OVERVIEW:
The Nephites fight to defend their families and their liberty. Captain Moroni raises the “title of liberty” to inspire the people. Amalickiah becomes king of the Lamanites and incites them to battle. War continues between the Nephites and the Lamanites.
Since every word written in the Book of Mormon is for us today, there must be a reason for the wars being so detailed. It may be that the strategies used in battle can be the same strategies we can use in battling spiritual wars against Satan and his servants. One tenth of the book covers wars.
There are some key ideas to learn from the war section of the Book of Mormon. (1) The Christian’s attitude toward war. (2) The importance of righteous military leaders. (3) Our attitude toward constituted government. (4) The power and influence of a righteous home. (5) A person’s external circumstances need not determine his attitude or his faithfulness. (6) Why God allows the righteous to be slain. (7) A prophetic pattern of what is to come.
(Doctrinal Commentary on the Book of Mormon, 3:321-327)
A similar pattern of social problems, priestcrafts, materialism, wars, government corruption, and disrupted life is prophesied for the last days leading to the Savior’s second coming. Mormon and his son Moroni saw our day and took from the history and prophecies of the Nephites those events that would best help the readers of their record in the day in which it would come forth. Since Mormon knew of the wars and chaos that would characterize the last days, he abbreviated his account of the missionary efforts of Alma and the sons of Mosiah and emphasized the challenges created by war and social turmoil, along with the reaction of the righteous to those challenges.
(H. Dean Garrett, Studies in Scriptures, 8:70)
Here is this week’s lesson handout: Book of Mormon Lesson 31.
Synopsis of the story in the chapters assigned:
- Alma 43–44. Led by Zerahemnah, the Lamanites come to battle against the Nephites, seeking to bring them into bondage. The Nephites, led by Moroni, fight to defend their families and their liberty. The Nephites prevail because they are “inspired by a better cause” and because they exercise faith in Jesus Christ.
- Alma 45:20–24; 46. Amalickiah desires to be king and causes dissension among the Nephites. Captain Moroni raises the “title of liberty” to inspire the people, and they covenant to follow God. Amalickiah and a few of his followers join the Lamanites.
- Alma 47–48. Through treachery, Amalickiah becomes king of the Lamanites. He incites the Lamanites to fight against the Nephites. Captain Moroni prepares the Nephites to defend themselves righteously.
- Alma 49–52. War continues between the Nephites and the Lamanites. The king-men desire to set up a king over the Nephites, but they are defeated. Teancum kills Amalickiah, who is succeeded as king of the Lamanites by his brother Ammoron.
A study of this lesson will help us see how the Nephites’ attitudes and actions in times of war can serve as a pattern for dealing with our earthly conflicts and the battle against Satan.
pax vobiscum
Filed under: Gospel Doctrine Tagged: | Christianity, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Gospel Doctrine, LDS, Mormon, Religion
