Alma 53

I always remember from this story that it was easier to guard the Lamenites while they were working. It stands out to me as important, but I never know why. How does that apply to me? Is it a lesson about being too busy to have time to really think? Or perhaps that business keeps you out of trouble? I don’t know, but it has always jumped out at me.

Moroni didn’t rush off to fight, but took time to prepare and to care for their families. That is definitely a lesson about being too busy, and as a leader requiring too much from other people. Sometimes in my rush to accomplish things I forget the value in the preparation and mundane get the food together tasks. But nothing can be accomplished well without those steps. It reminds me of Greta’s letter yesterday about when they don’t have time to study and prepare for lessons they don’t go as well. Sometimes I just like to be buys accomplishing things, but I need to remember how important the study and preparation are to really do the things I want to do well.

I wonder if the Nephites wickedness caused them to lose because God stop protecting them, or if it is just a natural consequence of the choice that they were making. I am sure partly they couldn’t be in tune with the Spirit while being wicked, but it also just would mess them up to have infighting during a battle. Sometimes I think unhappiness from wickedness and peace and happiness from righteousness are not just blessings, but also just the natural consequence of choices. Like how Omar always talks about how you can sleep at night if you are honest.

The story of the people of Ammon is always intriguing to me. When they saw people dying and they couldn’t help, it must have been so hard. I don’t blame them for wanting to break their oath. It almost doesn’t seem wrong to me for them to break their oath in those extenuating circumstances. But I wonder if that is the weakness of my over-valuing efficiency. Sometimes God’s way seems so impractical, and I am sure that for the sake of practicality there would be leniency. But there were amazing miracles that happened because they did not fight, and their children were amazingly blessed for their obedience. I need to have more faith in the inefficiency of God’s way.

I always told Helaman that verse 14 was the reason we gave him his name. A hero who helps people to keep their covenants and sacrifices to serve those who cannot help themselves.

I want to think more about the description of the stripling warriors:

• Exceedingly valiant for courage
• Also for strength and activity
• True at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted
• Men of truth and soberness
• Taught to keep the commandments of God and walk uprightly before Him

That is what I would pray for my sons. With all my heart! How can I help them to develop courage? I already know I need to do more to help them be strong and active, that has been on my mind a lot. And I need to help them be more true to their responsibilities. It is really hard for me to let them take that on and not interfere. But I need to be more conscious about teaching instead of making life easy.

Alma 53

Alma 52

I think the thing I am learning from Tiancum is that you have to pick your battles. Not every battle is worth fighting and sometimes the timing isn’t right.

It also stands out to me that they only killed people who wouldn’t stop fighting, or who wouldn’t give up their weapons of war. Even in the craziness it was never about vengeance.

I am also thinking about the war council. In most of the Book of Mormon you hear about men whose contribution was prophets and record keepers, peaceful and wise kings, missionaries. But here are men whose talent to serve the people was strength and war strategy. Sometimes as a woman it feels like my talents are supposed to be tender and soft spoken, but as I think about this I feel like Heavenly Father is telling me that everyone is needed, even strong voices.

How did Moroni make announcements in the middle of battles? As Jacob was dying, did he regret his life choices, or did he feel like it was worth it?

Alma 52

Alma 51

The Nephites democracy was constantly threatened by men who would be kings and people who wanted kings. I feel like there is no parallel in the history of our free government. But I also think that in times of trouble, people could be tempted to want stronger centralized leadership, like FDR running and winning the presidency for 4 terms during WWII. I feel like sometimes I take our free government for granted, and don’t realize how easily it could all be lost.

It seems so wicked that king-men were glad when the Lamenites were coming and wouldn’t help defend their country. It is probably the same wickedness that ever wants revenge when we are angry, or withholding help from people we don’t like or disagree with.

Was Moroni’s action right in compelling them to take up arms? When I was younger I used to hear the argument a lot about not taking away people’s agency. This seems like a crazy thing to do, but do the ends sometimes justify the means? Or was it not wrong or weird at all, and it only seems like it to me?

