“I…Did Repent of the Oath”

Mormon had good reason to walk away from his role as commander of the Nephite army. He had led them for thirty-six years. During that time, he had pleaded with them to repent (Mormon 3:2-3). He had watched them curse God when things went badly (Mormon 2:13-14), “boast in their own strength” when things went well (Mormon 3:9), and “[swear] by all that had been forbidden them by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” to seek vengeance and retribution (Mormon 3:14). In Mormon’s explanation of his decision to resign, he emphasized his sustained efforts on their behalf for many years:

I had led them, notwithstanding their wickedness I had led them many times to battle, and had loved them, according to the love of God which was in me, with all my heart; and my soul had been poured out in prayer unto my God all the day long for them; nevertheless, it was without faith, because of the hardness of their hearts.

And thrice have I delivered them out of the hands of their enemies, and they have repented not of their sins.

Mormon 3:12-13

But seventeen years later, at the age of 68, he was back. “I…did repent of the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them; and they gave me command again of their armies.” His people may not have had faith in God, but they certainly had faith in him. “They looked upon me as though I could deliver them from their afflictions,” he said. “But behold, I was without hope” (Mormon 5:1-2).

Why did he come back? Nothing had changed. If anything, things looked worse than they had before. The Lamanites vastly outnumbered the Nephites and were constantly slaughtering them and capturing their towns and villages. The Nephites were still too stubborn to reach out to the only One who could save them. Why did Mormon change his mind if nothing had fundamentally changed?

The answer is simply, because he loved them. The situation was hopeless, but he still wanted to be with them and to do what he could for them. They were making poor decisions and suffering the consequences, but they were still his people: his friends and his relatives. He didn’t stop loving them just because they were trapped in self-destructive habits. He still wanted what was best for them.

In a week, there will be an election in the United States. I have joked in the past about moving out of the country if election results didn’t go my way, but this time, I’m seeing things through the eyes of Mormon. I am an American, and the citizens of my country are my people. If they collectively make decisions which I disagree with, they don’t stop being my people. I will continue to contribute, to patiently persuade, and to serve the people around me in the best way I know how, regardless of the leaders we collectively choose or the policies they implement.

Nearly four years ago, President Dallin H. Oaks cautioned members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints “to refrain from judging one another in political matters.” He explained that individuals choose how to prioritize and apply true principles as they assess issues and candidates, and just because they vote for a specific candidate doesn’t mean that they agree with all of that candidate’s positions. He said, “We should never assert that a faithful Latter-day Saint cannot belong to a particular party or vote for a particular candidate” (“Defending Our Divinely Inspired Constitution,” General Conference, April 2021). If we can extend that grace toward fellow members of our church, perhaps we can extend the same grace toward all of our fellow-citizens.

Today, I will strive to emulate Mormon’s love and concern for his people. As I consider the decisions facing my country, state, and community, I will begin with gratitude that I belong to this country, state, and community. I will follow Mormon’s example: loving, serving and praying for my fellow-citizens, regardless of whether I agree or disagree with their individual and collective decisions.