Legalism “Simply put, legalism is belief, stated or supposedly implied, that law, not faith, is the pre-eminent principle of redemption.”

Jenny Hatch – Spaghetti face!
Yesterday was a big day in my life. My sister in law Lori told me about the death of a person who had threatened me twice in my life. His threats had a huge impact on my mental state as a child, and continued to exert an influence on my life and behavior as an adult. This person violently molested me as a little child and then told me that he would kill me if I told. Then later in life when I remembered him hurting me and made the decision to speak publicly, he again threatened me with a lawsuit if I didn’t shut up.
When I was reeling from the memories coming into my mind and attempting to make sense of what was happening, I asked my Father in Law, whom I trust, what to do. He prayed about it and called me back and encouraged me to sign the affidavit that had been sent in the mail and do what this person asked me to do, which was retract what I had publicly claimed about this person molesting me.
I did so, and then became very suicidal. I spent a few days in a mental hospital on suicide watch, and then came home to resume my life. These past five years have been difficult. Mostly because I have wondered if what I did was right, and most importantly, I worried that he might be molesting someone else because I did not speak even louder about what he did to me.
Yesterday when it finally hit me that he was really dead, I felt such a weight leave my shoulders. He is no longer in a position to hurt anyone else and I don’t have to speak about it ever again, except in passing and as a sad, sorry chapter in my life.
This morning I was studying the Book Of Mormon. Some days I like to just open the book and start reading, and this morning that is what I did. I opened to one of my favorite passages in the Book of Alma. I began reading in Alma chapter five and continued through to chapter 14.
As I read I was pondering the reality of being threatened with legal action from a person whom I believe is right now sitting in spirit prison. I was thinking about his threats and his willfully rebelling against the truth. At one point five years ago when I was speaking publicly about what he did, I said to a person close to me that I believed confronting him with these accusations was a form of love, simply because it gave him the opportunity to repent and make things right before he died. By confessing and then moving down that repentance path, he could have taken those important steps to heal the wounds.
Instead he wrapped himself in legalism and threats, threats which were effective in his mind because I backed down somewhat. He covered his sins with the law and continued pretending that he was innocent.
I was thinking about Legalism as I read this passage from the Book of Mormon and a couple of verses leapt from the page as I read.
Here is a quick synopsis of this story.
Alma was a man who had been a sinner in his youth. He had committed the most gross sins and then repented of them. After his repentance he went on missions to teach other people about the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and then in his later years he was called to be the prophet of his people and led them spiritually for many years. In chapter six of Alma we read about his experience of going to a people who were wicked. He tried to teach them and they would not listen. Then as he was leaving the city, he was told to go back and try to preach again. When he was on his way into town, he met a man named Amulek who had been told by an Angel that he was to feed a prophet of God who had been fasting, take care of him, and help him.
So Alma and Amulek began their ministry. The passage talks about Amulek having worked hard for much of his life and prospering and having a family, so my guess is that he was an older man. (this story took place in the Americas in a city called Ammonihah about 82 BC)
In Alma chapter 8:16 we read:
“16 And behold, I am sent to command thee that thou return to the city of Ammonihah, and preach again unto the people of the city; yea, preach unto them. Yea, say unto them, except they repent the Lord God will destroy them.
17 For behold, they do study at this time that they may destroy the liberty of thy people, (for thus saith the Lord) which is contrary to the statutes, and judgments, and commandments which he has given unto his people.”
What struck me in this passage was the reference to Liberty being struck down, and that the wicked of that city were working hard to enslave the people. I’m not sure what it is about immoral people, that they seek to use the law to enslave the innocent, but it is something that is real in our world today, and as shown in the scriptures, this pattern of the immoral using the law to entrap citizens was real in the days before Christ was even born.
Here is another passage from later in the story…
Alma was teaching the people and they began to argue with him…
“12 Behold, now I say unto you that he commandeth you to repent; and except ye repent, ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God. But behold, this is not all—he has commanded you to repent, or he will utterly destroy you from off the face of the earth; yea, he will visit you in his anger, and in his fierce anger he will not turn away.
13 Behold, do ye not remember the words which he spake unto Lehi, saying that: Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments, ye shall prosper in the land? And again it is said that: Inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.”
I was thinking about this molester as I read this passage, simply because his reaction to being called to repent was to wrap himself in legalism to protect himself from my accusations, much as the people of Ammonihah used their court, jail, and lawyers to protect themselves from Alma calling them to repentance.
In Alma chapter 10 Amulek teaches the people by first introducing himself and reminding them of who he is, and then he also calls them to repentance:
“12 And now, when Amulek had spoken these words the people began to be astonished, seeing there was more than one witness who testified of the things whereof they were accused, and also of the things which were to come, according to the spirit of prophecy which was in them.
