Thoughts on contention

The topic of Book of Mormon geography can raise differences among people. Let’s take it as a given that most people say they want to avoid contention, argument, debate, etc. This applies to their work, family, church, recreation, and other activities.

Jude describes what we should contend for:

Jude 1:3
Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

That’s the kind of contention that I’ve tried to conduct on this blog, my other blogs, and my articles and books.

Then there is another kind of contention that I seek to avoid:

3 Nephi 11:29-30
For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.
Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.
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Based on these and other passages, IMO it is important to contend for the faith and what is right, but it’s just as important to do so without anger. 

Readers of this blog know that I think it’s fun to have these exchanges. It’s definitely frustrating that this whole thing about Cumorah not being in New York has gone on for so long, perpetuated by LDS scholars and educators, but there’s no reason to get angry about it.

What’s done is done.

It’s up to us to take the initiative to fix it, all without anger. .

So when I write a piece titled “Fun with…” I mean that. There’s no anger. We can all enjoy the discussion and hopefully move toward the day when we’ll all see eye-to-eye.

And we can focus on the meaning of the text and it’s origin, making us all better people.