One of the things that works so well with people these days is colorful language said by a Charismatic person and the Book of Mormon shows that it was no different in 50BC when Gadianton "who was exceedingly expert in many words, and also in his craft, to carry on the secret work of murder and and of robbery" (Helaman 2:4). Now the interesting thing is that you can apply this same verse to how things are done today... let us use a corrupt official or lawyer for instance - they tend to be expert in many words and because of their 'craft' (skills, contacts, education) they are able to keep people who murder out of jail through appeals and sympathetic juries. The official is busy doing the same - removing taxes that should be paid, bringing in smuggled goods, bribing others.
There is another part of the Book of Mormon that shows how their laws became a vessel of their wickedness.
Helaman 5:2
"For as their laws and their governments were established by the voice of the people, and they who chose evil were more numerous than they who chose good, therefore they were ripening for destruction, for the laws had become corrupted."
Corrupt laws remind me of some of the debates we often have within the Community about the current laws before the Senate / Parliament wherein you can see the wickedness of Satan's followers gaining ground. Other References:
Alma 10:14
Now it was those men who sought to destroy them, who were lawyers, who were hired or appointed by the people to administer the law at their times of trials, or at the trials of the crimes of the people before the judges.
Alma 10:15
Now these lawyers were learned in all the arts and cunning of the people; and this was to enable them that they might be skilful in their profession.
QUOTE |
let us use a corrupt official or lawyer for instance - they tend to be expert in many words and because of their 'craft' (skills, contacts, education) they are able to keep people who murder out of jail through appeals and sympathetic juries. |