7/29/2019 Ammonites Pacifists

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Clinton Day

JOBMS article summary

Were the Ammonites Pacifists? - Duane Boyce

In "Were the Ammonites Pacifists?" Duane Boyce needs to explore several issues before being able to

address the question properly. In question form, these issues and the authors answers for them are:

(1) Who exactly were the Ammonites? They were Lamanites, who were converted by Ammon. They

wished to be distinguished from those who hadn't been converted so they took the name of Anti-Nephi-

Lehites. (2) What were the Ammonites like before their conversion? They were warlike, even duringthe mission of the sons of Mosiah. They hated Nephites and delighted in killing Nephites. They would

also rather rob the Nephites than work to obtain riches.

(3) What did the Ammonites repent of after their conversion? They repented of their "Sins and many

murders" that had been motivated by hatred and a love of blood. This aggression was the reason for

their sore repentance. (4) How did the Ammonites repent? They repented by hiding their swords up in

the earth, and taking an oath never to take them up again that their swords may stay bright (Or clean).They also became distinguished for their zeal towards God and men. Perfectly honest, and firm in the

faith.

(5) How did the Ammonites behave after entering their covenant? They would allow themselves to be

slain, rather than to take up arms. This happened more than once because of the love they felt towards

their brethren. They also materially supported the Nephites in their battles against the Lamanites.They wanted to help by taking up arms, but were persuaded otherwise lest they should lose their souls.

The Ammonite sons entered a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites. (Stripling warriors)

The author then moves on to his question of Were the Ammonites Pacifists? He states that pacifism isopposition, on moral grounds, to all war of any kind, and is not based on fear or fatigue or

inconvenience. He says that based on this, a pacifist conclusion is untenable. He asks the reader to

consider these six points.

(1) The acts of killing the Ammonites repented of were acts of aggression.

(2) The Ammonites never adopt a pacifist explanation as the reason for eschewing war, that reason wasbecause of war's similarity to the sin they had repented of.

(3) They never objected to the Nephites waging war, and actually supported them in that cause.

(4) They actually wanted to take up arms to help in the war, but were persuaded otherwise.(5) The method of this persuasion was not on the basis that war is morally wrong, but based on the

covenant they had taken.

(6) They did not object to their sons entering the war.

The author's Conclusion: The Ammonites are not examples of pacifism. They were only opposed to

war for reasons particular to themselves, namely their past sins. They shared the distaste for war held

by all true followers of christ, but that was not a pacifistic abhorrence.

So my test question is this: State briefly why the Ammonites were or were not pacifists.