Flatter

Hello everyone! Thanks for taking the time to check out my blog. What I will do here is post weekly about reading that I've done from the Book of Mormon. I'll take a specific word from my reading, give the dictionary definition, and how that adds to the meaning of the scripture as a whole. Please comment and give feedback. This is meant to be an open forum for discussion.

Helaman 2: 5
Therefore he did ^aflatter them, and also Kishkumen, that if they would place him in the judgment-seat he would grant unto those who belonged to his band that they should be placed in power and authority among the people; therefore Kishkumen sought to destroy Helaman.


This scripture is talking about how Gadianton was trying to gain power. The word I want to focus on is flatter.

flat•ter |ˈflatər|

verb [ with obj. ]

lavish insincere praise and compliments upon (someone), esp. to further one's own interests: she was flattering him to avoid doing what he wanted.

• give an unrealistically favorable impression of

Normally when I think of the word "flatter", I think of it as just giving complements in general. But I love how the dictionary specifically points out that it is insincere and it is especially used "to further one's own interests." We know that Gadianton is a deceiver, but I think it is especially telling that even when he is giving "complements"he can't be trusted. Everything he does, however insignificant it seems is only for himself. Thinking about his makes me want to do a little self inventory. When I complement people do I mean it, or am I just trying to flatter them?