THE BOOK OF ALMA
THE soN OF ALMA
CHAPTER 43
Alma and his sons preach the word—T [ Which is what? It was the plan of salvation See Alma 33:22-23. ] The Zoramites and other Nephite dissenters become Lamanites —The Lamanites come against the Nephites in war—Moroni arms the Nephites with defensive armor—The Lord reveals to Alma the strategy of the Lamanites—The Nephites defend their homes, liberties, families, and religion—The armies of Moroni and Lehi surround the Lamanites. [About 74 B.C.]
[What did Mormon see in our day that would have caused him to include these verses? see Verses 22+24 Prophets Know Where the Enemy Will Strike ]
1 AND now it came to pass that the sons of Alma [ Including Corianton at this point. He repented and changed his ways just like his father had done. ] did go forth among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, [ While he is getting old he realizes that there is too much of the Lord's work that needs to be done, as a result he cannot allow himself to rest, or take a break. ] and he also went forth.
2 Now we shall say no more concerning their preaching, [ Mormon is going to change gears here and leave the missionary efforts and get back to what is going on at home. ] except that they preached the word, and the truth, according to the spirit of prophecy and revelation; and they preached after the holy order of God by which they were called.
3 And now I return to an account of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites, [ Mormon could have continued relating to the missionary experience of Alma and his three sons, but he does not. Mormon gets us back on track as to what is happening with the wars going on. Why do you think that is more important than the missionary efforts? Mormon for sure liked the strategy of war, but he changed here, why? One idea is that the kingdom of God is going forth whether there are wars or not, God will see that his work moves forward. Also we will see outlined in the following chapters when and where we need to fight, how to wage and win in our own wars, as we all have them. ] in the *eighteenth year of the reign of the judges.
4 For behold, it came to pass that the Zoramites [ So the Zoramites(Nephites) became Laminites. They were for the most part dissident Nephites in the first place. These were the hardest of the group as they drove those that were willing to repent out back in Alma 35:6. We will see that some of those who will fight hardest against the church are those who where former members. They are so because they know the playbook, they know how we work, they have had similar experience that we have had, but something happened along the way. We need to understand why they left, what happened with them. ] became Lamanites; therefore, in the commencement of the eighteenth year the people of the Nephites saw that the Lamanites were coming upon them; therefore they made preparations for war; yea, they gathered together their armies in the land of Jershon.
5 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with their thousands; and they came into the land of Antionum, which is the land of the Zoramites; and a man by the name of Zerahemnah was their leader. [ What do we know about him? We do not know his origins, his name hints that he might be a Mulekite, a descendent of Zarahemla. He might just be an apostate Nephite; but we do know that he was one of the hardest and wicked among them, because he is selecting the most wicked and those who have the most hatred to be the leaders. vs 6. ]
6 And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, [ Most likely the Amlicites found in Alma chapters 1 -3. Interesting - why is it that when someone has had the gospel in their life and then turned from it they become so much more wicked? They just seem to not be able to leave the church alone. Why is this? We see it over and over again. ] in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites.
7 Now this he did that he [ Zerahemnah. And then we are taught the reason why he did this. ] might preserve their hatred [ Picks the worst of the worst to carry out his design. Those who will not break down or compromise their hatred. These are the ones who will need the least motivation on an ongoing basic, wat becomes long sometimes and it requires constant motivation to fight when your life is on the line. Wow he is determined. Do we see any of this is our society today? Those who would burn it down, all of it at any cost. Those who simply do not care whom they hurt so long as they are in power. ] towards the Nephites, that he [ One person in power - Zerahemnah; is the one who stirs everything up and is the one who instigates war. ] might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs.
8 For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, [ Unites the Lamanites in a cause to gain power. His why is to gain power for himself. ] and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage. [ And to use the Lamanites to bring the Nephites under his control as well. ]
9 And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and their houses, and their wives, and their children, that they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies; and also that they might preserve their rights and their privileges, yea, and also their liberty, that they might worship God according to their desires.
[ Mormon explains to us that all the Nephites wanted was to be left alone with their wives and children; to maintain their rights - including the right to worship God. Why is it that the opposition is always so hell bent on taking away the rights of those who want to worship God? It was that way in the war in heaven so why would it be expected to be any different here on earth. ]
10 For they [ The Nephites ] knew that if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites, that whosoever should worship God in spirit and in truth, the true and the living God, the Lamanites would destroy.
11 Yea, and they also knew the extreme hatred of the Lamanites towards their brethren, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, who were called the people of Ammon—and they would not take up arms, yea, they had entered into a covenant [ Apparently their covenants meant something. ] and they would not break it—therefore, if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites they would be destroyed.
