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War chapters
More holiness give me... even if I'm not sure I want it
Last week, I had the privilege of working a baptismal session in the Temple with our wonderful Spanish branch-- most of them recent converts doing this work for the first time. They were untrained and nervous, so there were many do-overs. As I watched these humble brethren intently struggle through the ordinance, I thought back to my own first time doing baptisms for the dead, and how I managed to fumble things in my own unique way. When I was twelve, only endowed Melchizedek Priesthood holders could perform the ordinances, so the responsibility for all the baptisms often fell on a single young men's leader for the entire session. I could see this good brother's arms growing tired, so when it was my turn to be baptized, I tried to lighten his load by leaning myself into and out of the water. I guess I overdid it. After just two names, he laughed and said, "Matthew, you're trying to baptize yourself; that's not how this works. Just let go a bit and let me do the work. I've got you." I didn't know how important those words would become to me later in life.
Why our resolutions fail
I'm writing this post from the cafe of the YMCA (I come here regularly, but I'm no gym rat-- I drop the kids at the daycare while I work). Right now, this place is absolutely packed! I shouldn't be surprised-- it always fills up during the first month of the year as people try to meet their resolution to lose weight and get in shape. I looked it up just now-- the word "resolution" only occurs once in the entire Book of Mormon. Alma 47 tells of a group of people "fixed in their minds with a determined resolution" to break out of a rut and make some wonderful changes in their way of living. How did their resolution go? They started very strong. Then old temptations started to wear them down a bit. Then they started to cheat and compromise. And within a few weeks, they were right back where they started. Sound familiar?
Sacrificing cities
Amalickiah's first military campaign against the Nephites failed miserably. The Lamanites approached Ammonihah but found it too heavily fortified to attempt an attack, and they withdrew. The army's pride was smarting from that previous retreat, so they swore an oath to take the next city or die trying. But the next city was even more heavily fortified than the first. So, they went the "die trying" route. A thousand Lamanites perished in that battle, but every Nephite soldier survived. While the Lamanites were reeling from that stunning defeat, Moroni continued preparing the Nephites for the next wave. By the time Amalickiah launched his next assault, all major Nephite cities had been turned into the Ancient American equivalent of Fort Knox. There was no way the Lamanites could win. Except that when the next wave arrived, none of Moroni's preparations mattered because there was no one manning the forts. When Amalickiah attacked, Moroni and his entire army were missing.
When God redirects us
The converts of Ammon never cease to amaze me. These remarkable individuals, who "never did fall away," exemplified quiet yet determined discipleship. When the Lamanite armies came to exterminate them, they did the unexpected.
A new Title of Liberty
It was a time of social and political upheaval. Some of the population claimed they were born with a certain characteristic that the rest of society either ignored or even disparaged. These individuals chose to let this particular characteristic define their identities and soon insisted that the rest of society acknowledge and even celebrate them for this identity. Although it started at the fringes, this radical movement was supported by social and political elites. Soon, the movement grew in volume and popularity until it became inescapably loud. Those who dared to speak against it were labeled and attacked, accused of denying the natural rights of individuals who were "born that way." Eventually, some well-intentioned individuals, dissatisfied with injustices in society, began to support their agenda as well.
Trials that harden, trials that soften
2020 wasn't the dumpster fire everyone makes it out to be, but it has been a roller coaster year. COVID, lockdowns and their religious liberty concerns, and the most contentious election of my lifetime. Thankfully, my ward has been less affected than many. Very few members got sick and no one died. Most members were able to work remotely. Our state eased restrictions earlier than others, allowing us to resume in-person Church meetings with proper safety measures after just a few months. On the political front, our members have largely refrained from "political statements and unkind references in our Church meetings" (so far). We are truly very blessed, and things seem to be returning to at least a semblance of normalcy. However, in my ward and thousands of wards like it, we are noticing that while circumstances are returning to normal, we as a people are very different from how we were one year ago. And in some ways, that scares us.