13 Nevertheless, there were some among them who thought to question them, that by their cunning devices they might catch them in their words, that they might find witness against them, that they might deliver them to their judges that they might be judged according to the law, and that they might be slain or cast into prison, according to the crime which they could make appear or witness against them.
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.
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.
16 And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict the words which he should speak.
17 Now they knew not that Amulek could know of their designs. But it came to pass as they began to question him, he perceived their thoughts, and he said unto them: O ye wicked and perverse generation, ye lawyers and hypocrites, for ye are laying the foundations of the devil; for ye are laying traps and snares to catch the holy ones of God.”
Amulek continued this way calling them to repentance and pleading with them for their very souls through the rest of the chapter. Then the people became angry and yelled back…and Amulek responded:
“26 For behold, have I testified against your law? Ye do not understand; ye say that I have spoken against your law; but I have not, but I have spoken in favor of your law, to your condemnation.
27 And now behold, I say unto you, that the foundation of the destruction of this people is beginning to be laid by the unrighteousness of your lawyers and your judges.
28 And now it came to pass that when Amulek had spoken these words the people cried out against him, saying: Now we know that this man is a child of the devil, for he hath lied unto us; for he hath spoken against our law. And now he says that he has not spoken against it.
29 And again, he has reviled against our lawyers, and our judges.
30 And it came to pass that the lawyers put it into their hearts that they should remember these things against him.
31 And there was one among them whose name was Zeezrom. Now he was the foremost to accuse Amulek and Alma, he being one of the most expert among them, having much business to do among the people.
32 Now the object of these lawyers was to get gain; and they got gain according to their employ.”
And the story continues in chapter 11 of Alma:
“20 Now, it was for the sole purpose to get gain, because they received their wages according to their employ, therefore, they did stir up the people to riotings, and all manner of disturbances and wickedness, that they might have more employ, that they might get money according to the suits which were brought before them; therefore they did stir up the people against Alma and Amulek.
21 And this Zeezrom began to question Amulek, saying: Will ye answer me a few questions which I shall ask you? Now Zeezrom was a man who was expert in the devices of the devil, that he might destroy that which was good; therefore, he said unto Amulek: Will ye answer the questions which I shall put unto you?
22 And Amulek said unto him: Yea, if it be according to the Spirit of the Lord, which is in me; for I shall say nothing which is contrary to the Spirit of the Lord. And Zeezrom said unto him: Behold, here are six onties of silver, and all these will I give thee if thou wilt deny the existence of a Supreme Being.
23 Now Amulek said: O thou child of hell, why tempt ye me? Knowest thou that the righteous yieldeth to no such temptations?”
Amulek continues to argue with Zeezrom, who was a lawyer through the rest of chapter 11 and then in chapter 12 Alma takes over again with a similar line of thought…
“14 For our words will condemn us, yea, all our works will condemn us; we shall not be found spotless; and our thoughts will also condemn us; and in this awful state we shall not dare to look up to our God; and we would fain be glad if we could command the rocks and the mountains to fall upon us to hide us from his presence.
15 But this cannot be; we must come forth and stand before him in his glory, and in his power, and in his might, majesty, and dominion, and acknowledge to our everlasting shame that all his judgments are just; that he is just in all his works, and that he is merciful unto the children of men, and that he has all power to save every man that believeth on his name and bringeth forth fruit meet for repentance.
16 And now behold, I say unto you then cometh a death, even a second death, which is a spiritual death; then is a time that whosoever dieth in his sins, as to a temporal death, shall also die a spiritual death; yea, he shall die as to things pertaining unto righteousness.
17 Then is the time when their torments shall be as a lake of fire and brimstone, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever; and then is the time that they shall be chained down to an everlasting destruction, according to the power and captivity of Satan, he having subjected them according to his will.
18 Then, I say unto you, they shall be as though there had been no redemption made; for they cannot be redeemed according to God’s justice; and they cannot die, seeing there is no more corruption.”
In chapter 13 and chapter 14 Alma continued to teach the people and had some success, a few people began to listen, and decided to repent. In fact is says “many” of them decided to repent, but the “more part of them” wanted to destroy Alma and Amulek. And in their wickedness they took the people who believed and cast them into fire. They forced Alma and Amulek to watch and Amulek wanted to stop the slaughter of those innocents, and here we have one of the great explanations for why God allows wicked people to do their awful deeds.
“11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.
12 Now Amulek said unto Alma: Behold, perhaps they will burn us also.
13 And Alma said: Be it according to the will of the Lord. But, behold, our work is not finished; therefore they burn us not.”
