That They Might Cross Him

Reading the Book of Mormon over the last couple months I became aware of a phrase that described the evil designs of those who were fighting against the servants of God. Several times they would "question him, that they might cross him." I was intrigued by this and decided to look into this practice. My initial search led me to the following three Book of Mormon scriptures and five New Testament scriptures:

Mosiah 12: 19
19 And they began to question him, that they might cross him, that thereby they might have wherewith to accuse him; but he answered them boldly, and withstood all their questions, yea, to their astonishment; for he did withstand them in all their questions, and did confound them in all their words.
About 148 B.C.

Alma 10: 16
16 And it came to pass that they began to question Amulek, that thereby they might make him cross his words, or contradict the words which he should speak.
About 82 B.C.

Hel. 9: 19
19 Nevertheless, they caused that Nephi should be taken and bound and brought before the multitude, and they began to question him in divers ways that they might cross him, that they might accuse him to death—
Between 23 and 20 B.C.

Matthew 22:15
15 ¶ Then went the Pharisees, and took counsel how they might entangle him in his talk.

Mark 12:13
13 ¶ And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

Luke 11:53-54
53 And as he said these things unto them, the scribes and the Pharisees began to urge him vehemently, and to provoke him to speak of many things:
54 Laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him.

Luke 20:20
20 And they watched him, and sent forth spies, which should feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of his words, that so they might deliver him unto the power and authority of the governor.

John 8:6
6 This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.

Abinadi, Amulek, Nephi, and even Jesus Himself, were all subjected to this age old legal parlor trick. You get someone worked up with false accuasations or "trick questions" and if you are able to find a misstatement in their words you then lay aside the original accusation and accuse them of blasphemy, heresy, lying—or in our modern parlance—contempt, misconduct, or perjury.

These evil designs have been around for a long time, and they are with us today. Hopefully we can be aware of these and see them for what they are, and call people out as did the Savior and His prophets when conspiring men seek to cross us in our words.