“Now the King Was Not So Much Concerned About His People as He Was About His Own Life”

Joseph F. McConkie, Robert L. Millet

Intelligence cleaveth unto intelligence; wisdom receiveth wisdom; truth embraceth truth; virtue loveth virtue; light cleaveth unto light; mercy hath compassion on mercy and claimeth her own; justice continueth its course and claimeth its own; judgment goeth before the face of him who sitteth upon the throne and governeth and executeth all things (D&C 88:40).

So speaks the revelation, to which we might add, drawing upon the lesson of King Noah’s treatment of Abinadi, that evil begets evil; selfishness engenders more selfishness; meanness encourages meanness; corruption attracts corruption; hatred spawns hatred; depravity seeks company with depravity; greed feeds upon greed; and anger produces anger, for all things produce after their own image and in their own likeness.

Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, Vol. 2

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