Why So Much War? (Alma 43-63)

Professors Stephen D. Ricks and William J. Hamblin state that there are 85 instances of armed conflict written about in the Book of Mormon. This leads one to wonder why the ancient authors of the Book of Mormon felt inclined to include so much about war. This week I'll discuss a few ways we can find value in the Book of Mormon's accounts of war.

Elder Geoffrey R. Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles explained that the Book of Mormon was written for the last days, and the wars in the Book of Mormon are a metaphor for what we face today. He also mentions that in ancient times Zion would flee into the wilderness when Babylon would move in-- they would pick up and settle somewhere else and get away from the evil influences. (See the DVD accompanying the book, "For Times of Trouble").

Today we live differently, don't we? Today, we need to stand and fight the adversary and share our light with others, withstanding temptation and attacks where we live and work and learn. It's right in our backyards; right in our homes through media and other influences. There are few places left to run. So how do we use the Book of Mormon's war accounts to fight our own battles? 

I think a great start is simply reading those 'war chapters' with a prayer and attitude asking "what can I learn from this?" For example, in Alma 43 the army of Zerahemnah wouldn't even go up against the Nephites in battle, even though they greatly outnumbered the Nephites. The reason? The Nephites' preparation for battle, in particular the armor they wore, greatly surpassed what the would-be attackers had. 

Using footnotes, cross-references, the index and topical guides, and most importantly praying for inspiration, we can take this little insight in many different directions. We can compare the armor the Nephites wore with the whole armor of God we have been admonished to wear. We can think of changes we might make in our home that might better defend us against Satan's influence-- perhaps in the music, movies, television, or books we enjoy, or in how we use the internet. 

We might consider other ways we can prepare to fight the good fight, envisioning the drills and exercises the soldiers might have practiced over and over at the hands of captains and leaders like Moroni and Helaman. Perhaps we can develop routines that strengthen us today-- for example more attentive focus on the sacrament each week, or increasing the time we spend daily in study or prayer, or how often we attend the temple. There are probably many 'exercises' we can perform each day and week that will make us more spiritually fit and resilient to all of today's constant attacks.

It's also useful to note the differences between 'winning' Nephite armies and those that perish, and what traits are reflected by different armies in different eras. Those traits and tendencies can give us great clues as to how we can win our own battles in life. An example of this is found in Alma 48:7, in which we learn that while the wicked Amalickiah tried to obtain power by fraud and deceit, the stalwart Moroni was busy "preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord." In fact, Alma 48 goes on to paint a great portrait of Moroni, giving us an inside look at one of the greatest men to ever walk the earth.

Another thing I observe about Moroni, and certainly a key reason for his success, is that he never stops finding ways to improve and strengthen his people. It would have been easy for him to rest upon the first big victory, when the opposing army did not even dare attack because of Moroni's preparation of his people. However, Moroni kept working to strengthen his people and their cities, building ditches and mounds and walls and using strategies that were certainly inspired by the Lord. 

When the Lamanite armies returned to fight, armed in a manner that was similar to what they had previously seen in their Nephite opponents, they were dismayed to see the Nephites' preparations -- they were once again impenetrable! Moroni's people had altered the very landscape, giving them vantage points and defensive positions unlike anything that had been encountered in the Book of Mormon times before. Like Alma before him, it seemed that Moroni "could not rest" (Alma 43:1). What a great lesson for us in our time, as we prepare for our own battles!

The successful Nephite armies of the Book of Mormon were humble, grateful, and acknowledged God's hand in all their victories. They fought reluctantly, only when necessary to defend their families and their faith and their freedom. They were obedient and prepared-- and constantly preparing. They kept oaths and covenants. There is much to learn from reading their accounts!

As a young man, I would breeze through those 'war chapters,' reading through them quickly, occasionally acknowledging a little lesson here or there, entertained by the stories of intrigue, spies, and soldiers. It is only recently that I have begun to appreciate and try to understand the Lord's greater purpose in including these accounts. We are indeed all enlisted in even more crucial conflicts than those we read about in the Book of Mormon. 

Thankfully, God has given us all of the tools we need to triumph over the temptations and battles we encounter-- including prayer, inspiration through the Holy Ghost, fellow soldiers to lean on and learn from, and the words of ancient and modern prophets and apostles. I know that the Book of Mormon can help us prepare for and win the battles we face today and tomorrow!  

  

Gratitude and the Anti-Christ (Alma 30)

There is an interesting little anecdote almost exactly halfway through the book of Alma in the Book of Mormon. It is, in fact also just about smack dab in the middle of the Book of Mormon itself. It’s the story of Korihor, and it comprises Alma chapter 30.

The story seems wedged into the sequence of Alma and his contemporaries; it occurs in between ‘preaching missions’ and wars. To me, it really stands out, almost seeming disjointed or placed in as an afterthought. For this reason, I think Mormon must have really felt compelled to include it as he compiled and edited centuries’ worth of records… It doesn't exactly flow with the narrative of the Book of Alma to me, but it’s certainly important!

