"The pen is mightier than the sword" is a metonymic adage, created by English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839. This phrase came to mind as I was reading thiis passage from Alma 31:1-11:
"1 Now it came to pass that after the end of Korihor, Alma having received tidings that the Zoramites were perverting the ways of the Lord, and that Zoram, who was their leader, was leading the hearts of the people to abow down to dumb bidols, his heart again began to csicken because of the iniquity of the people.
2 For it was the cause of great asorrow to Alma to know of iniquity among his people; therefore his heart was exceedingly bsorrowful because of the separation of the Zoramites from the Nephites.
3 Now the Zoramites had gathered themselves together in a land which they called aAntionum, which was east of the land of Zarahemla, which lay nearly bordering upon the seashore, which was south of the land of bJershon, which also bordered upon the wilderness south, which wilderness was full of the Lamanites.
4 Now the Nephites greatly feared that the Zoramites would enter into a acorrespondence with the Lamanites, and that it would be the means of great loss on the part of the Nephites.
5 And now, as the apreaching of the bword had a great tendency to clead 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.
6 Therefore he took Ammon, and Aaron, and Omner; and Himni he did leave in the church in Zarahemla; but the former three he took with him, and also aAmulek and Zeezrom, who were at bMelek; and he also took two of his sons.
7 Now the eldest of his sons he took not with him, and his name was Helaman; but the names of those whom he took with him were aShiblon and bCorianton; and these are the names of those who went with him among the cZoramites, to preach unto them the word.
8 Now the Zoramites were adissenters from the Nephites; therefore they had had the word of God preached unto them.
9 But they had afallen into great errors, for they would not observe to keep the commandments of God, and his statutes, according to the law of Moses.
10 Neither would they observe the aperformances of the church, to continue in prayer and supplication to God daily, that they might not enter into temptation.
11 Yea, in fine, they did pervert the ways of the Lord in very many instances; therefore, for this cause, Alma and his brethren went into the land to preach the word unto them."
Time and time again when God's children turn away from Him, He would call His servants, the prophets to teach His word--It's been a pattern, we see it during the Old Testament times in the Bible. And we see it in the Book of Mormon as well. What does this tell us about God? He does love all His children, doesn't He? He cared for the ancient people in Jerusalem. And He did care for His children in the American continent as well.
If God cared for His children who lived in different places in the world anciently, how about now? Of course, He loves and cares for each one of us as well. He did call prophets in this modern time as well to warn us of the dangers and challenges we're facing in these latter days.
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