In Just a Year

The Content

Alma 44

Verse 21-24

Now the number of their dead was not numbered because of the greatness of the number; yea, the number of their dead was exceedingly great, both on the Nephites and on the Lamanites.

And it came to pass that they did cast their dead into the waters of Sidon, and they have gone forth and are buried in the depths of the ^asea.

And the armies of the Nephites, or of Moroni, returned and came to their houses and their lands.

And thus ended the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. And thus ended the record of Alma, which was written upon the plates of Nephi.

The Comments:

The dead weren’t numbered on either side??? Because the numbers were too great. How depressing is that?

First off, how many families have just lost fathers? Sons? Brothers? On BOTH sides. The “bad guys” just lost too.  War is not to be taken lightly, nor does anyone get out of it unaffected.  Everyone pays a price.

I had a morbid thought on casting the dead into the waters of the Sidon. For those who loved ones, maybe this can help them find closure. The river takes the bodies out to sea where they are “buried in the depths of the sea.

My other thought—this is so unsanitary!

Make a note that all of this happened in a year. Yikes.

This is the end of Alma’s record.

Just Let it Go

The Content

Alma 44

Verse 20

And it came to pass that Moroni caused that the work of death should cease again among the people. And he took the weapons of war from the Lamanites; and after they had entered into a covenant with him of peace they were suffered to depart into the wilderness.

The Comments:

Moroni orders his men to stop. They take the Lamanites weapons and put them under the covenant and sends them into the wilderness.

Just like he said he would. No fuss. No going back on his word or killing the Lamanites just because he was sick of them.

The Lamanites giving up their weapons of war can be like us giving up our sins.  We finally reach the end of our rope and beg for help.  We listen to the Lord (at last) and do as He says—giving up sins and covenanting to not do them again.

Then we go off in what may be a very different direction than before. Our own unknown wilderness.

Doors Close, Windows Open and All That

The Content

Alma 44

Verse 19

Now Zerahemnah, when he saw that they were all about to be destroyed, cried mightily unto Moroni, promising that he would covenant and also his people with them, if they would spare the remainder of their lives, that they ^anever would come to war again against them.

The Comments:

Zarahemna finally cracks.  He sees that he and his men are about to be destroyed, and the pleads with Moroni to spare them and let them take the oath.

My likening perspective keeps going back and forth through here—sometimes we’re the Nephites and sometimes we’re the Lamanites.

In this case, we can be like Zarahemna wo, after his stubbornness, finds himself at the end of his rope begging for help.  For deliverance.

This is us. We do this. And the Lord is always there for us. Although He may not “deliver” us from a bad situation that we’ve gotten ourselves into, but He will help us find a way out.

Protect the Important Bits

The Content

Alma 44

Verse 18

But behold, their naked skins and their bare heads were exposed to the sharp swords of the Nephites; yea, behold they were pierced and smitten, yea, and did fall exceedingly fast before the swords of the Nephites; and they began to be swept down, even as the soldier of Moroni had prophesied.

The Comments:

…without the protective armor, the Lamanites fell before the Nephites.

“their naked skins and their bare heads were exposed to the sharp swords…”

This is the position we’re in when we don’t wear the Armor of God. We are exposed to sharp swords that pierce and smite us.

The verse states that the Lamanites fell fast. I think that the one tool Satan uses against us is a distorted sense of time.  In some cases we rush into a situation that we should have through more about, because of a “once in a lifetime” opportunity or a time frame given to us.  On the other hand, Satan can make big things seem small, which can lead us down a bad path in a hurry.

The end of this verse refers back to the prophecy of the soldier in verse 14. The scripture uses the word “prophecies.” I assume that this is not an error. So the guy is a prophet? That scalps people. Under special circumstances.

Who is that guy?

Who's Stubborn?

The Content

Alma 44

Verse 17

And now Moroni was angry, because of the stubbornness of the Lamanites; therefore he commanded his people that they should fall upon them and slay them. And it came to pass that they began to slay them; yea, and the Lamanites did contend with their swords and their might.

The Comments:

Moroni is angry at the stubbornness of the Lamanites and orders his men to attack.

Interesting that the word stubborn issued here. Not evil or anything like that. For me reading the account, it is obvious that the Lamanites cannot get out of this, but they fight anyway.  Fight against the only way to get out alive.

We do this. Pull the stubborn card and refuse to go the direction the Lord has (sometimes quite clearly) given us.

Moroni orders his men to kill the remaining Lamanites, which they do.

The Lamanites fight with their swords and their might—which is once again how Satan fights.

But…(See verse 18)

More Power

The Content

Alma 44

Verse 16

Now it came to pass that Zerahemnah was exceedingly wroth, and he did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger, to contend more powerfully against the Nephites.

The Comments:

Obviously Zarahemnah was mad and go the remainder of his soldiers to fight.

The verse states that the Lamanites fought with more power than before. So what did Zarahemnah say or do to get his men all riled up? Or were they just angry that some of their brothers had deserted them?

From the Lamanites point of view, the Nephites have done nothing but lie to and manipulate the Lamanites since the day they left Jerusalem, so seen from their perspective, this whole thing must look like a giant trick.

The Difference

The Content

Alma 44

Verse 15

 Now there were many, when they heard these words and saw the scalp which was upon the sword, that were struck with fear; and many came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and entered into a covenant of peace. And as many as entered into a covenant they suffered to depart into the wilderness.

The Comments:

Check this out, the mystery solider (and everything leading up to this point in the battle) actually got through to some of the Lamanites. They are “struck with fear”, throw down their weapons and make a covenant of peace.  The Nephites then keep their word and let the covenanted go free in to the wilderness.

I wonder what happens to them. Did they go back to their homes? Did they really keep their oath to never come against the Nephites again? How did/would the Lamanites back home react to this? These are details that I’ve never considered before.

This could make a pretty compelling story.

I wonder how many took the oath and departed.