Alma 52 – Weapons of War

This chapter is entirely on war – or is it?  The Nephites were having a hard time getting the Lamanites to come out of their strongholds so they could battle.  The Lamanites had the upper hand, so to speak. 

Moroni came up with a strategy.  In my margins I have written that a strategy is “inspiration”.  This was ingenious.  He sent Lehi’s army out in daylight to march past the Lamanites.  Moroni’s army marched by night around the Lamanites to be at the ready.  When the Lamanites saw Lehi’s small army, supposing it to be all the army of the Nephites, they gained courage and pursued them – leaving their stronghold unprotected.  Very foolish!  Moroni’s army divided and some went into the city and easily took it by killing those who would not give up their weapons of war and taking the weapons of war of those who surrendered.  And this leads me to my questions.

What are the weapons of war the adversary uses against the Lord’s people today? 

Bondage (aka addiction):

• Word of Wisdom (aka drugs, cigarettes, liquor, unhealthy eating habits)
• Pornography
• Greed
• Riches
• Sex and riotous living
• Lying
• Cheating
• Stealing
• Murdering

I'm sure there are many more.  These are just a few.  How would a “people” give up these weapons?  I can’t see an entire people, i.e. city, nation, world – giving these weapons up as a group.  It needs to happen one person at a time.  Therein lies the problem.  The blessing is not far behind.  We don’t have to follow the armies of Satan if we want to break away.  We can lay these weapons down at our own discretion whenever we choose.  It will take work, and the Savior is there to help with that effort.  He has his “army” at the ready to help us lay down our weapons and turn our lives around.

I’m so grateful this is a truth and that some 48 years ago I had the help necessary to put down my weapons of war and turn my life around.  It wasn’t easy, but it was such a blessing that has continued on and only magnified through these many years.  Life is a joy and such a

Alma 50 - There Never was a Happier Time

As I pondered the chapter I read, I had to ask myself what I just learned.  Remember, I’m not all that excited about war.  However, I am excited about learning how to be happy.  In verse 23 of this chapter, Moroni tells us that there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi.  Why were they so happy?  They were in the midst of war almost continually.  That would get wearing on a people. 

Let’s examine that question.  In verse 21, we have a bullet list of reasons there were wars:

• Quarreling
• Contentions
• Murderings
• Plunderings
• Idolatry
• Whoredoms
• Abominations

Our modern-day prophets tell us repeatedly that contention is of the devil.  In The Book of Mormon, 3 Nephi 11:29 it says:  For verily, verily I say unto you, he that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another. 

Satan does not want there to be peace on the earth.  He does not want us to be happy.  The Lord has commanded us to worship only Him.  Idolatry was being practiced among the Lamanites. 

Murdering and plundering are not going to create peace either.

The Nephites would not engage.  I love the General Conference talk recently by Elder Enrique R. Falabella who quoted his wife’s motto:  “In order to contend, you need two people, and I will never be one of them.”  This is sound advice and can probably explain why “. . . there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, . . .(v23)”.

That said, we need to ask ourselves:  Do I want to be happy?  If the answer is yes, then contention needs to be removed from our lives in any degree.  Even though it can sometimes be a challenge, it can be done.  I have always marveled at my husband that he will not engage in a contentious discussion of any kind – even if I provoke!  This is an amazing quality and very endearing. 

Duty to Country

Helaman 1

Since our prophets have told us the Book of Helaman parallels our day, it’s not hard to see in this first chapter some similarities in what we are experiencing in our nation today.  There is still plenty of war in the land and the Lamanites seem to be gaining an advantage over the Nephites.  The Nephites are struggling with leadership.  Their system for electing leaders seems to be a bit flawed and if someone isn’t happy with it, they murder.  At least we aren’t that bad yet. 

I find it interesting in v18 that the Nephites think Zarahemla is so great that the Lamanites wouldn’t dare to attack it.  This is definitely a parallel to our nation today; which is why we were so vulnerable on 9/11/01.  I wrote in the margin: Political arrogance.  Indeed it is and continues to be. 

To me this chapter is politically charged and a warning to us to use wisdom in our election process.  We must have men and women who understand the importance of our freedom and be willing to do the unpopular thing to see that it is not jeopardized.  We have allowed our country to become weak.  How?  Through fiscal irresponsibility.  We are paying our leaders exorbitant amounts of money in income and retirement plans that far exceed even the wealthier Americans while these same leaders cut back our military funding.  This puts us in a vulnerable position in many ways and will be the cause of future problems we can be sure. 

Since this really isn’t intended to be a political diatribe, I need to mention one thing about the Nephites at the end of this chapter that is consistent with a more peaceable – people who desire to live more of a Christ-centered life.  Once the Nephites regained possession of the city of Zarahemla, they allowed the Lamanites who they had taken prisoners to depart in peace.  I see that as commendable and wonder exactly what we would do with those who would cause our country harm today. 

So my marching orders for this day?  Be politically aware of who is running for office and be actively involved as best I can.  Also, since the voice of the people will usually choose what is right, it is important that I know the issues and seek guidance from the spirit in my choices.  This all seems rather obvious to me.