There Should Be No Contention Among Them – Mosiah 23:15

A fundamental principle of happy living is to avoid contention. As Mormon tells us in this passage, Alma emphasized this principle after leading his people safely away from the armies of King Noah. To avoid contention is a natural extension of the second great commandment: that we love our neighbor as ourselves (Matthew 22;37-39). This does not mean that we should trust everyone implicitly. In the prior verses, Alma told them to “trust no man to be a king” and to also be selective about the teachers and the ministers whom they chose to follow. But we ought to strive to live in peace with one another, just as King Benjamin had taught his people earlier (Mosiah 2:32-33) and as Jesus Christ would later teach (3 Nephi 11:28-30).

President Thomas S. Monson has urged us to avoid contention with the people around us. For example, at the end of a General Conference of the Church, he offered the following words of counsel:

May we return to our homes with a resolve in our hearts to be a little better than we have been in the past. May we be a little kinder and more thoughtful. May we reach out in helpfulness, not only to our fellow members but also to those who are not of our faith. As we associate with them, may we show our respect for them (“Until We Meet Again,” General Conference, October 2014).

Today, I will strive to love my neighbors as myself. I will be kind to family members, co-workers, and others with whom I come in contact. Even when I disagree with them, I will treat them with respect and will strive to show love and kindness toward them.