What lessons can we learn for today in the War Chapters of
the Book of Mormon? Decide for yourself of how these might relate to today’s
fight against evil. How can you apply these in your own family or situation?
Elder Bednar did a great job listing some the lessons we
learn from the war chapters:
Have you ever wondered why so much is recorded in
the Book of Mormon about war? There are approximately 100 recorded instances of
armed conflict in the Book of Mormon. The word war occurs 132 times
in the Book of Mormon. The war chapters of Alma 43-63 alone include more than
50 pages- approximately 10 percent of the entire Book of Mormon.
Why so much about war? And how do the
descriptions of wars and battles help us today in seeking the gift of courage?
President Benson taught:
The Book of Mormon
was written for us today. God is the author of the book. God, who knows the end
from the beginning, told [Mormon] what to include in his abridgment that we
would need for our day (President Ezra Taft Benson, Conference Report,
April 1975, p. 94).
Let me suggest that one of the primary reasons so
much information is recorded about war in the Book of Mormon is to help you and
me in these latter days appropriately seek the gift of courage.
What lessons do we learn about courage and war in
The Book of Mormon?
·
We learn about the strategies and tactics of those who oppose
righteousness
·
The defensive and
protective strategies and tactics of the righteous.
·
We learn that the righteous
can be strengthened in battle by the hand of the Lord.
·
And perhaps most importantly, we learn that small groups of the
righteous can escape from the grasp of their enemies or emerge victorious
against overwhelming opposing numbers and weaponry.
What Worked in the
Past Isn’t Enough: Prepare in a Manner “Which has Never Been Known” Alma 49:8
Note this warning given by President Henry B. Eyring of the
First Presidency:
“As the forces around us increase in intensity, whatever spiritual strength was once
sufficient will not be enough. And whatever growth in spiritual strength we
once thought was possible, greater growth will be made available to us. Both
the need for spiritual strength and the opportunity to acquire it will increase
at rates which we underestimate at our peril” (“Always” [Church Educational
System fireside for young adults], Jan. 3, 1999, 3, ldsces.org).
Alma 43 - How did
Moroni prepare against the evil of Zerahemnah? (an army twice as numerous)
1. vs.
19 - Captain Moroni prepared his people with armor and thick clothing
2. vs.
23 - Captain Moroni sends spies to watch the enemy
3. vs.
23 - Captain Moroni sends a messenger to Alma the prophet to have him ask the
Lord where they should go
4. vs.
48 - As his men begin to fear, Captain Moroni inspires his men with the truth
of their cause
5. vs.
49 - they cry to the Lord for help and in vs. 50 In the selfsame hour that they
cry to the Lord, they stand with power against their enemies.
6.
Alma 44:9
Zerahemnah, leader of their enemies, denies that it was the Lord who
gave the Nephites the victory.
Alma 48 - How did Moroni prepare against the
evil of Amalakiah?
1. vs.
7 - Captain Moroni was “preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto
the Lord.
2. vs.
8 - Captain Moroni erected small forts, or places of resort to enclose his
armies, and built walls of stone to encircle them about.
3. vs.
9 - Captain Moroni fortified their weakest places by placing the greater number
of men.
Ensign Article by By Kerry Hanson Jensen, 1/16
I began to feel a sense of
helplessness and vulnerability in protecting my children. I unexpectedly found
reassurance in 1 Nephi 15. Nephi is explaining Lehi’s vision of the tree of
life to Laman and Lemuel when they ask the meaning of the river of water. Nephi
answers in verse 27: “And I said unto them that the water which my father saw
was filthiness; and so much was his mind
swallowed up in other things that he beheld not the filthiness of the water”.
Lehi’s mind was focused on the tree of life and getting his family to it to
partake of its fruit! He didn’t even see the filthiness because of this focus.
That was the answer! Keeping
inappropriate media out of our home was a start, but a more direct and
conscious effort to teach our children the gospel is what would ultimately be
their best defense against anything that could lead them away.
Alma 58 - How did the
Lord strengthen the people against their enemies?
1. Helaman
and the Stripling Warriors poured out their souls for strength vs. 10
2. The
Lord did visit them with assurances and did speak peace to their souls vs. 11
3. The
Lord did grant unto them great faith and did cause that they should hope for
deliverance. vs. 11
Other Resources:
Alma
50: 23 never had been a happier time among the Nephites
Elder Richard G. Scott
In between the many battles, Captain Moroni directed fortification of the weakest
cities. “He caused that they should build a breastwork of timbers upon the
inner bank of the ditch; and they cast up dirt out of the ditch against the
breastwork of timbers … until they had encircled the city … with a strong wall
of timbers and earth, to an exceeding height.”14 Captain Moroni understood the importance of
fortifying the weak areas to create strength.15
Linda C. Reeves
As I am again reading about Captain Moroni in the Book of
Mormon, I am reminded that one of Moroni’s greatest accomplishments
was his careful preparation of the Nephites to withstand the frightening
Lamanite army. He prepared his people so well that we read, “Behold, to [the
Lamanites’] uttermost astonishment, [the Nephites] were prepared for them, in a manner which never had been known.”3
That phrase, “prepared … in a manner which never had been
known,” really caught my attention.
How can we better prepare for sacred temple blessings? The Lord
taught, “And again, I will give unto you a pattern in all things.”4Let’s consider a scriptural pattern to help us prepare well.
Moroni’s preparation for the enemy took consistent and faithful diligence, and
this pattern will require the same.
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