Likening
Here is another in my series of attempts to liken the scriptures to the current political situation.
     So, remember in the Book of Mormon, Book of Mosiah, chapters 11-17, the Prophet Abinadi confronted the wicked king Noah and his loyal but wicked priests and, at the peril of his life, testified of their wickedness and called them to repentance. One of the priests, Alma, realized that Abinadi was correct and urged the king not to kill Abinadi as his other priests were urging. We pick up the story from the book:  Mosiah 17:1: “And now it came to pass that when Abinadi had finished these sayings, that the king commanded that the priests should take him and cause that he should be put to death. 2 But there was one among them whose name was Alma, he also being a descendant of Nephi. And he was a young man, and he believed the words which Abinadi had spoken, for he knew concerning the iniquity which Abinadi had testified against them; therefore he began to plead with the king that he would not be angry with Abinadi, but suffer that he might depart in peace. 3 But the king was more wroth, and caused that Alma should be cast out from among them, and sent his servants after him that they might slay him. 4 But he fled from before them and hid himself that they found him not.”
    Thus, the righteous priest Alma was not only driven out for speaking the truth to the wicked king, but the king tried to have him killed to punish him for speaking up.
     Remind you of anyone?

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Another cautionary Book of Mormon scripture to “liken” to our situation and the votes in the Senate. Mosiah 29:27 “And if the time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land.”
Time will tell.

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Mr. Dershowitz’ “comments” yesterday remind me of a third thing in the Book of Mormon to “liken” to the impeachment proceeding.  One of the claims of the anti-Christ Korihor was “that every man conquered according to his strength; and whatsoever a man did was no crime.” Alma 30:17.  That is almost exactly Prof. D’s argument for Mr. Trump. Thoughts?

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Again, I was looking through my Book of Mormon for something that I could “liken” to the current political situation, and I found the following. It refers to a group of robbers who grouped together to protect each other from the consequences of their bad behavior.  It seems vaguely analogous to what we are seeing in the Senate, protecting the President from his misconduct, and, indeed, saying he cannot be held accountable for anything he does, plus the sure retribution that will be visited on any who stray from the party line. See what you think.
    Hel. 6: 21 “But behold, ... they did unite with those bands of robbers, and did enter into their covenants and their oaths, that they would protect and preserve one another in whatsoever difficult circumstances they should be placed, that they should not suffer for their [misconduct].
 22 And it came to pass that they did have their signs, ... that whatsoever wickedness his brother should do he should not be injured by his brother, nor by those who did belong to his band, who had taken this covenant. 23 And thus they might ... commit ... all manner of wickedness, contrary to the laws of their country and also the laws of their God.
 24 And whosoever of those who belonged to their band should reveal unto the world of their wickedness and their abominations, should be tried, not according to the laws of their country, but according to the laws of their wickedness. ...”

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So, I was looking through my Book of Mormon for something that I could “liken” to the current political situation, and I found the following. To set the scene, the wicked king Noah’s false priests have dragged the Prophet Abinadi before the king to complain that Abinadi has spoken against them and the king. Look for instances of fawning, lying, appeals to prosperity, and, on the other side, steadfast truth-telling and courage in the face of opposition.
    Mosiah, 12:13 “[Priests speaking] And now, O king, what great evil hast thou done, or what great sins have thy people committed, that we should be condemned of God or judged of this man? 14 And now, O king, behold, we are guiltless, and thou, O king, hast not sinned; therefore, this man has lied concerning you, and he has prophesied in vain. 15 And behold, we are strong, we shall not come into bondage, or be taken captive by our enemies ; yea, and thou hast prospered in the land, and thou shalt also prosper. ... 19 And they [the priests] began to question him [Abinadi], that they might cross him, that thereby they might have wherewith to accuse him; but he answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions, yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand them in all their questions, and did confound them in all their words.”
    Thoughts?