Mosiah 19

When Gideon fought King Noah, where were King Noah's guards? When the rescue party from
Zarahemla came the king was surrounded by guards, did this come later? But even so, by modern
standards it's amazing that the king was left to sword fight a rebel himself.

Always before, when the Lamenite's came the people had gone to fight them with faith in the strength
of the Lord. It's interesting to see how sin takes away courage as the king commanded the people to flee
and they did. Did they feel the guilt of their choices and know they couldn't rely on the Lord for help? Or
was it just because they didn't have the Spirit offering that comfort.

It's also interesting that when they fled, instead of standing with courage with the Lord, that is the time
the Lamenites overtook them and started to slay them.

This society had to have fallen so far that men were willing to leave their wives and children to the
Lamenites and flee. Protecting those that are weaker or that we love is the most basic good instinct
even the worst people seem to have.

When the men that had ditched their wives and children went back to die getting revenge, I'm sure the
guilt made these men want to die. It's funny how we think revenge is the same thing as repentance. Or
that it matters at all.

I always thought it was interesting that Mormon says ended the ceremony in verse 24. In the Native
American cultures when the two groups met there would have been a ceremony to share information.
When he says that here, it's what I imagine and can see it being a precursor to those more modern
ceremonies. It's such a tiny detail, and I'm sure Mormon didn't think anything of writing it that way, but
it seems important to me.