A prison built with our own hands
The battle was fierce, but also short and decisive—despite a huge loss of men and a painful personal wound, Captain Moroni had thrown "one of the greatest of the armies of the Lamanites" into complete disarray. But Moroni "did not delight in bloodshed;" when he saw that his enemies were beaten, he offered them terms of surrender. The Lamanite army accepted his terms, and the prisoners were marched to the land of Bountiful. There they were put to work: they dug ditches, they piled up dirt, and they built a giant wall around the border of the city. Once the Lamanites had fortified the city, they became its new residents: "in this city [the Nephites] did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites; yea, even within a wall which they had caused them to build with their own hands" (Alma 53:5).
Why the best part of the Book of Mormon is so short
"The crowning event recorded in the Book of Mormon is the personal ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ among the Nephites soon after His resurrection." This marvelous event was followed by 300 years of idyllic peace. Of those righteous Nephites, the Lord proclaims that none were lost. The closest thing they had to a fight was a disagreement about what to name the Church. Every time I read through those beautiful chapters in Third Nephi, I don't want to leave because I know what comes next:
The most important battle never fought
A previous post discussed how a rebel coalition of Lamanite soldiers combined together to stand valiantly against commands of the wicked king to go to war against the Lamanites. The rebellion could have been the turning point for the whole Lamanite nation. And they had every advantage:They had the numbers (the majority) They had the weapons They had the mountain They had the warning and foreknowledge They had the convictionLike the Lamanite rebels, we come into life with every advantage over the forces of our own adversary. But in the end, all the advantages were not enough for the Lamanites. And if we're not careful, our advantages won't be enough, either.
Something's missing
I'm in the middle of the saddest part of the Book of Mormon. Throughout the latter half of 3 Nephi, Christ ushers in a period of peace and national righteousness that gives us modern readers a little preview of the Millenium. Then, 3 Nephi ends, and by the end of the very next chapter, the Nephites are largely corrupt and ripe for their final destruction. No gradual decline this time-- they come out in open rebellion against God, the day of grace is past, and you know this is the end of the end. Each time I read the story of their self-destruction in my studies, it feels more sad and sickening than the last. This time through, I noticed some interesting details from the war accounts from Mormon 2 that I had overlooked before.
Satan can't hit a moving target
I don't know why the war chapters get such a bad rap. I hear people complain about them all the time, lumping them right up there with the genealogy and "compare Isaiah" chapters. I don't think that's really fair. I love the war chapters. Chapter after chapter of doctrinal exposition gets kind of overwhelming (and/or boring) after a while, and I start to wish I could just read a cool story: an action-packed beginning, middle, and end. And right on time, here come the war chapters. Like a halftime show. I get to take my head out of the theological firehose for a few minutes and just hear Mormon recount a bunch of action sequences.
A New Year's Resolution from Captain Moroni
It's New Years time again. That introspective time where we reflect over the past year and resolve that this year we are surely, most definitely going to start that novel, get that promotion, pay off that credit card, and lose that gut. Oh yeah, and world peace. Like everyone else, I've been thinking about what I want to do this year. But more importantly, what I want to become this year. Something that stuck out to me as I thought about this was a story I read recently from Alma 55.
Getting out of a thoughtless stupor
The thoughtless stupor It was 62 BC. The Nephites were locked in heated battle against the Lamanites (but really, more so against other Nephites who had rebelled). Unfortunately, although there were many miracles, the war overall was not going too well for the Nephites. Short on men, bereft of supplies, and low on confidence, the Nephites waited for the government to send them aid. But years passed, and little or no aid seemed to come. In fact, the government didn't even seem to be responding to communication anymore. Their situation was dire. Finally, in Alma 60 the indignant Captain Moroni wrote a scathing letter to the chief judge, condemning their inaction and demanding that the government send lifesaving aid to their soldiers. I had read that harsh letter from Moroni many times. But this last time, a few weeks ago, I had the unsettling feeling that Moroni was talking to me. Let me explain:
Spiritual poison
Another war chapter post today. Enjoy! Historical Background It was 62-63 BC. Captain Moroni had received a letter from the evil Ammoron, offering to exchange prisoners. But Moroni rejected Ammoron's offer, deciding instead to try and take his prisoners back by force. He found some Lamanite descendants among his army and sent them to the Lamanite soldiers who were guarding the city where the Nephite prisoners were kept. This envoy, posing as escaped Lamanite prisoners, carried with them a large supply of especially strong Nephite wine. The guards quickly drank themselves into unconsciousness. When they awoke the next morning, the Nephites had armed all the prisoners within the city and surrounded the Lamanites without. Surrounded by their enemies and reeling from a massive hangover, "in these circumstances [the Lamanites] found that it was not expedient that they should fight with the Nephites."
