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