Helaman 9

I am going to apply this chapter to arguing on the internet. Online there are many opportunities to disagree with people. People who don't believe in God, people who don't believe organized religion, people who don't believe that Mormons are Christians, people who do believe that Mormons are bigots. There is no end to people that we disagree with on the internet. Chapters 8 and 9 of Helaman tell the story of Nephi prophesying to the people that their chief judge, Seezoram, has been murdered. 5 of the people who are gathered listening to Nephi ran to see if it is true and they find the judge murdered.

Helaman 9:4-5

...they had not believed the words which Nephi had spoken concerning the chief judge. But now, when they saw they believed, and fear came upon them lest all the judgments which Nephi had spoken should come upon the people...

This was interesting to me because it was an example of people who when they saw they believed. There is a saying that seeing isn't believing, believing is seeing. Well maybe believing is believing and seeing may or may not have anything to do with it. They had already exercised enough faith to run see if the chief judge really had been murdered. They were the only 5 who went to see after all. At any rate, these people believed when they saw. And maybe some people who read your comments, or testimony on the internet will be touched, maybe some will be inspired to learn more, so it is important to keep putting your beliefs out there. But most people will probably react like the judges did.

Helaman 9:16

And now it came to pass that the judges did expound the matter unto the people, and they did cry out against Nephi, saying: Behold, we know that this Nephi must have agreed with some one to slay the judge, and then he might declare it unto us, that he might convert us unto his faith, that he might raise himself to be a great man, chosen of God, and a prophet.

Most people will continue to believe what they want to believe, regardless of what evidence or signs are shown unto them. In this chapter the 5 believed when they saw were converted while they were in prison and they rebuked the judges for accusing Nephi.

Helaman 9:18

...and did contend with them one by one, insomuch that they did confound them.

This is amazing to me. I wondered what it is that they said that they could confound the judges. Certainly this is something that we will not be able to do unless we are guided to do so by the spirit. BUT...

Helaman 9:19

Nevertheless, they caused that Nephi should be taken and bound and brought before the Multitude...

It didn't matter. Even after the judges were confounded they still just did what they were going to do anyway. And as Nephi points out:

Helaman 9:24

...because I showed unto you this sign ye are angry with me, and seek to destroy my life.

Notice how when the judges are faced with something, like the prophecy of Seezrom's death, that they can't just argue away their solution isn't to change but to get rid of Nephi so he will stop telling them they need to repent. When ever we challenge someones beliefs or way of life they will most likely be angry. If we did manage to confound someone, they would also be angry. And when they challenge us and our beliefs then we will also get angry. The internet, or the world in general, can be a very angry place. But we've been told by the Savior:

3 Nephi 11:29-30

For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but us 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.

So while it is important to share your testimony and your beliefs, it is equally important to share love and to not stir people up to anger or allow yourself to be angry or contentious.

Just don't get drawn in to the arguments. Maybe the solution is to bare your testimony gently, and walk away.