While the Nephites were busy fighting with themselves the Lamenites came and took the city of Moroni and killed a lot of people. The Nephites had been so successful when they were united and righteous, and then they lost that help when they were fighting each other. I can see that the Lord could not be here helping our family when we were fighting this morning. Even if the Holy Ghost had been trying to talk to me, I never would have been able to hear him over my own anger and yelling. At that point it didn’t matter who was doing wrong things (all of us, but way more me in the yelling) but it mattered that with the contention we couldn’t have divine protection.

Teancum’s ability to murder the king in his sleep goes to show again that the devil will not support you in the end.

Alma 51

Alma 50

Even after decisively beating the Lamenites and returning to a time of peace, Moroni did not let up in his preparations for war and creating strong defenses for his people. Which seems wise from a political war standpoint, but also reminds me of the counsel not to forget God when our lives get easy. In times of crisis it is easier to remember to pray always and seek the Lord’s comfort and counsel, but the times of peace between the times of war, are when it is easy to be lazy in maintaining that relationship and seeking His help. I have to be constantly diligent in my own preparation but also in preparing and protecting my family.

And Moroni didn’t just do one type of fortification, he did everything thing he could think of to protect the people, with walls and then timbers and then pickets and the secure and armed towers. I think too often I have a good enough approach to everything. It is something I have struggled with my whole life, like only wanting to do one draft of a paper, or not rechecking my work. Moroni teaches me about working hard and putting a whole best effort, not good enough effort. And also that we have to do everything that we can to fortify our families. It isn’t enough to just have family prayer, we need all the help of family scripture study and family home evening and going to church together, and gospel discussions, and constantly praying for them. If it is important to keep them safe, it needs to be a constant best effort in every possible way.

Moroni also worked hard to make a clear line between the Nephites and the Lamenites. We need to protect our family by making sure the lines between right and wrong are clearly defined as they can be. That we are as valiant as we can be as an example of what is good. So that the line between us and our enemy is clearly defined and defend-able.

Moroni’s army increased daily because the people saw the protection that his preparations offered them. Which seems like it would be another side effect of dedicated work in the kingdom. If we are clearly trying to be good and avoid the appearance of evil, but make clear lines, it is easier for people to see what it looks like and want to be a part of it. They will know what it is that keeps our family safe, and it will be easier for them to believe.

I love Mormon’s “thus we see” inserts throughout his summary, and how he wants to point out important things he is learning from the text.

It is an interesting side note that Alma first tried to give the plates to Nephihah before giving them to Helaman, but he wouldn’t take them. How different would the record be if he had accepted the calling? Or perhaps the record would be no different, but Nephihah would. Or maybe he felt inspired not to?

The responsibility of the chief judge of the Nephites was huge. It is also interesting that they had no separation of church and state. One of the things the chief judges swore their oath to do was support and maintain the cause of God. I think that was once implied in the U.S., but that surely does not seem to be the case now.

Alma 50

Alma 49

The parallel between the city of Ammonihah and true repentance strikes me today. The Lamenites had been able to cause destruction there previously because of the wickedness of the people, and so assumed they would be able to again. But the people had rebuilt it and strengthened it to the point that the Lamenites could not get anywhere in their attempts to attack it. Repentance is partially making weak things become strong through Jesus Christ. I have read things, and used to believe, that once you have given in to certain temptations that will also be a weakness for you, like if you give into the temptation of premarital sex you will be more tempted than other people to have an affair in your marriage. But with true repentance, true change of heart, that isn’t true. Our weaknesses become our greatest strengths. He changes us into something strong and pure and good, and impenetrable.

Sometimes life appears too overwhelming, and sometimes it is the wickedness in the world that seems too great to win against. Sometimes it is the wickedness in my heart that seems too big to conquer. Just like the Lamenite army was huge and well prepared, they believed they would easily overcome the Nephites. But because they Nephites were following Moroni in their preparations, who in his faith was following the Lord, they were strong enough to overcome insurmountable odds. With God nothing is impossible, even the war inside myself.

It is interesting that when the Lamenite captains got to Noah they had to attack even though they knew it was a bad idea, because they had sworn in front of the people to do it. It is a lesson in being careful with what you say. Is it also a lesson in honor, that they did what they swore to do, or is a lesson in pride that they would not back down because they had already sworn? Sometimes I am not sure which of those is a virtue. Like when I give my kids a punishment that I later regret, do I stick to it, or do I tell them I made a mistake a change it? Does changing my mind make them not trust me or respect what I say I will do? Maybe it matters why I changed my mind? I really struggle with this.