Then the wicked people put Alma and Amulek into prison for many days and starved them and mocked them, questioned them, and when it was time, these two men stood together…
“and they rose and stood upon their feet.
26 And Alma cried, saying: How long shall we suffer these great afflictions, O Lord? O Lord, give us strength according to our faith which is in Christ, even unto deliverance. And they broke the cords with which they were bound; and when the people saw this, they began to flee, for the fear of destruction had come upon them.
27 And it came to pass that so great was their fear that they fell to the earth, and did not obtain the outer door of the prison; and the earth shook mightily, and the walls of the prison were rent in twain, so that they fell to the earth; and the chief judge, and the lawyers, and priests, and teachers, who smote upon Alma and Amulek, were slain by the fall thereof.
28 And Alma and Amulek came forth out of the prison, and they were not hurt; for the Lord had granted unto them power, according to their faith which was in Christ. And they straightway came forth out of the prison; and they were loosed from their bands; and the prison had fallen to the earth, and every soul within the walls thereof, save it were Alma and Amulek, was slain; and they straightway came forth into the city.
29 Now the people having heard a great noise came running together by multitudes to know the cause of it; and when they saw Alma and Amulek coming forth out of the prison, and the walls thereof had fallen to the earth, they were struck with great fear, and fled from the presence of Alma and Amulek even as a goat fleeth with her young from two lions; and thus they did flee from the presence of Alma and Amulek.”
I have always loved this story. And reading it this morning, a day when I am finally shaking myself free from the threat of a wicked man, simply because he is dead, it is especially powerful to think about the reality of God knowing our every thought and deed, and using those thoughts and deeds as a testimony and a witness at the final judgement.
I believe God will judge my perpetrator perfectly and that mercy and justice will carefully and equally be measured out. I understand that most molestors were victims themselves and so I feel compassion and forgiveness in my heart for what he too suffered, yet that does not excuse him in his sin, and it does not mean that all of his sins will simply melt away because he was molested.
I have had many moments these past few years of wanting to die. I stayed because of my children and the hope I have for the future. I’m not happy that one of the people who scarred my life is dead, I’m simply relieved that he is no longer in a position to do it to anyone else.
For those in our world today, who perhaps may be reading this post, who believe they can use the law and legalism to save themselves in their sins, I would simply challenge them to repent. Stop focusing on those around you and look into your own black heart to see if anything can be healed or fixed.
One of the sweetest parts of the story of Alma came in the next chapter. And this is the part to me, that is the greatest miracle that Jesus Christ has to offer sinners.
Zeezrom, the very lawyer who was the most vehement in his persecutions and questioning of Alma had the “change of heart” experience of being spiritually reborn.
Here is the text:
“3 And also Zeezrom lay sick at Sidom, with a burning fever, which was caused by the great tribulations of his mind on account of his wickedness, for he supposed that Alma and Amulek were no more; and he supposed that they had been slain because of his iniquity. And this great sin, and his many other sins, did harrow up his mind until it did become exceedingly sore, having no deliverance; therefore he began to be scorched with a burning heat.
4 Now, when he heard that Alma and Amulek were in the land of Sidom, his heart began to take courage; and he sent a message immediately unto them, desiring them to come unto him.
5 And it came to pass that they went immediately, obeying the message which he had sent unto them; and they went in unto the house unto Zeezrom; and they found him upon his bed, sick, being very low with a burning fever; and his mind also was exceedingly sore because of his iniquities; and when he saw them he stretched forth his hand, and besought them that they would heal him.
6 And it came to pass that Alma said unto him, taking him by the hand: Believest thou in the power of Christ unto salvation?
7 And he answered and said: Yea, I believe all the words that thou hast taught.
8 And Alma said: If thou believest in the redemption of Christ thou canst be healed.
9 And he said: Yea, I believe according to thy words.
10 And then Alma cried unto the Lord, saying: O Lord our God, have mercy on this man, and heal him according to his faith which is in Christ.
11 And when Alma had said these words, Zeezrom leaped upon his feet, and began to walk; and this was done to the great astonishment of all the people; and the knowledge of this went forth throughout all the land of Sidom.
12 And Alma baptized Zeezrom unto the Lord; and he began from that time forth to preach unto the people.”
This is truly the miracle of Jesus Christs Atonement. His Atonement enabled me to heal from the assaults, his atonement will enable justice to be perfectly balanced with mercy in the next lfie for both me and my abuser, the atonement helped me to forgive and I am looking forward to getting to a place of forgetting the ugliness, and his sacrifice and example gives me the courage to go forward with my life, unafraid of the future and willing to seek for a perfect brightness of hope, even when it feels like darkness is all around.
I pray to be able to have the strength to endure to the end of my life and have faith on his name.
Jenny Hatch