Week 25 - Looking Back

In Alma 43:3 Mormon explains, “Now I return to an account of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites.” Some wonder why the Book of Mormon contains so much about war. Pres. Ezra T. Benson reminded us that those who compiled the book “saw our day and chose those things which would be of greatest worth to us.” There may be several reasons why Mormon included so much about war, including the following:

· There will be much warfare in the last days. Pres. Benson said, “From the Book of Mormon we learn how disciples of Christ live in times of war.” This includes understanding proper justification for war and proper attitudes toward bloodshed.

· Some principles from physical battles can be applied to the spiritual war against wickedness.

· We can learn to recognize the protection that comes when we make and keep covenants.

· We can see how others found happiness in righteous living, even when surrounded by wickedness and destruction.

· We can receive help in our daily gospel living and, as Pres. Benson explained, “find a pattern for preparing for the Second
Coming.”

And with that opening in the lesson material, we proceeded to learn about “the work of death” and a veritable who’s who in the Book of Mormon: Moroni, Alma, Helaman, Lehi, Teancum, Nephihah, Pahoran, Gid, Teomner, the two thousand, sixty stripling sons / warriors of the people of Ammon, AND their wonderful mothers. Mormon wrote of Moroni saying, “Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.” Often, that’s where we stop, but the rest of the tribute follows. “Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, yea and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God. Now, behold, Helaman and his bretheren were no less serviceable unto the people than was Moroni; for they did preach the word of God, and they did baptize unto repentance all men whosoever would hearken unto his words.” (see Alma 48:17-19). In a nutshell, Moroni rallied the people by raising the Title of Liberty on which he had written, “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” and he and all the others covenanted that they would stand fast in the defense of all that was right and good. And they did not falter. No wonder the people loved them and rose to meet the threat that the Lamanites brought to them. The differences can’t be missed between the Nephite leaders who sacrificed for and loved their people and trusted in the Lord, and the Lamanite leaders who did not. They just wanted power and property.

Of all the lessons to be learned in this period of Nephite/Lamanite history, here are a few that stand out:

· “…for the Lord cannot look upon sin with the least degree of allowance” (Alma 45:16).

· “Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, …” (Alma 46:8).

· “…we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men” (Alma 46:9).

· “…and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must suppose” (Alma 46:41).

· “Moroni did not stop making preparations for war” (Alma 50:1) ---And neither should we for our own spiritual battles!

· “…as they [stripling warriors] never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; (Alma 53:19).

· “…they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted” (Alma 43:20).

· “…they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them” (Alma 56:47). It’s important to recognize that not only had they been taught things that were true, they chose to believe them and act on those true principles.

· “…they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness;” (Alma 57:21).

· “…there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds” (Alma 57:25). As we put our trust in the Lord, we will not perish. However, we may not be delivered from our trials unscathed.