It is sad how many Lamenites died for no reason because of their stubborn leaders. Why were they willing to keep following them?

Alma 49

Alma 48:14-25

The Nephites believed that if they kept the commandments they never had to be afraid because he would warn them to flee or to prepare for war when it was necessary, and that he would deliver them. There are so many things in life that I worry about constantly. I feel like a lot of my reaction to my kids’ misbehavior and to the world in general comes from a place of fear. I also think that the reason I hate when I feel not in control is because I am afraid. It all seems to come back again to the constantly remembering, and focusing on Christ. When I stop to think about it, I do trust God to take care of everything, and know that His ways are best. But in the midst of everyday life it is so easy for me to forget. I even forget the plans that I make or the ways I have been inspired to always remember.

What does it mean that Moroni gloried in his faith? When I look up the definition is to exult with triumph. Did his faith preclude fear and stress in war time? Is that why if all men had been like Moroni hell would be shaken forever?

I love that Mormon brings up that Helaman and his brethren were just as important to the people as Moroni. Although he was the great famous war leader, they were preaching the word of God, and that mattered just as much. Sometimes it is so easy to feel like the little things I do as a mother, or at church, are so unimportant. I often struggle with feelings of wanting to do something big and important in the world. I am grateful for the reminder this morning, that when I teach my kids the gospel, and I share the good news, I am doing something important in the world.

Alma 48:14-25

Alma 48:1-13

It seems like one lesson here is to be careful of leaders who lead by hate and anger. Amalickiah managed to get the Lamanties to go to battle against the Nephites, even though one short year ago they had been determined to fight each other not to have to go. He did it by making them feel angry and hateful towards them. I can’t see God working that way, which makes it hard to believe that leaders would be choosing the right when they were making choices or trying to persuade you that way.

It feels like it is dirty for him to use Nephite dissenters as the leaders of the army because they knew where the Nephites were weak and what their strategies and strengths were. But it only feels dirty because his intentions are evil. I guess this is where it comes in again that Moroni didn’t consider it a sin to use strategy to beat the Lamenites. Some actions are not inherently good or evil, it is really about intentions and what you are trying to accomplish. So often when we judge each other it is because we assigning intent to what someone is doing, which we often can’t really know, and shouldn’t assume. I know that is something I have a hard time with. Because I don’t even notice that I am making assumptions as I interpret a situation. It is really hard to step back from that and see an action isolated from intent.

It is important to me that Moroni didn’t start preparing for the attack on his people when the armies were approaching. He began before they had even been convinced to fight. I think for me as a parent that is important to remember because I need to home and family and children to be protected and fortified before the attack comes. There are no huge temptations in their lives yet, but they need to be strengthened before that time, not in the midst of the battle. Then when the hard things do come they are more likely to survive. What can I do better?

Mormon gives some really specific details about how Moroni prepared his people. If he took the time to carve it into the plates, the specifics must matter.

What Moroni Did	What I can do
Preparing the minds of the people to be faithful to the Lord their God (v. 7)	This is the gospel teaching in our home. Teaching my children about God’s love and what he has given us. Especially teaching them about the atonement and how it gives us hope and joy and how we can trust Him to save us. When we know how much he loves us, when we really know what he has done for us, that is when we are prepared to be faithful to him.
Strengthening the armies of the Nephites (v.8)	My army is my family. I need to be consciously doing what I can to help them be strong, and make sure that they have a good network of fellow soldiers to help them feel strong.
Erecting forts (v.8)	About making safe places and times of refuge. I think this is about making sacred spaces. Family scripture study and prayers, family night, going to church together. Set times and places to reconnect with each other and with the Spirit. Established places of refuge.
Walls around the cities (v.8)	The rules we make for protection of our family. Keeping bad media out of our home, treating each other kindly. Being in sacred places.
Concentrated most effort weaknesses (v.9)	This feels like it has to do with the deliberate parenting Rebecca always talks about. I need to be mindful of what needs to be taught, who needs to be comforted, and how I can do those things with the help of God. It is going through the day and making my decisions with thought instead of reaction. Individually, this reminds me of the talk about “what lack I yet.” And also the scripture from Ether 12:27. It isn’t just that he gives us weaknesses to make us humble, but also that he will show us what they are and help us strengthen them.

