Obey with exactness

Alma 57 – Helaman tells of success of Stripling Warriors.  Ammoron wants to negotiate with Helaman.  Helaman knows his army could take the city without prisoner exchange.  They were successful with this as well as with several other combats.  They received some wounds, but none that were life threatening.

Verse 21 – “Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.”

Compare their war to the war waged with Satan.  Our covenant children are as Helaman’s warriors.  They must be taught by mothers who know.  There will be wounds.  We see this every day.  It is so sad to see our choice sons or daughters embrace worldly behavior, i.e. tattoos and piercings, language, disrespect to sacred things, etc.  However, I believe with all my heart they will have an epiphany in time and that the covenant of the parents will bring them back.

Pres. Hinckley’s quote: “When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes a quest, then we are empowered by the Lord.”  Certainly this held true for Helaman’s warriors.  It is our goal to acquire this obedience and it will hold true for us as well.

Lessons learned in this chapter:  Never negotiate with the enemy.  Obey with exactness the commandments of God.