12 And the Nephites would not suffer that they should be destroyed; therefore they gave them lands for their inheritance.
13 And the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites a large portion of their substance to support their armies; and thus the Nephites were compelled, [ How does one fight when he is compelled? How does one fight when he feels he is united in a cause? ] alone, to withstand against the Lamanites, who were a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, and all those who had dissented from the Nephites, who were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests of Noah.
14 Now those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as were the Nephites; and thus the Nephites were obliged to contend with their brethren, even unto bloodshed.
15 And it came to pass as the armies of the Lamanites had gathered together in the land of Antionum, behold, the armies of the Nephites were prepared to meet them in the land of Jershon.
16 Now, the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had been appointed to be the chief captain over the Nephites—now the chief captain took the command of all the armies of the Nephites—and his name was Moroni;
17 And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their wars. And he [ Moroni. ] was only twenty and five years old when he was appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites.
18 And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of Jershon, and his people were armed [ They are armed; ready or prepared. This is Mormon teaching us a little about battle. What does this say about going to battle? If you are going to go it is better that you are prepared. How can we apply this to the battles we face today? What prepares us to do battle today? ] with swords, and with cimeters, [ A Cimeter (more commonly spelled scimitar) is a sword “having a curved blade with the edge on the convex side” or “something resembling a scimitar (as in sharpness or shape); esp: a long-handled billhook” (Webster’s Third International Dictionary of the English Language Unabridged 1993). ] and all manner of weapons of war.
19 And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing—
[ What are you wearing to your battle today? How prepared are you to fight the enemy? ] They came to battle first with items that were defensive in nature. Shields, breastplates and thick clothing. I football we often say "the best offense comes from a great defense". Meaning that if your defense does not give up ground then the offense will naturally be in scoring position over time. Mormon is kind of suggesting that to us here. That if we will do what we need to protect ourselves then we will find greater success in battle. ]
20 Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing; [ Mormon give his commentary on battle; the Zerahemnah army was not very well equipped against the enemy. The only protection they had was a loin cloth. Is Mormon suggesting that the leaders of the army of Zerahemnah really do not care about the Lamanite men that are fighting?. ] they had only their swords and their cimeters, their bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings; and they were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins; yea, all were naked, save it were the Zoramites and the Amalekites;
21 But they were not armed with breastplates, nor shields—therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of the Nephites because of their armor, notwithstanding their number being so much greater than the Nephites.
22 Behold, now it came to pass that they durst not come against the Nephites in the borders of Jershon; [ Again Mormon is teaching us about the strategies that are used in battle. What is he teaching us here? That the enemy will look and see how well you are able to defend yourself. If you are well prepared and able to defend yourself then the enemy will move the battle somewhere else; try a different approach. How does this relate to the challenges of this life? Is satan sees we are strong in one area in your life because you have built up to defenses - he will move and attack you another way. ] therefore they [ The Lamanites. ] departed out of the land of Antionum into the wilderness, and took their journey round about in the wilderness, away by the head of the river Sidon, that they might come into the land of Manti and take possession of the land; for they did not suppose that the armies of Moroni would know whither they had gone.
23 But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed
into the wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their
camp; and Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma,
sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should inquire of
the Lord whither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites. [
How did having a prophet guide them in the military actions? How should
it guide use today? Modern prophets have continually
warned that in the latter-days, the adversary will attack marriage and family.
More than thirty years ago, President Harold B. Lee stated, “Satan's greatest
threat today, is to destroy the family and make a mockery of the law of chastity
and the sanctity of the marriage covenant” ( Church News , August 19. 1972,
3). In 1995, The Proclamation to the World: The Family was issued. Prophets
tell us where the enemy strike next. The spiritual message is clear: Keep your
eyes on the living prophets, they know where the enemy will attack. ]
24 And it came to pass that the word of the Lord came unto Alma, [ Who needs messengers when you have the Lord giving you direction on what to do? ] and Alma [ The prophet receives inspiration on what to do and then passes that guidance onto his people. ] informed [ Possessing the knowledge of what they should do. ] the messengers of Moroni, that the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the message unto Moroni.
25 Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti.
26 And he caused that all the people in that quarter of the land should gather themselves together to battle against the Lamanites, to defend their lands and their country, their rights and their liberties; therefore they were prepared against the time of the coming of the Lamanites. [ How important is it in battle to know where the enemy is going to attack you? How can we know were the enemy is going to attack us? ]
27 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his army should be secreted in the valley which was near the bank of the river Sidon, which was on the west of the river Sidon in the wilderness.
