Get Them on the Run

The Content:

Alma 43

Verse 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.

The Comments:

Here we get an actual statistic. There were more than double the amount of Lamanites versus the Nephites.

More than 2 to 1???

This isn’t as drastic as that story from the Old Testament story when the Lord only sends 300 men into a battle that they then miraculously win, but it's still a miracle.

Especially since the Lamanites came in so hard. They’re probably tired of running at this point, and are looking for the way out.

Just An Hour

The Content:

Alma 43

Verse  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, the Lamanites began to flee before them; and they fled even to the waters of Sidon.

The Comments:

This verse states that “in the selfsame hour that they cried to the Lord” the Lamanites began to flee.

Is that literal? Within sixty minutes, or right away?

Perhaps it wasn’t right away, which means some more faith would need to be exercised. Or maybe faith had already been exercised, and it did happen almost at once.

I supposed that sort of distinction depends on what the people involved need to progress in their lives.

And now they have the Lamanites on the run, back to Sidon.

Quiet Power

The Content:

Alma 43

Verse 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.

The Comments:

They Nephites cry with one voice unto the Lord.

A woman I know once told me a story that reminds me of this.  She went on Trek (Pulling handcarts across the wilderness of Wyoming to try to get a feel of what it was like for the early Mormon pioneers to cross the plains) with the youth in her area.  At one point they do what is called a women’s pull.  This is when the girls and women are broken up and assigned into families or teams to pull a loaded handcart up a steep and challenging hill.

Only women participate.

The men and boys have to watch. I understand that they usually stand at the top of the hill. Maybe they cheer, I’m not sure. I’ve never been on Trek.

Anyway, this woman said that the women said a prayer and that the Spirit was very strong, and she felt that this (along with some determination) is what got the girls up the hill. Not with a big, roaring cheer or charge, but with a quiet, unified prayer to the Lord.

It sounds like something similar happened here to the Nephites. They cried with one voice to the Lord regarding their cause and their motivation. Nowhere does it say that they let out a big battle cry and charged.

But they may have. It probably wouldn’t hurt. J

Be Prepared

The Content:

Alma 43

Verse 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.

The Comments:

Even a more direct mandate from the Lord. “Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed.”

It scares me to think that one day this might apply to me/us.

  

From verse 45-47 Mormon (or whoever abridged this part) lays out the why and the justification and words of the Lord regarding this war and probably many to follow. And maybe those that came before.

If Mormon left this in here, it must be important. It’s not like he wasted any time putting in extra words.

Just think in your own mind how this could apply to you.

If it Offends Thee

The Content:

Alma 43

Verse 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, 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.

The Comments:

Not only were the Nephites motivated by the list in the last verse, but here it says that they were fulfilling “the duty which they owed to their God.”

If you read on, you’ll find that the Lord had given the some specific instructions regarding war. (Not guilty of the 1^st or 2^nd offense, but they should not let themselves be slain by their enemies.)

First off, that’s awesome. To know that the Lord will guide you even in war.

Second, none of us have to be complete pacifists, although the people of Ammon were, and that’s okay, but we can defend ourselves, so to speak.

Third, liken that to how Satan comes after us.

Consider a more subtle approach—think of something that is in your life that is a negative influence: a friend, family member, job or other situation.  Even if you feel obligated to keep this “thing” around, there may come a point when you should not “suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.”

There may be an option to put it away or keep it away from you. I’ve seen friends have to do it, and I have done it myself.  Sometimes it is painful, and severs connections, but the Lord will guide us through it.  Especially if we ask for His help and listen to His answers.

What's Worth Fighting For.

The Content:

Alma 43

Verse 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.

The Comments:

The Lamanites come at them with so much anger and fierceness that the Nephites almost bolt.

Let’s go back…At first, the Lamanites were afraid of the Nephites because of their armor, so they left and tried attacking a different spot.

Not the Nephites in Manti must have had armor as well, so somehow the Lamanites were “inspired” to get over it and attack anyway (verse 36).  They may have felt the trap coming too.

In verse 43 the Lamanites were trapped and fought back hard.  Being killed by your sworn enemy is a great motivation for fighting as hard as you can.

So here the Nephites are stunned and afraid of the Lamaintes sudden energy and anger.  And who can blame them? At first the Nephites weren’t being killed, just injured—thanks to the armor.  But then their protection isn’t enough, and they falter.

I know this happens in my life. When I think I’m prepared and things will go well, it is all good. When something comes along and tosses the preparation to the side without any effort, I freak out too.

But I think this is all okay.

The next part is the big kicker.

Moroni sees exactly what’s going on (maybe he was feeling the exact same way) and sends words of encouragement to his men. Moroni speaks to their hearts and reminds them of why they are fighting.  And I would wager that the men may have thought about the Lord’s words in verse 45-47.

Fear is all too real, and it is a powerful motivator. It’s easy to listen to, but we see here that the words of the Lord/ the Spirit and our own motivator are, in fact, more powerful.

Passion

The Content:

Alma 43

Verse 43-44

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.

And they were inspired by the Zoramites and the Amalekites, 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, 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.

The Comments:

Now thoroughly trapped, the Lamanites fight back with fierce anger. They are described as having great strength and courage.

The Lamanite armies are “inspired” (aka berated and fed half-truths about everything the Nephites had done against them) by their chief captains (see verse 6 of this chapter). All of these factors combined—fear, being trapped, leaders who pushed them and the real possibility of death—give the Lamanites power that they have never had before.  They use sheer emotions to fuel their rage, and at this point they are able to hack through the Nephite’s armor.

I find it scary that mislead passion can turn into pure force and rage, which leads to this kind of destruction. It’s no wonder the Lord commands us to keep our passions in check. They can be dangerous.

It's a Trap!

The Content:

Alma 43

Verse 40-42

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.

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.

And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of Manti; and they were met again by the armies of Moroni.

The Comments:

Here we have a brilliantly laid trap for the Lamanites. It’s easy to see that Moroni’s plan wasn’t to wipe the Lamanites off the face of the planet, but to trap them and talk to them. (Well, we see the talking in a few verses.)

Moroni and his men executed this plan without any problems. Here Moroni has a lot of men in different places. I wonder if some of the men who cut the Lamanites off when they are trying to go toward the land of Manti are the guys from vs. 26.  Defending the road to their home, so to speak. That’s quite an opportunity.

The Secret Weapon-You Have It!

The Content:

Alma 43

Verse 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.

The Comments:

The Lamanites got scared and ran. Right toward where Moroni is waiting, I might add.

The great destruction among them frightened them. I can hardly blame them—I'd be scared too. As I thought about this, I came up with the fact that all around us today there are people who are running away from the fight between good and evil, and they always seem to run right into Satan's hands. We're losing too many people to evil because they become afraid of the destruction that is indeed going on all around us.

Now if the Lamanites had had armor, like the Nephites, then it would have been a fair fight. We actually have the advantage in our fight because we have the same resource that Moroni did when he got the idea for the armor and asking the prophet for help and praying...never forget that. We have the advantage, even when it feels like we never will.