Joseph Smith History, Ether 14

6 For, notwithstanding the great love which the converts to these different faiths expressed at the time of their conversion, and the great zeal manifested by the respective clergy, who were active in getting up and promoting this extraordinary scene of religious feeling, in order to have everybody converted,

I've been to a few churches like this. They are exciting to be a part of. The energy is high, and they work so hard to get you to join, but once you do it's kind of all over. They are still there for support, but they feel like their job is done with you. It's fun for a while though.

as they were pleased to call it, let them join what sect they pleased; yet when the converts began to file off, some to one party and some to another, it was seen that the seemingly good feelings of both the priests and the converts were more pretended than real; for a scene of great confusion and bad feeling ensued—priest contending against priest, and convert against convert; so that all their good feelings one for another, if they ever had any, were entirely lost in a strife of words and a contest about opinions.

There are still some people like this but a lot of people have mellowed in my opinion. My Grandma thinks everyone but the Baptists are going to hell though so there is still some of this happening.

Ether 14

22 And so swift and speedy was the war that there was none left to bury the dead, but they did march forth from the shedding of blood to the shedding of blood, leaving the bodies of both men, women, and children strewed upon the face of the land, to become a prey to the worms of the flesh.

Why do I have to keep reading this stuff? Depressing. This made me think of he genocide in Rwanda. Since we're adopting from there it's just been on my mind.

23 And the scent thereof went forth upon the face of the land, even upon all the face of the land; wherefore the people became troubled by day and by night, because of the scent thereof.

I can't even imagine this. I don't think most Americans can with the way things are censored. I've only ever seen a dead person at a funeral. That's not even close to the same. Thank goodness that we live in a place that doesn't have this type of violence.

24 Nevertheless, Shiz did not cease to pursue Coriantumr; for he had sworn to avenge himself upon Coriantumr of the blood of his brother, who had been slain, and the word of the Lord which came to Ether that Coriantumr should not fall by the sword.
25 And thus we see that the Lord did visit them in the fulness of his wrath, and their wickedness and abominations had prepared a way for their everlasting destruction.

How heartbreaking this must be for Father to see, and have to do. Where does he get the strength?