Alma 52 - 63

This week in Institute we studied what I refer to as the "Doctrine of War". This outlines the Lords' instructions to His righteous people on how and when to engage in warfare.

The first concept in this Doctrine is discovered in Alma 43:46 which reads:

"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."

This teaching is expanded in Doctrine and Covenants 98:33-36

And again, this is the law that I gave unto mine ancients, that they should not go out unto battle against any nation, kindred, tongue, or people, save I, the Lord, commanded them.

And if any nation, tongue, or people should proclaim war against them, they should first lift a standard of peace unto that people, nation, or tongue;

And if that people did not accept the offering of peace, neither the second nor the third time, they should bring these testimonies before the Lord;

Then I, the Lord, would give unto them a commandment, and justify them in going out to battle against that nation, tongue, or people.

So, under the condition of defence against a number of unprovoked attacks, going to war would be justified by the Lord.  This point is re-stated in Alma 48:14, 44:2 and 61:9-10. Alma 48:14 teaches:

Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives.

teaching that the righteous were not to give an offense, or to "raise the sword" or go to war in offense.

There are numerous examples of this in the Book of Mormon, starting with the wars mentioned in Alma.  An interesting case in point is when the righteous Nephites were besieged by the Gadianton robbers, and wished to take an offencive foray into the Gadiantons:

Now the people said unto Gidgiddoni: Pray unto the Lord, and let us go up upon the mountains and into the wilderness, that we may fall upon the robbers and destroy them in their own lands. (3 Nephi 3:20)

Gidgiddoni replies:

The Lord forbid; for if we should go up against them the Lord would deliver us into their hands; therefore we will prepare ourselves in the center of our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against them, but we will wait till they shall come against us; therefore as the Lord liveth, if we do this he will deliver them into our hands. (3 Nephi 3:21)

The promise by the Lord for taking this defencive stance is one of Delivery (which in itself is a key theme running through the Book of Mormon - but perhaps that's a theme for another day!)

Significantly, this pattern is not followed by the unrighteous Nephites at the end of the Book of Mormon, and Mormon comments on this situation and its consequence:

they began to boast in their own strength, and began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren who had been slain by their enemies.

And they did swear by the heavens, and also by the throne of God, that they would go up to battle against their enemies, and would cut them off from the face of the land.

Mormon then adds that he refused to lead the unrighteous Nephite armies and concluded that the Nephites were defeated by the Lamanites because they were the aggressors in battle (Mormon 4:4) 

Referring back to the section from the Doctrine and Covenants, another concept in the "Doctrine of War" is that Nephite captains were reluctant to take up arms (Alma 48:21-23).  They tried to gain the advantage over aggressors without shedding blood (for example in the case of Gidgiddoni mentioned above, they withdrew from the perimeters of the land with the aim of leaving no easy food for the Gadiantons to access).  They also were quick to end conflicts with a covenant of peace rather than fighting to annihilation.

The basic principles which we see applied are that a righteous people do not take the offense and defend themselves only after the second or third offense, after having tried other means to obtain peace, and the quickly grant peace to any who wish it, rather than a "fight to the end".

Where does this leave us?  Ponder in your journal what this section means to you, and how as a righteous Latter-day Saint you deal with aggressors and conflict and violence? What perspective can we gain from the Anti-Nephi-Lehi's? 

A closing thought from President Gordon B. Hinckley:

“I think our Father in Heaven must have wept as He has looked down upon His children through the centuries as they have squandered their divine birthright in ruthlessly destroying one another” (in Conference Report, Apr. 2003, 82; or Ensign, May 2003, 79).

Resources:

Gordon B. Hinckley : War and Peace

Renounce War, Proclaim Peace

Alma 43-51

This is our first block in Alma focusing specifically on the "war" chapters. This week, we examined some specifics around individual preparation for war through the practises of Captain Moroni.  The prophet Mormon, paying tribute to Captain Moroni said:

“If all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men” (Alma 48:17).

Commenting on the character of Moroni, Mormon said :

"Moroni was a strong and mighty man; he was a man of perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery." (Alma 48:10) 

The pattern of preparation followed by Moroni is instructive to us: 

"Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God" Moroni 48:7

"And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians." Moroni 48:10

The Apostle Paul, speaking to the Ephesians reminded them :

"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." Ephesians 6:12

For us, here and now, the war is not as much a physical battle, but one against "principalities and powers".  So, the question of our preparation for this war is real.  Now take some time to ponder what you think would happen you were to meet and counsel with Moroni about your preparation for this conflict ... 

Some questions to ponder and journal at this stage include:

In what ways did Captain Moroni prepare his people to defend themselves? What can I do every day to be prepared for spiritual battles?

Paul, following his description of the nature of this spiritual warfare, warned the Ephesians that they could only withstand the evils which surrounded them by putting on the whole armour of God (which is described in Ephesians 6:11-18).  Take some time to read the passage, then ponder and journal the following questions:

Speaking in the Priesthood session of General Conference in 1979, Elder N Eldon Tanner suggested some questions that we can ponder in relation to the armour of God : 

• Are we studying the scriptures so that we can increase our knowledge and faith and testimony regarding the gospel? 
• Do we keep the commandments? 
• Are we honest and truthful in our dealings? 
• Do we keep the Sabbath day holy? 
• Do we observe the Word of Wisdom? 
• Do we pay an honest tithing? 
• Do we attend our meetings and respond to the calls made of us by our authorities? 
• Are we virtuous and clean and pure in heart and mind and deed?
• Do we fight against the evils around us—pornography,abortion, tobacco, alcohol, drugs?
• Do we have the courage to stand up for our convictions? 
• Can we truly say we are not ashamed of the gospel of Christ? 
• Do we live peaceably with our neighbors and avoid gossip and backbiting and spreading unfounded rumors? 
• Do we truly love our neighbors as ourselves?