For the fathers who aren't there
We all know the story of the stripling warriors. "They had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them." They bore their testimony to the prophet Helaman that "we do not doubt our mothers knew it." The story of those 2000 young men is a powerful testimony of the impact of righteous women on the rising generation. You almost definitely heard the story recounted in Sacrament meeting just one month ago on Mother's Day. So what do they have to do with Father's Day? Because of this question: where were the dads? Why do we hear of their amazing, faithful mothers but little mention of their fathers?
Easier to maintain than to fix
When I was a teenager, my household chore was the burdensome task of cleaning the "tile area" of the house. This included the entire kitchen, the dishes, the bar area, the dining room, the table, and setting/clearing meals. The rule was that my chores were to be completed to perfection every morning before I left for seminary and school. My mother would inspect them in the morning when she woke up, and if it was lacking, I would be pulled out of school unexcused to complete the job. The repercussions of a job not done terrified me. So I stayed awake cleaning my assigned areas each weeknight for an hour or two (depending on how much mess had accumulated). Every night, I would be surprised and annoyed to see how quickly our family of six (including four boys) turned my spotless assignment into a nightmare of a mess. But by the time I went to bed each night that year, the entirety of my assignment was ready for a showroom. I learned several lessons from this assignment:
When you have every advantage
These are a few of my thoughts as I read the story of Lehonti's people in Alma 47. Historical background After failing to be elected king over the Nephites, the evil Amalickiah deserted over to the Lamanites. He immediately gained a position of prominence and trust at the Lamanite king's side, then quickly convinced the king that they should all go to war with the Nephites. Fortunately, some of the Lamanites were smart enough to remember back perhaps 2 years ago to the last time they tried to invade the Nephites under the command of a crown-seeking Nephite dissenter (Zerahemnah). In fact, it's possible they were among the Lamanite soldiers who, 4 chapters before, had made a covenant never to come against the Nephites to war again. So, they refused the king's command for war. These soldiers gathered together to fight against king's command to go to war against the Nephites. I want to pause here and make the application to us.
Work changed the Lamanites
My previous post was inspired by Alma 53:5. This one is, too. Specifically this part of the verse:Now Moroni was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to guard them while at their labor.To us this may seem like no big deal. After all, in our modern day the Geneva Convention makes clear that this is perfectly fine as long as the labor falls into the classifications set forth in Article 50. But the fact that Moroni mentions it makes it sound like turning your prisoners into workhorses maybe was not the norm in warfare at that time. Furthermore, this concept of daily, taxing work was probably somewhat of a foreign concept to the Lamanites.
Planting Standards
We're all familiar with the story of the title of liberty:And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites. -- Alma 46:36The other night when I read this verse, I was impressed by the phrase "planted the standard." Obviously, the word "standard" in this verse means "flag." But it made me think about the meaning of the word "standard" that we use more frequently in the modern day and in the Church especially-- a guideline of morality. A principle of conduct that leads to a happier life. The next thought that came to me is, "How are we planting standards" around us?
Liberty which binds us
Yet another post about the battle of Captain Moroni v. Zerahemnah and friends. I can't seem to get out of these two chapters. I'm beginning to think I should have called this blog "Power in Alma 44." Anyways, here's the verse that caught my attention:And now, Zerahemnah, I command you, in the name of that all-powerful God, who has strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you, by our faith, by our religion, and by our rites of worship, and by our church, and by the sacred support which we owe to our wives and our children, by that liberty which binds us to our lands and our country; yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness; and by all that is most dear unto us -- Alma 44:5
Finding the Atonement in a war chapter
I know most readers usually breeze through the war chapters, but there is a lot we can learn from them. For example, just the other day I found some really powerful lessons on the Atonement in Alma 44-- the second chapter of Moroni's battle with Zerahemnah and the Lamanites. First, let's recap what's going on:
To which we owe all our happiness
In a previous post, I talk about how one's word was paramount to the Nephites, using the battle of Moroni v Zerahemnah in Alma 44 as an example. This post also covers a lesson I've picked up from that battle.