people were unequal - without interruption from religion or government.

To be clear, the righteous side of these conflicts deny such freedoms, and establish laws which promote economic justice and equity.  They are decidedly pro government, pro economic laws, and pro religion, so long as the governments were not secret combinations and the religions priestcraft.

On the other hand, it is the wicked who seek to disrupt and destroy government, laws, and religion, and dissent from the government and religion when they are unable to.

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents

Twilight of the Nephites and Conclusions

What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality? Series

The Book of Mormon contains some surprising insights concerning economic inequality.  This series explores several topics addressed by the LDS scripture and its insights for today.

Highlight and Twilight of the Nephite Civilization

In this article I would like to conclude the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon, which is best done by sharing what may be the most illuminating chapter in the Book of Mormon on inequality - 4 Nephi.

4 Nephi covers nearly 300 years of history in unfortunately only 4 pages.  But first we need to finish up the history of 3 Nephi.

After the crumbling of the church and government described in the post on Gadianton Robbers, those who destroyed the government so that they could more easily become rich are destroyed by earthquakes and storms, while many of the righteous remain safe and gather in another part of the land.

Jesus appears.  He heals the sick, teaches the gospel, and establishes a church among the people similar in organization to the church of the Apostles in the New Testament.

He institutes the Law of Consecration among them (which will be discussed further in the chapter of Solutions to Inequality).  In short, the Law of Consecration, or "having all things common" among the people, means that there is no socio-economic inequality - all resources are shared.  The same system was established by the Apostles in Acts 2.

The effects of this equality are tremendous.  4 Nephi:

3 And they had all things common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift. ...

10 And now, behold, it came to pass that the people of Nephi did wax strong, and did multiply exceedingly fast, and became an exceedingly fair and delightsome people. ...

15 And it came to pass that there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people.

16 And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms, nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the hand of God.

17 There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God.

Equality in temporal things leads to a removal of social problems, or spiritual iniquities, and the people are happy.  All of their previous problems - the iniquity, the strife, the lies, the murders, and the warfare - came because of inequality, and the priestcrafts and secret combinations that created the inequality.  When the inequality is removed, so too are all of their problems.

Their peace lasts 200 years, until the equality ended.  Somehow, although everyone theoretically should have had equal resources, some are able to flaunt their wealth and pride, and then everything falls apart.

 24 And now, in this two hundred and first year there began to be among them those who were lifted up in pride, such as the wearing of costly apparel, and all manner of fine pearls, and of the fine things of the world.

25 And from that time forth they did have their goods and their substance no more common among them.

26  And they began to be divided into classes; and they began to build up churches unto themselves to get gain, and began to deny the true church of Christ. ...

28 And this church did multiply exceedingly because of iniquity, and because of the power of Satan who did get hold upon their hearts. ...

34 Nevertheless, the people did harden their hearts, for they were led by many priests and false prophets to build up many churches, and to do all manner of iniquity. ...

42 And it came to pass that the wicked part of the people began again to build up the secret oaths and combinations of Gadianton.

46 And it came to pass that the robbers of Gadianton did spread over all the face of the land... And gold and silver did they lay up in store in abundance, and did traffic in all manner of traffic.

Once economic inequality is reintroduced the people quickly return to their iniquities - their priestcrafts, robbing, dissensions, persecutions, strife, envyings, and secret combinations.  Throughout the last books in the Book of Mormon, the iniquity of the people led to all the usual consequences - more inequality, social strife and contention, all manner of wickedness, the erosion of government, recession, murder, chaos, and war, as well as other serious consequences including the removal of the Church which Jesus establishes.

The people, now all of them wicked and iniquitous, divide themselves into tribes based on their race - or their family line.  Year after year, battle after battle, war after war, hundreds of thousands of people are killed on both sides of the conflict.  Unlike earlier wars, this bloodshed is not a conflict of iniquity vs. righteousness, or freedom to commit iniquity vs. regulation - but is a free-for-all of iniquity, greed, and unnatural hatred.

Eventually, the entire culture of the Nephites, and the remnants of their government and religion, which fought for so long against iniquity and inequality, are completely destroyed, leaving only a record which speaks from the dust as a warning against unfettered iniquity, and unaddressed inequality.

Conclusions

There are a lot of important lessons I feel the historical narrative of the Book of Mormon can offer regarding economic inequality, but here is a summary of the highlights:

• Under the reign of kings the people of the Book of Mormon are frequently, and fiercely, unequal.  The iniquities of these kings also often leads to the iniquity and general wickedness of all the people.  The church of God, and the government of the land, are formed in response to this inequality - and thereafter remain as a bulwark against inequality and iniquity.

• Even with a religion and civil laws which restrict iniquity, economic inequality still at times afflicts the Nephites.  The sharp divide between the rich and poor creates pride, the persecution of the poor, further inequities, strife, malice, and severe recession.  It also leads to other forms of inequality, including inequities in education and justice.

• Most of the time, inequality exists among the Nephites because of organized or systematic iniquity - or calculated actions of a few to rob the people.  The Nephite religion and government is designed to fight individual and organized iniquity, and by so doing limit inequality.

•  Systematic iniquity comes in a few main forms:
• Priestcrafts - or the twisting of religion in order to enrich a few, or to justify iniquities and inequality
• Secret combinations - or secret groups which rob, murder, steal, lie, and disrupt/control government in order to enrich a few
• Dissensions - the breaking away from culture, religion, and government in order to practice iniquities without interference

• Iniquity and greed - especially through dissensions - are the primary cause of war in the Book of Mormon.  These long and bloody campaigns can be boiled down to a conflict between anarchy, dissension, inequality, and unrestricted greed on one hand, and laws, government, justice, equity, liberty, society, regulation, and religion on the other.

• Economic inequalities in the narrative may be connected to racial inequities and tensions.  It is possible these tensions are used to further the agenda of organized iniquity.

• When the Nephites experience equality then there are no signs of social problems, iniquity, and other forms of wickedness among the people.  When the Nephites experience inequality - especially orchestrated inequality - then iniquity, wickedness, and chaos abounds.  Eventually, it is inequality which leads to the destruction of an entire civilization.

So, what do you think?  I hope I have been clear in my presentations, but I am bound to have forgotten to include my reasoning for thinking a certain way somewhere in these articles.  Please civilly let me know if you have any questions, comments, and concerns.

The next two chapters in this series, on Teachings of the Book of Mormon and Solutions to Inequality, will be posted soon.  In the meantime, read the lists of highlighted chapters I included after several posts.  Better yet, just read Mosiah through 4 Nephi, and then let me know your thoughts.


What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Inequality - Table of Contents