So then to protect my family like Moroni protected his people, do I need to be the kind of leader he was? Mormon describes him as:

• Strong and mighty
• Maybe just firm in standing for truth. I think I have a strong personality if not physique. And I am grateful for the idea that being strong is not a bad thing.
• Update: I had some more thoughts about the strong and mighty part later. I started thinking about President Nelson’s talk from the last general conference called A Plea to My Sisters. Especially this: “We need your strength, your conversion, your conviction, your ability to lead, your wisdom, and your voices.” Not only is okay to be strong, but God needs our strength, specifically. Voices that tell us to be docile and wrong.
• I was also thinking that how we physically present ourselves in a situation matters. Moroni was strong and mighty in a time of a war, which was what people needed to feel confident. It is the same reason missionaries need to look nice, and the same reason I always wear makeup if I am going to be presenting, or in a meeting where I need to be taken more seriously. 
• Perfect understanding
• I wish for perfect understanding, and I suppose I do try to seek for perfect understanding. But perfect is a big word there. I think the seeking is a good start?
• Did not delight in bloodshed
• I think for me this is about when I am right, not enjoying that someone else is wrong and I win. Not punishing my kids because I am mad, but doing things only with a pure heart and good intentions.
• Joy in the liberty and freedom of his country
• My joy is in my family being free from sin and becoming good men. Sometimes I forget that that is really my priority, and where my joy comes from. Being mindful of goals.
• Heart swollen with thanksgiving to God
• Remembering all that God has done for our family, for me, for all of us, so that my faith in Him and this cause remain. Not getting caught up in the hard things, but remembering that Christ is victorious in the end. If I can focus on the thanksgiving, will that make the details less frustrating?
• Labor exceedingly in his cause
• NOT BE LAZY
• Firm in the faith of Christ
• To lead my family to the safety of faith, I have to be firmly there. Small daily choices that help me remember and feel the Spirit.
• Sworn an oath to defend his people, even to the loss of his blood
• Willing to sacrifice whatever it takes. Selfless. So hard.

Alma 48:1-13

Alma 47

It has always stuck out to me that the servants of the king ran to the people of Ammon and joined them. If they were faithful to the king, they had not long ago been enemies, and yet the people of Ammon took them in. And how did king’s servants know they would have mercy on them? Had they noticed the goodness that comes from truly living the gospel?

It is sad that the Nephite dissenters became hardened and forgot God. It is easy to become distracted by people’s imperfections, or imperfect government in the church or country, it easy to be offended. All the things that people are hurt about, the hurt is real. But we hurt ourselves more when we leave because of it. Last night I took Helaman’s stuffed Mario mushroom away at bedtime because they boys were being crazy. He was very upset, and then threw his blanket and pillow off his bed and announced he wasn’t going to sleep the whole night and freeze if he couldn’t have his mushroom. Omar had a long talk with him about not making more bad choices when we are upset that just end up hurting ourselves. He didn’t want him to start down that painful path. And yet, as adults, I feel like we do that, too. We get upset and stay away from church, or from things we once loved and found joy in. We get hurt by our spouse and stop talking to them, and the hurt grows until we damage that relationship. The dissenters got upset and lost their connection to God, and all the peace and joy that could have come from that. Why do we hurt ourselves?

Alma 47

Alma 46:19-41

I wonder what made some of the Amalekiahites willing to die for their cause, when they had the chance to be spared and free. What makes us so stuck in wrong that we can’t choose the right any more? Is that what it really is to be too late to repent? We are too mired in our sins to see them for what they are?

I wonder if hundreds of years from now someone writing the history of the church in our day would note times of peace and conflict. Four years of peace in the church seems like so little, but I suppose if there were no dissensions in that time, and everyone was getting along, that would feel like a lot. I wonder if the trouble was the same then as it is now, partly a church run by imperfect people, and partly imperfect people belonging to the church.

