”Wherefore, the fruit of thy loins shall write, and the fruit of the loins of Judah shall write. And that which shall be written by the fruit of thy loins, and also that which shall be written by the fruit of the loins of Judah, shall grow together unto the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions, and establishing peace among the fruit of thy loins, and bringing them to the knowledge of their fathers in the latter days, and also to the knowledge of my covenants, saith the Lord. And out of weakness he shall be made strong, in that day when my work shall commence among all my people, unto the restoring thee, O house of Israel, saith the Lord.” (LDS 2 Nephi 3:12-13, NC 2 Nephi 2:4)
How can the scriptures be used for “the confounding of false doctrines, and laying down of contentions”? Does this mean that when the power of the scriptures is really unleashed that enemies will be forced to admit they are wrong? Will the scriptures arm people with arguments so powerful that even the contentious will have to submit to their strength?
While some may try to weaponize the scriptures, I don’t think that is what they are to be used for. In fact, that may be more along the lines of “wresting” the scriptures, which we are warned that those who “wrest the scriptures”, it will be to their own destruction (see LDS Alma 13:17-20, NC Alma 10:2). Using scripture as a weapon for contention goes against the very purpose of the doctrine of Christ. As Jesus said, “For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the Devil, who is the father of contention; and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another, but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away” (LDS 3 Nephi 11:29-30, NC 3 Nephi 5:8).
Living the doctrine of Christ does away with contentions. That isn’t by strong arming others but by doing away with a contentious spirit. The scriptures are not intended to provide dominating arguments. The scriptures teach the doctrine of Christ. If people will live to align themselves with the doctrine of Christ, it will do away with contention by removing that drive within a person.
The devil can use scriptures to stir up contention. Nephi warns that because of false doctrines and false teachers who advance them, churches in the last days, “shall contend one with another, and their priests shall contend one with another” (LDS 2 Nephi 28:4, NC 2 Nephi 12:1). False doctrines are perpetuated by false teachers, which lead to contentions with one another.
The true power of the scriptures comes when false doctrines are dispersed and the true doctrine of Christ comes to light. Those who receive this, will have the spirit of contention done away within them. They will no longer have a disposition to contend with anger with one another. Understanding the true doctrine of Christ does away with these things for the one who lives it.
Contention can by laid down, just as a weapon of war can be laid down. It can be a known tool that one refuses to use. The Lamanites who laid down their weapons of war and buried them deep in the earth can be an example for also laying down contention (see LDS Alma 24:17-19, NC Alma 14:9). That doesn’t mean that others won’t still want to contend. Arguments full of anger will still abound for them, even with some using the scriptures to stir them up.
The scriptures were never intended to be used to win arguments. We should not be surprised that they do not adequately equip us to do so. The word of God isn’t to put and end to arguing by winning the argument. What it will do, is equip us to remove the desire to win by arguing. Those who truly understand and live as the scriptures teach, are changed to drop an argumentative, or contentious approach all together. Living the teachings of Jesus does away with contentions for those who understand and follow his teachings. It’s not that his disciples cannot have discussions where they disagree. The difference is that they can do so in a genuinely respectful way that is not contentious.
Understanding and living the doctrine of Christ does away with contention for those who will receive it. Others will continue and perhaps get even more angry and contentious. They will not be satisfied and perhaps even pride themselves on dominating an argument.
When false doctrines are dispelled and the true doctrine of Christ is revealed in its purity, contentions are laid down for those who will receive it. This scripture is fulfilled the very day that anyone properly understands and lives the doctrine of Christ.