"...the people were all converted unto the Lord, upon all the face of the land, both Nephites and Lamanites, and there were no contentions and disputations among them and every man did deal justly one with another. And they had all things in common among them; therefore there were not rich and poor, bond and free, but they were all made free, and partakers of the heavenly gift." (4 Nephi 1:2-3)This is the ideal. I think it is what people imagine when they think of world peace. The hard thing about it is, it cannot come without first all people having that change of heart--that conversion wherein their faith and hope in Christ is their guiding light. It is a conversion in which they nurture charity instead of judgement and selfishness. The people remained in such a state for over 150 years because as 4 Nephi 1:15 says "...there was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people." 4 Nephi 1:17 says, "There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there Lamanites, nor any manner of -ites; but they were in one, the children of Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God."
It does sound so very peaceful. And then in verse 20 it mentions that there is still peace in the land except a small part of the people who had revolted from the church and taken upon themselves the name of Lamanites. In the two hundred and first year from the coming of Christ things start to go south. The main culprit mentioned is pride. By 4 Nephi1:41 it says, "And they did still continue to build up churches unto themselves..." So very sad. By the end of 4th Nephi the people are wicked again.
Wouldn't it be lovely if only we could all realize the true way to the ideal and not fail to keep these things in our hearts?
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