I won’t recap all the details of the account, just a couple things that really stand out to me. The first thing I noted was how similar the sentiments which Korihor proclaimed are to many of today’s voices. Korihor said the believers were foolish, they had been indoctrinated through family traditions, and that you cannot know there is a Christ. He called them deranged, due to the effects of ‘frenzied minds,’ and that they were in ‘bondage’ to those traditions.

He taught there should be no guilt, that there was no ‘falling’ or ‘saving.’ He claimed the leaders of the Church suppressed the people and led them to believe this way so they could ‘glut (themselves) with the labors of their hands.’

Korihor was wise and crafty, and he used ‘great swelling words.’ His charge was that there is no evidence that there is a God. Alma’s response is the key point I want to highlight in this post.

Alma’s conviction is this: we have ‘all things’ as a testimony, or evidence of God’s existence. He says, “…all things denote there is a God; yea, even the earth, and all things that are upon the face of it, yea, and its motion, yea, and also all the planets which move in their regular form do witness that there is a Supreme Creator” (Alma 30:44).  

I am often struck by how important attitude is. Alma’s grateful heart, his testimony bolstered as he saw evidence of God’s existence and love everywhere he looked—“in all things”—was a choice as well as a blessing. Faith is a gift we are given when we choose to obey and to do and to believe. Korihor refused to partake of this gift—he made that choice; that was the attitude he chose.

I am not saying that if we aren’t grateful, and don’t see and confess God’s hand everywhere we look that we will end up like Korihor. But ancient prophets, as well as modern prophets from Joseph Smith to Thomas S. Monson have talked of the importance of gratitude. We would all do well to look at the world with a prayer and desire of seeing God’s hand in it. When I pray for this, and look for this, the Lord shows me great things. I become less like Korihor, and more like Alma, and ultimately more like Christ.

I’ll close with a poem by Walt Whitman that I discovered while I sat in a hospital room, next to my son Liam as he recovered from brain surgery. It is entitled ‘Miracles,’ and I have a feeling Alma would have approved of it!

Miracles

Why, who makes much of a miracle?
As to me I know of nothing else but miracles,
Whether I walk the streets of Manhattan,
Or dart my sight over the roofs of houses toward the sky,
Or wade with naked feet along the beach just in the edge of the water,
Or stand under trees in the woods,
Or talk by day with any one I love, or sleep in the bed at night
with any one I love,
Or sit at table at dinner with the rest,
Or look at strangers opposite me riding in the car,
Or watch honey-bees busy around the hive of a summer forenoon,
Or animals feeding in the fields,
Or birds, or the wonderfulness of insects in the air,
Or the wonderfulness of the sundown, or of stars shining so quiet
and bright,
Or the exquisite delicate thin curve of the new moon in spring;
These with the rest, one and all, are to me miracles,
The whole referring, yet each distinct and in its place.

To me every hour of the light and dark is a miracle,
Every cubic inch of space is a miracle,
Every square yard of the surface of the earth is spread with the same,
Every foot of the interior swarms with the same.
To me the sea is a continual miracle,
The fishes that swim--the rocks--the motion of the waves--the
ships with men in them,
What stranger miracles are there?

Taking a Left Turn

Some of you know I'm taking classes in my abundance of spare time, through BYU-Idaho's Pathway program. (Not-so-humble-brag... my report card is pictured at right). While the initial intent of this blog was to share insights on the teachings and example of Nephi, I'm going to start posting other Book of Mormon thoughts that tie to the Religion class I'm taking.

I posted a couple other 'Nephi Notes' this morning, to catch up a little bit with some stuff that has been rattling around in my mind. Going forward, I'll add a 'Nephi' label (looks like a little price tag, with keywords at the bottom of each post). That way I (and if you care, you) will know which of the posts are in true harmony with my appreciation for and thoughts on Nephi.

Thanks for reading!

Hear Ye the Words of the Prophet (1 Ne. 19:24)

As Nephi closes out the final chapters in his first book, he is trying to convince his brothers (and his readers) about the reality of Jesus Christ’s atonement, and how His plan will unfold with regards to all of God’s children. He discusses the Jews, the Gentiles, and those who ‘broke off’ or were scattered—covering all humanity and how they fit into God’s plan. Quoting many prophets, and then introducing two transcribed chapters of Isaiah, he counsels, “Hear ye the words of the prophet.”

What a simple, yet profoundly powerful statement! It has many connotations, doesn’t it? In one sense, we hear him saying something like, “Hey, slow down and listen to what the prophets have written.” On a deeper level, he may be telling us, “Okay, you’ve listened, but have you really heard what the Lord is telling you?” Ultimately, I believe he wants us to listen intently, to a degree that compels us to act with more purpose. No matter who we are, or what our ‘level’ of spiritual understanding or commitment, we can try to better ‘hear’ the words of the prophets, both ancient and modern.

