The Title of Liberty

What classifies a true hero? Perhaps one may say that a hero is somebody who uses super powers to prevail against evil, but a true hero is one who portrays courage as they stand for truth and righteousness. In our history, many men and women act in courage, but one particular man changed the lives of many as he stood up for what he believed in during a time of evil. This man was Captain Moroni. While wickedness prevailed, Moroni took a stand and delivered his "Title of Liberty" speech at the right time, with the right people, at the right place.

In 73 B.C. a wicked man named Amalickiah desired to be king of the Nephites. The people were “led by the flatteries of Amalickiah, [and] if they would support him and establish him to be their king…he would make them rulers over the people” (Alma 46:5). Therefore, the people began to be desirous of his cunning and wicked ways, and the land of Zarahemla became a wicked land. When Captain Moroni heard of the wickedness of the people and of Amalickiah, he knew he must act. He tore a piece of his coat and wrote, “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” (Alma 46:12), on it. With this message fastened to a pole, he went unto the people and waved the banner as he proclaimed, “Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant and they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them” (Alma 46:20).

Through his proclaim, Moroni affectively touched the lives of the right people, by being at the right place, at the right time. Thus, a moment of kairos was established. Amalickiah wished for the people of Zarahemla to follow his reign and to become a selfish and wicked people. He lured them into his attractive ideas of becoming rulers of the people and many began following him. His selfish ideals only benefited him, yet the Nephites believed his lies. If Moroni had not acted at the time he had, the Nephites would have succumb to Amalickiah. They would be a wicked people, and the righteous would dissipate. Therefore, Moroni gave his “Title of Liberty” speech at the opportune moment.

Moroni was “chief commander of the armies of the Nephites” (Alma 46:11) during the days Helaman preached to the people. Helaman was in the process of establishing churches across the land when the people began to lose sight of the Lord and become wicked. This occurrence was prevalent in the land of Zarahemla, where Moroni was. He saw the wickedness prevailing and gave his speech to a land where “brethren were gathered together against their brethren” (Alma 46:1). He knew he must touch the lives of the people of Zarahemla and influence their hearts to turn to the Lord once again; otherwise any righteousness would be destroyed. Thus, Moroni spoke at the right place at the right time.

Although wickedness was beginning to prosper, few righteous people remained. If Moroni had not addressed this particular group of people at the time he did and the place he did, these righteous people may have fallen and joined the wicked. After Moroni had proclaimed to the people, “the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God” (Alma 46:21). They were ready to act and support Moroni in his righteous endeavors. They did not agree with Amalickiah and were waiting for something to happen for their neighbors, friends, and family to be reminded of the Lord. It was the opportune moment and because he spoke at the right place, at the right time to the right people, “they began to have peace again in the land” (Alma 46:37).

The definition of kairo is to act at the right place, to the right people, at the right time. Moroni acted fearlessly in a time when wickedness prevailed. He stood and acted on the Lord’s side, proclaiming to the people of Zarahemla to stand with him in righteousness and serve the Lord. The timing of his proclamation to the Nephites in the land of Zarahemla was perfect. So perfect, that it changed the wicked effects of Amalickiah and peace prospered once again in the land. Through his “Title of Liberty” proclamation, Moroni acted as a true hero and a perfect example of kairo was established.