Children of a King - Mighty Change

Malcolm X is notorious for his views of the "White devils" and his advocacy for arms against those who disenfranchise African Americans through violence and intimidation as a member of the Nation of Islam. As a member of the Nation, Malcolm taught that

1. White people are the devils, who, as a race, face destruction from God.
2. Black people are the original or first humans and are superior to Whites.

Malcolm went about for years teaching these things until disillusionment caused him to have a pilgrimage to Mecca that changed the nature of his faith. He converted to Sunni Islam away from the teachings of exclusion in the Nation of Islam. Before he died, he was sure that people of all races could work together to address human rights concerns.

Malcolm admitted during an interview,

I did many things as a [Black] Muslim that I'm sorry for now. I was a zombie then‍—‌like all [Black] Muslims‍—‌I was hypnotized, pointed in a certain direction and told to march. Well, I guess a man's entitled to make a fool of himself if he's ready to pay the cost. It cost me 12 years.

That was a bad scene, brother. The sickness and madness of those days‍—‌I'm glad to be free of them" [1]

Being wrong about a life-philosophy wreaks havoc on the soul, but when the truth illuminates the mind it is true freedom. Joseph Smith, Jr. taught in an epistle to the Saints while at Liberty Jail that

...there are many yet on the earth among all sects, parties, and denominations, who are blinded by the subtle craftiness of men, whereby they lie in wait to deceive, and who are only kept from the truth because they know not where to find it. Doctrine & Covenants 123:12

Malcolm found the source of truth that taught him that God loves all people and wants all people to work together. Changing is not hard when the alternative means the destruction of the soul. Changing is desirable when the alternative means the destruction of the soul. Change is the pure liquid oasis of light, a respite in the desert of darkened minds. In this article, the sons of King Mosiah, an ancient ruler of a nation of Hebrews, find the truth after experiencing their "Mecca" experience while going about trying to tear down the faith of their father's nation.

What Came Before

Children of a King. In this article, the sons of an ancient king receive attention who went out seeking for themselves. What they found changed the course of life for thousands of people for generations.

Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni are the children of King, Mosiah. These men with their friend Alma, all prominent members of the royal kingdom, started a countercultural revolution in the Kingdom of the Nephites, an ancient American nation found in The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ.

Mosiah's subjects identified as followers of Messianic Judaism, since Christianity as a faith, had yet to be coined at that time about 100 years before the birth of Christ. For all intents and purposes, these people were Christian due to their belief in the birth of a savior who would atone for the sins of humanity, saving all from death and hell.

The children of the king did not espouse those beliefs. Actively the group of young men secretly influenced those who would listen not to follow the teachings of the King and the High Priest, Alma.

Before the coronation of Mosiah as the king, his father, Benjamin, stood before the kingdom and preached a farewell message to his subjects admonishing them to turn to the coming Christ. The rising generation were either children or not born during that national event where Mosiah received the kingship and assumed the functions of leadership. Benjamin retired from his secular functions dying three years later with a people united in faith that he passed to his son.

Ammon, Aaron, Omner, Himni, and their friend Alma did not identify with this life-philosophy. Like Malcolm X, they had a different priority. These men did not want to accept the faith of their fathers. They wanted to do things their way.

Mormon's commentary of that period in their lives is scathing. Pathetic pathos reveals how they "became a great hinderment to the prosperity of the church of God; stealing away the hearts of the people; causing much dissension among the people; giving a chance for the enemy of God to exercise his power over them." Mosiah 27:9

Alma, the son of the High Priest was the ringleader of this group of men. With his powers of persuasion, a cultural civil war was in the making. God would need to intervene on behalf of the people of Mosiah.

A wo was pronounced on the Nephite nation if ever they rejected God and His prophets that they would be destroyed to the point of extinction! The reasons for this severe penalty are detailed throughout The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Alma the High Priest and King Mosiah could see the seeds of destruction forming in the people and petitioned God for deliverance.

Cloaked as they were, the sons of the king and of the high priest had a reckoning. No, neither of the fathers knew who were the leaders behind this cultural tsunami of hate that swept the rising generation, but took notice that it affected the kids.

As the men went about supporting wickedness, a Mecca experience was about to begin.

As they were going about rebelling against God, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto them; and he descended as it were in a cloud; and he spake as it were with a voice of thunder, which caused the earth to shake upon which they stood; and so great was their astonishment, that they fell to the earth, and understood not the words which he spake unto them. Mosiah 27:11-12

God sent an angel to wake these men of privilege up from their dark slumber of self-importance to see the work destruction they did to His people. Alma was the subject of the angel's conversation, but the message was equally important for them all to hear.

"And now behold," said the angel, "can ye dispute the power of God? For behold, doth not my voice shake the earth? And can ye not also behold me before you? And I am sent from God." Mosiah 27:15

Quelching their rebellious spirit, the angel told them that Alma the High Priest and church had prayed with faith which was why he was there. As his voice shook the ground so that they all fell, he warned them to no longer preach against the church of God.

This harrowing experience made the son of the high priest lose consciousness for 2 days. For all of them, it gave them proof that the God that Alma and Mosiah spoke of and taught of was real. The sons of Mosiah used the zeal that they developed to preach to aid the church from that point forward. The cultural revolution was not over because they needed to repair all the damage they had inflicted on society and convince the unbelievers, a group of which they used to be, of the truth that God is real.

As with all things, that which is sent out will return to the sender. Mosiah's sons had learned from their youth about religion and the teachings of the ancient prophets. Princes received a standard education in the Law of Moses and the advent of the Messiah. Persecution raged in their hearts at hearing the truth. Now, the truth was in them to teach to people who felt as they once did.

Malcolm X changed his life when he found the path to truth. His tune changed about the worth of human souls as he worshipped in Mecca in equality among many races of devout Muslims. Finding the truth and accepting it cost him his life as he was reportedly murdered by people of his former faith. The sons of Mosiah learn the hard road of missionaries. In, "Children of a King - Last of the Royals" is written the extraordinary path Ammon, Aaron, Omner, and Himni took to express their new faith in Christ.