An Unsung Hero

I love the Book of Mormon. We rightfully revere the wonderful men and women of that book. I am inspired by Captain Moroni's courage and Abinadi's faith in God. I want to be a better person when I read about Nephi's search for truth or Alma's righteous transformation. I am humbled by the examples of Sariah, Pahoran, Moroni and others.

But I've been reflecting lately on the life of one of the unsung heroes of the Book of Mormon: Lachoneus. Here is a man whose faith in God was such that he did not fear the powerful wicked men of his day. Here is a man who led by example and taught with boldness. Here is a man who inspired an entire people to repent and come unto Christ.

Lachoneus

 In 3 Nephi, Giddianhi, leader of the notorious Gadiantons, writes an epistle to Lachoneus, governor of the Nephite people, threatening war unless the Nephites yield up their possessions and lands. Like Satan, Giddianhi seeks to entice Lachoneus with promises of power and safety through sin:

"[Y]ield yourselves up unto us, and unite with us and become acquainted with our secret works, and become our brethren that ye may be like unto us—not our slaves, but our brethren and partners of all our substance." (3 Nephi 3:7)

 And then he threatens Lachoneus with death and destruction if he doesn't submit to his demands:

"[I]f ye will not do this, I swear unto you with an oath, that on the morrow month I will command that my armies shall come down against you, and they shall not stay their hand and shall spare not, but shall slay you, and shall let fall the sword upon you even until ye shall become extinct." (vs. 8)

A lesser man might react to Giddianhi's words with fear and submission, or he might react with anger and bravado. But Lachoneus was not a lesser man, and instead of turning to fear or pride he turned to the Lord:

"Now behold, this Lachoneus, the governor, was a just man, and could not be frightened by the demands and the threatenings of a robber; therefore he did not hearken to the epistle of Giddianhi, the governor of the robbers, but he did cause that his people should cry unto the Lord for strength against the time that the robbers should come down against them." (vs. 12)

Lachoneus gathers his people together into one place and instructs them to build up their fortifications. He places guards round about them. Most importantly, he inspires them to repent with this prophetic counsel:

"[E]xcept ye repent of all your iniquities, and cry unto the Lord, ye will in nowise be delivered out of the hands of those Gadianton robbers." (vs. 15)

The people do as Lachoneus commands. They fortify themselves, they dwell in one land as one body of people, and they "repent of all their sins; and they did put up their prayers unto the Lord their God, that he would deliver them in the time that their enemies should come down against them to battle." (vs. 25)

Because of Lachoneus' inspired counsel, and because the people repented and turned to Christ, they were protected against the Gadianton robbers and established peace once again in the land.

Imagine how different the outcome would have been if Lachoneus had a spirit of fear, pride or complacency. What if he was not worthy to receive revelation for his people? What if he had been a wicked man? How different the outcome would have been!

This story is a testimony to me that our actions affect not only ourselves; they affect others. Lachoneus' righteous decisions blessed an entire people. Giddianhi's wickedness scourged his people and condemned them to an early death.

How can we be more like Lachoneus and less like Giddianhi in our modern world? Comment below.