Why was it imperative that everyone participate in defending the country’s freedoms?

Thomas R. Valletta

“Moroni’s petition was not to kill whoever chose not to fight. Notice that there was not time for a trial (Alma 51:19). Five years later, the men of Pachus, also king-men, ‘received their trial, according to the law’ and those who would ‘fight against [their country] were put to death.’ This action was taken ‘for the safety of their country’ (Alma 62:9–10). In a similar situation today, the same action may be justified. Notice also that the dissenters were given the choice to defend their country or be put to death (Alma 51:15). Moroni’s actions put an end to the king-men and to the stubbornness and pride of those ‘who professed the blood of nobility’ (v. 21)” (Nyman, Record of Helaman, 115).

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