Quote:
Originally Posted by Aesa
When has Christ stop turning His cheek?
|
For what it's worth, Section 98 of the Doctrine and Covenants deals with this issue. This section was received in August of 1833, a little over 5 years prior to the affidavit.
Quote:
23 Now, I speak unto you concerning your families—if men will smite you, or your families, once, and ye bear it patiently and revile not against them, neither seek revenge, ye shall be rewarded;
24 But if ye bear it not patiently, it shall be accounted unto you as being meted out as a just measure unto you.
25 And again, if your enemy shall smite you the second time, and you revile not against your enemy, and bear it patiently, your reward shall be an hundredfold.
26 And again, if he shall smite you the third time, and ye bear it patiently, your reward shall be doubled unto you four-fold;
27 And these three testimonies shall stand against your enemy if he repent not, and shall not be blotted out.
28 And now, verily I say unto you, if that enemy shall escape my vengeance, that he be not brought into judgment before me, then ye shall see to it that ye warn him in my name, that he come no more upon you, neither upon your family, even your children’s children unto the third and fourth generation.
29 And then, if he shall come upon you or your children, or your children’s children unto the third and fourth generation, I have delivered thine enemy into thine hands;
30 And then if thou wilt spare him, thou shalt be rewarded for thy righteousness; and also thy children and thy children’s children unto the third and fourth generation.
31 Nevertheless, thine enemy is in thine hands; and if thou rewardest him according to his works thou art justified; if he has sought thy life, and thy life is endangered by him, thine enemy is in thine hands and thou art justified.
32 Behold, this is the law I gave unto my servant Nephi, and thy fathers, Joseph, and Jacob, and Isaac, and Abraham, and all mine ancient prophets and apostles.
33 And again, this is the law that I gave unto mine ancients, that they should not go out unto battle against any nation, kindred, tongue, or people, save I, the Lord, commanded them.
34 And if any nation, tongue, or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift a standard of peace unto that people, nation, or tongue;
35 And if that people did not accept the offering of peace, neither the second nor the third time, they should bring these testimonies before the Lord;
36 Then I, the Lord, would give unto them a commandment, and justify them in going out to battle against that nation, tongue, or people.
37 And I, the Lord, would fight their battles, and their children’s battles, and their children’s children’s, until they had avenged themselves on all their enemies, to the third and fourth generation.
38 Behold, this is an ensample unto all people, saith the Lord your God, for justification before me.
|
I'll interject a note of interest here. In the Book of Mormon, Nephi's brothers made multiple attempts on his life. After the death of their father, Lehi, the attempts became more serious, and Nephi's brothers began serious plots to murder him. At this point, Nephi would have been justified in defending himself. But he didn't. He packed up his things and left with everyone who chose to follow him. It wasn't until Nephi's brothers (and their followers) began hunting him and his people that he actually took up a sword in defense.
Just because bloodshed is justified doesn't mean it's the best course of action. Given what the Saints were going through at this time, I wouldn't be surprised if bloodshed was justified. At the same time, there may have been a better course of action that was difficult to see through the cloud of emotions being felt.
Having said this, I refer back to one of my earlier posts that questions the validity of the statements. Unfortunately, I forgot to check The History of the Church last night. Please remind me, as I am somewhat curious if the Church had a response to the affidavit.
|