But it Mattereth Not...

When we have trials in life, we have two choices: to either become better or bitter. President Brigham Young once compared being offended to a poisonous snakebite. He said that “there are two courses of action to follow when one is bitten by a rattlesnake. One may, in anger, fear, or vengefulness, pursue the creature and kill it. Or he may make full haste to get the venom out of his system.” He said, “If we pursue the latter course we will likely survive, but if we attempt to follow the former, we may not be around long enough to finish it.” 

Pahoran, the chief judge and governor, had this very choice before him when Moroni sent him a very angry and provocative letter. Moroni had sent him an epistle requesting more men and supplies to be sent to his army in order to protect the cities from the Lamanites. Little did Moroni know, that Pahoran had his own problems to deal with, and was unable to spare men or even time for a correspondence letter due to the kings-men who were trying to overthrow the government. Therefore, acting in anger and misunderstanding, Moroni accused Pahoran of "indifference concerning the freedom of their country" as well as treason, neglect, "slothfulness" and sitting upon his throne in a "thoughtless stupor".

Pahoran could very well have gotten angry and spiteful that Moroni would accuse him of such things, when he had no idea what was going on within the Nephite government because of wicked kings-men. However, after explaining his situation, rather than rebuke Moroni for judging too harshly, Pahoran says to Moroni, "And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgement-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free" (Alma 61:9). 

Even in times when the person who has offended us is not rightly justified in their anger (as was Moroni), we are expected to 'forgive all men' despite what they do to us. However, as David E. Sorenson put it, "This is not to say that forgiveness is easy. When someone has hurt us or those we care about, that pain can almost be overwhelming. It can feel as if the pain or the injustice is the most important thing in the world and that we have no choice but to seek vengeance. But Christ, the Prince of Peace, teaches us a better way. It can be very difficult to forgive someone the harm they’ve done us, but when we do, we open ourselves up to a better future. No longer does someone else’s wrongdoing control our course. When we forgive others, it frees us to choose how we will live our own lives. Forgiveness means that problems of the past no longer dictate our destinies, and we can focus on the future with God’s love in our hearts."