For They Had Marked Themselves

"And the Amlicites were distinguished from the Nephites, for they had marked themselves. (Alma 3:4)

"Now we will return again to the Amlicites, for they also had a mark set upon them; yea, they set the mark upon themselves, yea, even a mark of red upon their foreheads. Thus the word of God is fulfilled, for these are the words which he said to Nephi: Behold, the Lamanites have I cursed, and I will set a mark on them that they and their seed may be separated from thee and thy seed, from this time henceforth and forever, except they repent of their wickedness and turn to me that I may have mercy upon them." (Alma 3:13-14)

AMLICI, AMLICITES

A man in the Book of Mormon who led a group of Nephites who desired a king during the reign of the judges. These Nephites, called Amlicites, openly rebelled against God, for which they were cursed (Alma 2–3).

Book of Mormon Stories Chapter 21: The Amlicites

(Thank you Corbin McMillen and Brian and Michelle Woodland for this great parallel and idea for a meme.)

AWAKEN

The Amlicites had no interest in being associated with the Nephites. They wanted to set themselves apart from their blood relatives because they disagreed so vigorously on politics and religion. This may seem strange to us but it shouldn't. We often see youth or wayward adults mark themselves with certain hairstyles, clothing, tattoos, etc. with the intent to set themselves apart. Their appearance alone becomes an immediate reminder that they do not subscribe to the mainstream institutions. They immediately become defensive if anyone is critical of the "mark" they have placed on themselves. They declare that it just represents freedom of expression and their personal individuality. What is concerning is the underlying motive not the green hair or the tattoo. The individual who feels strongly that they need green hair, like the Amlicites, may be trying to set himself or herself apart from church and family.

Paul H. Dunn

"It is not an unusual thing for young people to rebel.  Every new generation has its rebels.  But a rebellion of sad young people with little confidence in their own rebellion is something quite unique.  One needs only to have a brief exposure to a university environment to witness the demonstrations of rejection against proven values. Beards, long hair, grubby clothes, sit-ins, and the lack of restraint in matters of alcohol, chastity, and drugs are merely the symptoms of the problem that is, at its deepest level, a spiritual problem." (Conference Report, Oct. 1967, p. 124)