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!
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