Elder Tanner then said:

"If we can answer yes to these questions, then we will have on the whole armor of God, which will protect us from harm and preserve us from our enemies. If we must answer no to these questions, then our armor is weak, there is an unshielded place which can be found, a vulnerable area for attack, and we will be subject to injury or destruction by Satan, who will search until he finds our weaknesses, if we have them.

Examine your armor. Is there an unguarded or unprotected place? Determine now to add whatever part is missing. No matter how antiquated or lacking in parts your armor may be, always remember that it is within your power to make the necessary adjustments to complete your armor."

May we continually prepare as Captain Moroni did, so that we may stand firm.

Resources
Elder Gary E. Stevenson : Sacred Homes, Sacred Temples
N. Eldon Tanner : Put on the Whole Armor of God
LaVell Edwards : Take Upon Yourself the Whole Armor of God
Elder Russell M. Nelson : Prepare for Blessings of the Temple

Alma 40 - 42

I recall, as a seminary student reading the old testament, coming across the following scripture:

But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul. (Proverbs 6:32)

consequently, it makes sense to me that Alma starts his discussion his son Corianton by first speaking about Corianton's moral sins and the consequent "spiritual death".   Elder Russell M. Nelson taught: 

But there is another type of separation known in scripture as spiritual death. (See 2 Ne. 9:12; Alma 12:16;Alma 42:9; Hel. 14:16, 18.) It “is defined as a state of spiritual alienation from God.” (Joseph Fielding Smith,Doctrines of Salvation, comp. Bruce R. McConkie, 3 vols., Salt Lake City: Bookcraft, 1954–56, 2:217.) Thus, one can be very much alive physically but dead spiritually.

Spiritual death is more likely when goals are unbalanced toward things physical. Paul explained this concept to the Romans: “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Rom. 8:13.)

If physical death should strike before moral wrongs have been made right, opportunity for repentance will have been forfeited. Thus, “the [real] sting of death is sin.” (1 Cor. 15:56.)

Continuing, Alma redirects Corianton to the Lord, saying "... turn to the Lord with all your mind, might, and strength". In much the same vein, Elder Nelson continues:

Even the Savior cannot save us in our sins. He will redeem us from our sins, but only upon condition of our repentance. We are responsible for our own spiritual survival or death. (See Rom. 8:13–14; Hel. 14:18; D&C 29:41–45.)

Alma then continues to expound on the matter of physical death, resurrection and the state of the spirit after death and prior to resurrection in chapters 41-42. Commenting on the significance of death, Elder Nelson stated:

Scriptures teach that death is essential to happiness: “Now behold, it was not expedient that man should be reclaimed from this temporal death, for that would destroy the great plan of happiness.” (Alma 42:8; italics added; see also 2 Ne. 9:6.)

Our limited perspective would be enlarged if we could witness the reunion on the other side of the veil, when doors of death open to those returning home. Such was the vision of the psalmist who wrote, “Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his saints.” (Ps. 116:15.)

President Gordon B Hinckley penned this reflective poem:

What is this thing that men call deathThis quiet passing in the night?’Tis not the end but genesisOf better worlds and greater light.

O God, touch Thou my aching heartAnd calm my troubled, haunting fears.Let hope and faith, transcendent, pure,Give strength and peace beyond my tears.

There is no death, but only change,With recompense for vict’ry won.The gift of Him who loved all men,The Son of God, the Holy One.

Speaking of an incident where he faced death, Elder Nelson concluded (watch video here):

Throughout that ordeal, though I “knew” death was coming, my paramount feeling was that I was not afraid to die.

As we complete our mortal probation, and attend to the welfare of our eternal souls, may we remember Elder Nelson's counsel:

We need not look upon death as an enemy. With full understanding and preparation, faith supplants fear. Hope displaces despair. The Lord said, “Fear not even unto death; for in this world your joy is not full, but in me your joy is full.” (D&C 101:36.) He bestowed this gift: “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27.)

... With that assurance, brothers and sisters, love life! Cherish each moment as a blessing from God. (See Mosiah 2:21.) Live it well—even to your loftiest potential. Then the anticipation of death shall not hold you hostage. With the help of the Lord, your deeds and desires will qualify you to receive everlasting joy, glory, immortality, and eternal lives.

Ponder and journal:  What are my reflections on this lesson and theme?  What are some of my concerns about death?  What would I not wish to leave unresolved at the end of my mortal probation?

Resources
Russell M Nelson : Doors of Death

Gordon B Hinckley : What Is This Thing Man Calls Death?

Gordon B Hinckley : What Is This Thing Man Calls Death? (Music/Tab Choir Video)
Rex E Lee : Where Much is Given : Some Thoughts on Appreciation
A Don Sorenson : Some Observations on the Law of the Harvest
Sterling W. Sill : Your Four Great Days
BYU Speeches : Death