I wonder why it was important at this particular point in history to point out that those who died with faith died happy.

Alma 46:19-41

Alma 46:9-18

We have to be careful not to be deceived by the very wicked men in our day. They have to be persuasive, or they wouldn’t really convince anyone.  I observe, and sometimes feel how a mob can get swept up in passionate feelings about something completely wrong. It seems to me, the only way to not be deceived is to rely on the Holy Ghost, and to remember to pay attention to the Holy Ghost. Sometimes his prompting feel so similar to other things, we have to always remember to really listen, and do those things that make it easier to hear. (Like, Jinny, reading scriptures every day).  It is why the commandment to “ALWAYS remember” the Savior is so important. If I can really focus on Him in everything I am doing, it will change the way I see everything.

I wonder if the title of liberty had better flow in their language? It is really awkward wording in English.

Moroni said that God would not allow them to be trodden down and destroyed except by their own transgression. But then we hear about how God allows others to use their agency and of course bad things happen to good people. But things like what Moroni said I think are why the bad things are such a faith-shaking experience for people. We are told repeatedly in the scriptures we will be blessed and protected for being righteous. And then when things are hard we are told that means eternally, but Moroni clearly means it temporally here. Maybe it means God will not let all of His people be destroyed, but is that comforting in times of individual suffering? I suppose if we have a larger Zion vision of life that it would be. Except if we believe God’s work cannot be stopped, and things will work out in the end, why would it even matter? It is hard for my mind to reconcile.

Alma 46:9-18

Alma 46:1-8

Why do people have to fight against the church when they don’t believe. Why don’t we say, fine, you believe that and I will believe this. I feel like some people eventually get to that point, kind of, when they stop believing, but there is always this feeling of animosity. Did the non-believers feel like Helaman was lying to them, or trying to steal from them or take power from them? What is that people feel like they have to fight against? In this case it feels like it is just a way to get what they want, to gain power over the people. And I can see that I few wicked leaders start out that way, but how do they justify the angry fight to everyone else? In my experience in life, most people are trying to do good things, they are just often deceived about what really is good. What was the good justification here? Does my wanting to have power and control of my family lead me to justify bad behavior, specifically angry coercive behavior? I suppose my anger isn’t really that different than this. Christ told us that the anger itself is a sin similar to the actualy murder. Maybe the secret to being more in control of my anger is looking more closesly at my intentions in the moment. The problem is, in the moment, it is hard to be anything other than angry. If I can let go of the need to control everything, maybe the ager won’t come?

The thus we see how quickly people forget God really feels important in my life. I can have amazing spiritual expereinces, and then get busy and distracted and feel so far away from Him so quickly. The praying and reading scriptures every day is so important because it is so easy to forget His blessings and mercy. All of us have been saved by our enemy by Him, just like the Nephites. And in the moment that we are aware of our salvation we rejoice and are grateful. But it is so easy to forget. I don’t want to forget. I want to do better at consistently focusing on Him and losing myself in His work. EVERY DAY

Alma 46:1-8

Alma 45

Did the Nephites rejoicing come from the deliverance or the gratitude? Probably both, but it has been a long time since my family has been able to lean in enough to feel “exceedingly great joy.” It says they worshiped God with exceedingly great joy. I don’t feel like we fast with great joy. It really does comes down to our attitude of gratitude to God, and seeing His great blessings for what they are. How do we focus on that more? How can we be less cynical?

Along with the idea of not being cynical, Helaman totally trusted Alma enough to say he would keep his commandments without first hearing what they were. I don’t find myself to be that humble, or that trusting.

Did the Nephites not have wards and stakes established? It seems like the leaders of the church were constantly having to go and reestablish the church among the people, and deal with dissensions and such. I never realized before what a blessing it is to have an organized church that meets every week. We constantly have the opportunity to be preached to, and to strengthen each other. And then when Helaman appointed local leaders, that didn’t work because they wouldn’t listen to the prophet and became proud. Is this the warning that makes correlation necessary? I can see how if I was a leader of the church now, I would read these verses as a warning of what could go wrong. The balance between individual revelation and local control, and the need to keep the people of the church teaching and learning true doctrine is a very tricky place. That makes me feel less cynical about it.

Alma 45