As Alma tried to decide how to deal with a group of people who were distancing themselves from the rest of the Nephites, he concluded that outreach and persuasion were more likely to be effective than combativeness and confrontation:
As the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just—yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them—therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God.
Alma 31:5
Soon after arriving in the Zoramites’ land, Alma got a glimpse of the divisive power of contentious words. As they stood on a raised platform in their synagogue, the Zoramites prayed, “Holy God, we believe that thou hast separated us from our brethren; and we do not believe in the tradition of our brethren, which was handed down to them by the childishness of their fathers.” They later added, “Thou hast elected us that we shall be saved, whilst all around us are elected to be cast by thy wrath down to hell; for the which holiness, O God, we thank thee” (Alma 31:16-17). Not the words of a charitable person, and certainly not words intended to cultivate peace and unity.
In contrast, Alma offered a heartfelt prayer in which he expressed love for the Zoramite people. “Behold, O Lord, their souls are precious, and many of them are our brethren; therefore, give unto us, O Lord, power and wisdom that we may bring these, our brethren, again unto thee” (Alma 31:35).
The Zoramites used language that demeans and divides. Alma used words that uplift and unite.
Elder Ronald A. Rasband recently reminded us:
Our words can be supportive or angry, joyful or mean, compassionate or tossed aside. In the heat of the moment, words can sting and sink painfully deep into the soul—and stay there. Our words on the internet, texting, social media, or tweets take on a life of their own. So be careful what you say and how you say it. In our families, especially with husbands, wives, and children, our words can bring us together or drive a wedge between us.
“Words Matter,” General Conference, April 2024
Today, I will use words that unite, words that reduce tension, and words that encourage peace and inclusiveness. I will remember that swords, whether physical or metaphorical, do not persuade, and I will strive to speak words that are pleasing to God, words that recognize the value of His children and bring them together.
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