Why were the deaths of the early apostles so brutal?

Question

Gramps,

I was interested in the life of the remaining Apostles after the death of the Savior.  As I researched their lives I was stunned and shocked by the manner of death the majority of the Apostles experienced.   I know the Savior loved his Apostles.  Why was this brutality necessary?

Cherie

Answer

Cherie,

Brutality is never necessary, however the Lord allows us to be brutal to each other.  We can begin to understand how the Savior sees it by looking to another account of people being brutal to each other and the Prophet’s answer.

Lets start with Alma and Amulek in Alma 14:8-14,

8 And they brought their wives and children together, and whosoever believed or had been taught to believe in the word of God they caused that they should be cast into the fire; and they also brought forth their records which contained the holy scriptures, and cast them into the fire also, that they might be burned and destroyed by fire.

 

9 And it came to pass that they took Alma and Amulek, and carried them forth to the place of martyrdom, that they might witness the destruction of those who were consumed by fire.

 

10 And when Amulek saw the pains of the women and children who were consuming in the fire, he also was pained; and he said unto Alma: How can we witness this awful scene? Therefore let us stretch forth our hands, and exercise the power of God which is in us, and save them from the flames.

 

11 But Alma said unto him: The Spirit constraineth me that I must not stretch forth mine hand; for behold the Lord receiveth them up unto himself, in glory; and he doth suffer that they may do this thing, or that the people may do this thing unto them, according to the hardness of their hearts, that the judgments which he shall exercise upon them in his wrath may be just; and the blood of the innocent shall stand as a witness against them, yea, and cry mightily against them at the last day.

Alma’s statement that the Lord allowed it so that the Lord’s judgment and wrath against the wicked would be justified seems like it would apply to the Apostles’ lives as well.

Gramps