28 And Moroni placed spies round about, that he might know when the camp of the Lamanites should come.
29 And now, as Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites, that it was their intention to destroy their brethren, or to subject them and bring them into bondage that they might establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land;
30 And he also knowing that it was the only desire of the Nephites to preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their church, therefore he thought it no sin that he should defend them by stratagem; therefore, he found by his spies which course the Lamanites were to take. [ He knows when and were they are going to attack. ]
31 Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the valley, and concealed them on the east, and on the south of the hill Riplah;
32 And the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land Manti.
34 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north of the hill, where a part of the army of Moroni was concealed.
35 And as the Lamanites had passed the hill [ It is an interesting fact that all mountains, regardless of size, are referred to as "hills" in the Book of Mormon. The Hebrew term "harar" is translated "hill or mountain." It is the term used for referring to large elevations. The translators of the Old Testament have sometimes rendered the term "hill" and sometimes rendered the term "mountain." Apparently Joseph Smith saw fit to render it "hill" in all instances where an elevation was referred to by name in the Nephite account. In doing so he was doing an excellent job of translating. (Roy E. Weldon, Book of Mormon Deeps, Vol. III, p. 296) ] Riplah, and came into the valley, and began to cross the river Sidon, the army which was concealed on the south of the hill, which was led by a man whose name was Lehi, and he led his army forth and encircled the Lamanites about on the east in their rear.
36 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, when they saw the Nephites coming upon them in their rear, turned them about and began to contend with the army of Lehi.
37 And the work of death commenced on both sides, but it was more dreadful on the part of the Lamanites, for their nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites with their swords and their cimeters, which brought death almost at every stroke.
38 While on the other hand, there was now and then a man fell among the Nephites, [ What is the difference between protection? Death from every blow without it verses here and there a man would fall with the protection. ] by their swords and the loss of blood, they being shielded from the more vital parts of the body, or the more vital parts of the body being shielded from the strokes of the Lamanites, by their breastplates, and their armshields, and their head-plates; and thus the Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites.
39 And it came to pass that the Lamanites became frightened, because of the great destruction among them, even until they began to flee towards the river Sidon.
40 And they were pursued by Lehi and his men; and they were driven by Lehi into the waters of Sidon, and they crossed the waters of Sidon. And Lehi retained his armies upon the bank of the river Sidon that they should not cross.
41 And it came to pass that Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in the valley, on the other side of the river Sidon, and began to fall upon them and to slay them< [ What a great time to attack. They had fought, been driven back and then had to expend energy in crossing the river, and now were required to fight again. They would have been tired, so Moroni and hhis army would have been at an advantage. ] .
42 And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of Manti; and they were met again by the armies of Moroni.
43 Now in this case the Lamanites did fight exceedingly; yea, never had the Lamanites been known to fight with such exceedingly great strength and courage, no, not even from the beginning.[ What made them fight so hard at this point? ]
44 And they were inspired by the Zoramites and the Amalekites, [ By those who had hatred toward the Nephites ] who were their chief captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, who was their chief captain, or their chief leader and commander; yea, they did fight like dragons, [ How does a dragon fight? What is he trying to suggest here about how they fought? This is an interesting image. In Mesoamerica, soldiers saw themselves as fighting like dragons, and they would even put on masks—jaguar masks especially—to make themselves look more ferocious and try to intimidate and dishearten the other side. ] and many of the Nephites were slain by their hands, yea, for they did smite in two many of their head-plates, and they did pierce many of their breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger.
45 Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.
46 And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, [ They were fighting with faith. ] and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.
47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.
48 And it came to pass that when the men of Moroni saw the fierceness and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to shrink and flee from them. And Moroni, perceiving their intent, sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts—yea, the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom from bondage.
49 And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they cried with one voice unto the Lord their God, for their liberty and their freedom from bondage.
50 And they began to stand against the Lamanites with power; and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, [ Were they calling upon God during their battles? Do we think to call upon God during our battles or do we wait until the battle is over; until we have lost before we begin our plea? ] the Lamanites began to flee before them; and they fled even to the waters of Sidon.
51 Now, the Lamanites were more numerous, yea, by more than double the number of the Nephites; nevertheless, they were driven insomuch that they were gathered together in one body in the valley, upon the bank by the river Sidon.
52 Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about, yea, even on both sides of the river, for behold, on the east were the men of Lehi.
* Verse 3 [About 74 B.C.].