< ALMA 23 >
v.6 ... as many of the Lamanites as believed in their preaching, and were converted unto the Lord, never did fall away.
Strong Converts
When conversion costs something, it tends to anchor the soul more deeply. These Lamanites weren't joining a winning team, they were choosing a harder path.
They were also taught the basic truth and were anchored in it: Creation, Fall, Atonement. See Alma 22. They knew who they were, why they were fallen, and how they were redeemed.
Shallow conversion produces shallow roots. Deep theology produces deep stability. Their conversion was rooted in Christ, not convenience.
Creation, fall, atonement
Strong Converts
When conversion costs something, it tends to anchor the soul more deeply. These Lamanites weren't joining a winning team, they were choosing a harder path.
They were also taught the basic truth and were anchored in it: Creation, Fall, Atonement. See Alma 22. They knew who they were, why they were fallen, and how they were redeemed.
Shallow conversion produces shallow roots. Deep theology produces deep stability. Their conversion was rooted in Christ, not convenience.
Creation, fall, atonement
v. 17 And it came to pass that they called their names Anti-Nephi-Lehies; and they were called by his name and were no more called Lamanites
In light of the context, it would not make sense for these recent converts to declare themselves to be against Nephi and Lehi. Alternatively, if the name element Anti- derives from the Egyptian relative adjective nty, which means “the one who,” “that,” or “which,” then the name would mean just the opposite; roughly, “that-which(-is-of-)Nephi-Lehi” or “the-one-who(-is-of-)Nephi-Lehi.”
This proposal works especially well in light of what follows directly after the name is given. The text, as mentioned above, indicates that the Anti-Nephi-Lehies “were friendly with the Nephites” upon their conversion, and “did open a correspondence with them”
The fact that these two parties were “friendly” to each other is thus perhaps best understood to mean they created a political alliance. This would be consistent with other Book of Mormon passages. King Lamoni, for instance, spoke of Antiomno as “a friend unto me,” and as such was able to use a political favor by having Ammon’s brethren released from prison
https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/why-did-converted-lamanites-call-themselves-anti-nephi-lehies
In light of the context, it would not make sense for these recent converts to declare themselves to be against Nephi and Lehi. Alternatively, if the name element Anti- derives from the Egyptian relative adjective nty, which means “the one who,” “that,” or “which,” then the name would mean just the opposite; roughly, “that-which(-is-of-)Nephi-Lehi” or “the-one-who(-is-of-)Nephi-Lehi.”
This proposal works especially well in light of what follows directly after the name is given. The text, as mentioned above, indicates that the Anti-Nephi-Lehies “were friendly with the Nephites” upon their conversion, and “did open a correspondence with them”
The fact that these two parties were “friendly” to each other is thus perhaps best understood to mean they created a political alliance. This would be consistent with other Book of Mormon passages. King Lamoni, for instance, spoke of Antiomno as “a friend unto me,” and as such was able to use a political favor by having Ammon’s brethren released from prison
https://scripturecentral.org/knowhy/why-did-converted-lamanites-call-themselves-anti-nephi-lehies