In April, 2008, my family and I watched the Latter-day Saint Semi-Annual General Conference on TV, as we always do. As usual, the multi-day conference concluded with a short address by the President of the Church, whom Mormons appreciate as our leader and as a prophet whom God inspires and directs to lead our Church. In this case, it was Thomas S. Monson’s first General Conference as President of the Church; the beloved Gordon B. Hinckley, his predecessor, had died a couple months earlier.

I heard President Monson speak clearly and powerfully, in a way that was incredibly warm and loving and, interestingly, almost chastising, but with love, kindness, and sincerity. I felt like his words were directing me to make some needed changes in how I dealt with my family and spent my time. The words were succinct, powerful, and again, they seemed directed at me! During these last few minutes of Conference, I could barely contain the emotions that filled me; feelings of appreciation for God and my family, and for this special experience. I quietly stepped out of the family room and prayed, giving thanks, repenting, and resolving to do what the prophet was challenging me to do. I was moved beyond words.

On its own, that experience was sufficient to solidify my testimony that God loves us enough to send special witnesses like these. However, as if He wanted to make sure I got the message, there was further Heavenly confirmation to come. A week or so later, when I read the transcript online of President Monson’s talk, and even when I watched replays of it on video, much of the message I had heard was not there. The remarks, as I later read them, were uplifting, and they certainly contained wonderful sentiments, but they did not contain the loving, corrective direction I had heard on that previous Sunday. I believe that initial counsel had been meant for me, and had been delivered by the power of the Holy Ghost.

The specific things I heard that day were absolutely not heard in subsequent reviewing of this address, and I know with all my heart that the words were not manufactured by my own imagination or emotion. Seven years later, my witness of that event, and my appreciation for Nephi’s counsel to “hear the words of the prophet,” are only deeper and stronger.

What can we all do to better hear the words of the prophet today?

I Must Obey (2 Nephi 33:15)

Nephi’s father Lehi had many visions and dreams (1 Ne 1:16, 18). He preached and prophesied to the people, exhorting them to follow the Lord, in spite of mockery and threats on his life. Nephi certainly learned to be obedient from his father’s powerful example, and he set out from the first chapter he recorded on the small plates to show us that the tender mercies of the Lord bless those who obey faithfully.

In 1 Ne 2:1-3, we learn that Lehi will be blessed for his faithfulness, and a pattern soon develops: Interestingly, the way the Lord blesses Lehi is by giving him more commandments. Nephi learns from a young age that the Lord blesses the faithful with further direction. His father taught him that true faithfulness is doing, and being obedient (1 Ne 2:3). Leaving Jerusalem, and his land of inheritance with his estate and possessions resulted in the survival of Lehi and his seed, and provided marvelous, sanctifying, faith promoting experiences.

When Lehi had traveled for many days in the wilderness, he was rewarded for his obedience with a commandment to go back for the brass plates. When this mission was complete, they were blessed with the charge to return for Ishmael and his family. Once they had wandered for a sufficiently long time, they were blessed with the commandment to build a ship, and so forth. A study of the Book of Mormon shows the many, many times the family built altars, gave thanks, seemingly ‘gave up’ all, and were blessed in even greater magnitude, with further commandment, direction, and refinement.

We soon learn that Nephi’s brothers do not share his faith, and that they murmur in the face of commandment and adversity. They “knew not the dealings of that God who created them” (see 1 Ne. 2:11-12). Nephi later explains a probable cause for their condition—they did not enquire of the Lord. Conversely, Nephi had great desires to know the mysteries of God, and cried unto the Lord from an exceedingly young age. The Lord softened his heart, and Nephi believed the words of his father.

Nephi certainly was obedient and faithful of his own freewill and accord. However, the Book of Mormon also teaches us that increased faithfulness and obedience are also actually blessings from God. When Lehi tells Nephi of the Lord’s commandment to go back to Jerusalem to get the brass plates, Nephi states he will do as the Lord commanded. Lehi is of course ‘exceedingly glad,’ and Nephi affirms that his attitude and resolve indicated he had been ‘blessed of the Lord.’ Obeying the Lord’s word (or the promptings of the Holy Ghost) results in further capacity and desire to be faithful and obedient.

With thirty years of experience following the Lord; being blessed, challenged, commanded, humbled, and sanctified by Him, Nephi’s perspective and testimony had certainly grown, and his writings and ‘framing up’ of the Book of Mormon are important, if not essential components of the Book of Mormon. Nephi’s diligence, his mindset that he ‘must obey,’ certainly set the stage for the subsequent authors and stories in the Book of Mormon. His faithfulness contributed mightily to the Lord’s ‘wise purpose’ indeed. And the predictable pattern—obedience resulting in further commandment—is one we can emulate today in striving to obtain a faith and perspective similar to those of Nephi.