1 Nephi 1:19

19  And it came to pass that the ^aJews did ^bmock him because of the things which he testified of them; for he truly testified of their ^cwickedness and their abominations; and he testified that the things which he saw and heard, and also the things which he read in the book, manifested plainly of the coming of a ^dMessiah, and also the redemption of the world.
    “did mock him”

            -It is interesting that being mocked or ridiculed is often, if not always, associated with dedication to the Lord and the right.  Why do people single out those doing kind, correct, and righteous things?  If you don’t want to be mocked and belittled, don’t follow the Lord… but if you do stand for right, be prepared and don’t think it any strange thing to be “mocked”.

            -the masses of this world will mock the expectations, values and processes of the spiritually informed.  We should not expect anything less.  Mockery is actually a condition that evidences to us that we are living correctly.  Light hates darkness.  People who don’t believe in a moral standard simply cannot endure those who do.  We would think that the amoral and the anti-moral would simply let it go and live their beliefs separately… but no!  They cannot allow moral standards to be present among them.    Truth and light illuminate the wrongness of darkness.  It is the contrast that is the problem.  If the entire world were together in a darkened state then no one would know the difference but darkness contrasted against lightness shows the error, the failure, the limitations of darkness.  When even one person is good and moral it provides a standard against which the wickedness and immorality can be seen.  Distinctions have to be eradicated:  no good, no evil, no righteousness and no wickedness…. Everything needs to be subjective with no definite wrongs or rights.  Then there will be no standard to measure up to or to meet.

       “did mock him because”

            -because of his funny clothes?  No!  Because of his foolish business mistakes?  No!  Because of how he talked?  No!  Because he didn’t party or womanize with them?  No!  Because he took a stance and declared the reality of their behavior (that their behavior was immoral) and what the consequences would come upon them due to their errant (i.e. “wrong”) actions/behavior.

            -mokery is the first and most predictable response of a spiritually insensitive society (or individual).  It is the natural man’s visceral response to any suggestion that their manner of living is somehow wrong.  It is a defense mechanism that preempts any self-reflection.  It moves us immediately in the direction of anger rather than humility and change.  Where mockery is expressed, anger, hostility and violence are not far behind.

-such declarations –clear and unashamed—are the role of a prophet.