Alma 43-44

THE WAR CHAPTERS

Alma 43 marks the beginning of what is known as the “War Chapters” of the Book of Mormon. Through the rest of Alma we will read about a long and destructive war between the Nephites and the Lamanites. 

These chapters tell history more than they teach doctrine, and sometimes people have a hard time seeing their spiritual value. However, I think every chapter contains symbolic lessons we can apply toward our personal “wars” in life. As the New Testament says, “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) 

So for the war chapters, I will summarize the events in the chapter, and then will highlight some of the spiritual applications that I can see.

Ok, here goes!

Alma 43

Summary of Events:

The Lamanites launch an attack on the Nephites! Led by a man named Zarahemnah, their motive is hatred toward the Nephites and a desire for power. The Nephite armies, on the other hand, are led by one of the greatest heroes in the Book of Mormon—Captain Moroni. He is only 25 years old, but he is a big guy, a smart guy, and a good guy. So good, actually, that in Alma 48 it says, “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.”

The Lamanite army outnumbers the Nephite army by more than 2 to 1, but Moroni has prepared his men with armor, whereas the Lamanites are basically in leather loin clothes. Strengthened by their armor, their God, and their righteous desires for liberty, the Nephites are able to surround and overwhelm the Lamanites, and Moroni orders his men to hold their fighting… (the suspense! Keep reading chapter 44...)

Spiritual Insights:

• The first place the Lamanites attacked was “upon the weaker part of the people (v 24).” But Moroni had sent messengers to the prophet asking for tips, so he was warned ahead of time and was prepared with his armies when the Lamanites came. Satan works in the same way—he will strike our weaknesses first. If we can be aware of our weaknesses—and especially turn to the prophets, scriptures, and people we trust for advice and warning—we can be prepared against spiritual attacks and temptations when they come.
• Protect yourself with spiritual armor! You may be outnumbered by bad influences, but if you have on the armor of God, you can handle it.

Ephesians 6: 11-17

11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 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. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day... 14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:

Alma 44

Summary of Events:

The Nephites have surrounded the Lamanites, and Moroni tells Zarahemnah they will let the Lamanites leave in peace if they will give up their weapons and covenant to never attack the Nephites again. Zarahemnah willingly gives up his sword but refuses to make a promise he knows he won’t keep. Moroni is angry and returns Zarahemnah’s sword saying, “We will end the conflict (vs 10).” 

Zarahemnah is ticked, and rushes forward with his sword to try to kill Moroni, which is pretty stupid
if you ask me because Moroni is surrounded by his men, all of whom are decked-out in armor. One of Moroni’s soldiers strikes Zarahemnah’s sword to the ground and swipes off the top of his scalp. Eeweew! Zarahemnah retreats back to his army, and the soldier lifts up the scalp piece on top of his sword and displays it for the Lamanite army, threatening they will all fall to the ground like the piece of scalp unless they surrender and covenant never to attack again. 

Many of the Lamanites come forward to surrender and covenant, and they are allowed to leave in peace, but many Lamanites remain stubbornly with Zarahemnah. And so the battle resumes, and the Nephites dominate as predicted. Eventually Zarahemnah and the rest of the men surrender and make the promise to leave the Nephites alone. So everyone goes home…. For now.

Spiritual Insights:

• Always give credit to God for your victories, like Moroni did. God will always be on your side as long as you are on His.
• But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us; and ye behold that he has delivered you into our hands. And now I would that ye should understand that this is done unto us because of our religion and our faith in Christ. And now ye see that ye cannot destroy this our faith. 4 Now ye see that this is the true faith of God; yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith.(vs. 3-4)

• Even though Zarahemnah is greedy, stubborn, and hateful, the man at least has honor. I’m impressed that he refused to make a promise he knew he wouldn’t keep, even though it would have saved his life. Ok, so he gives in when it gets really bad later on, but still I think there is a lesson of honor and integrity here.
• Never attack a really good guy who has God on his side, plus a whole lot of armored soldiers.

Alma 42

Alma 42

Have you ever wondered how God can extend mercy and demand justice at the same time? Often those two qualities can seem contradictory. Alma explains this complicated but beautiful principle to his son, Corianton.

13… Now the work of justice could not be destroyed; if so, God would cease to be God.

15 And now, the plan of mercy could not be brought about except an atonement should be made; therefore [Christ] atoneth for the sins of the world, to bring about the plan of mercy, to appease the demands of justice, that God might be a perfect, just God, and a merciful God also.

The answer is a mediator between us and God—His Son Jesus Christ—who would pay our debts for us if we agree to accept Him as our new “creditor” and follow His terms. The primary term the Savior requires is repentance.

 13 Therefore, according to justice, the plan of redemption could not be brought about, only on conditions of repentance of men in this probationary state, yea, this preparatory state; for except it were for these conditions, mercy could not take effect except it should destroy the work of justice.

Those who will accept Jesus Christ as their Savior and repent of their sins allow God to be both merciful and just at the same time. God extends mercy and forgiveness because Jesus Christ has paid for their sins and pleads on their behalf. Justice is still served because someone—Jesus Christ—paid the price for the sins of those who meet his terms of repentance and faithfulness. What a beautiful, brilliant, and hopeful plan!

Corianton is bothered by the idea of justice. Why does anyone have to receive punishment for their sins, anyway? How could a loving God do that? Well, Alma explains this concept, too. God gave us laws—we all understand the value and purpose of laws. And what good is a law that isn't enforced?

 17 …How could there be a law save there was a punishment?

 20 And also, if there was no law given against sin men would not be afraid to sin.

22 But there is a law given, and a punishment affixed, and a repentance granted; which repentance, mercy claimeth; otherwise, justice claimeth the creature and executeth the law, and the law inflicteth the punishment; if not so, the works of justice would be destroyed, and God would cease to be God.

 23 But God ceaseth not to be God, and mercy claimeth the penitent, and mercy cometh because of the atonement…

 24 For behold, justice exerciseth all his demands, and also mercy claimeth all which is her own; and thus, none but the truly penitent are saved.

 25 What, do ye suppose that mercy can rob justice? I say unto you, Nay; not one whit. If so, God would cease to be God.

Jesus Christ has already paid the price. He stands waiting and wanting to help me receive mercy from God. It is my choice whether I will follow Him and repent of my sins in order to qualify for this mercy that is so generously extended toward me. It’s my choice.

27 Therefore, O my son, whosoever will come may come and partake of the waters of life freely; and whosoever will not come the same is not compelled to come; but in the last day it shall be restored unto him according to his deeds.

Alma 40-41

Alma 40

Alma teaches Corianton about what happens to our souls after death. He summarizes everything in these verses:

21…there is a space between death and the resurrection of the body, and a state of the soul in happiness or in misery until the time which is appointed of God that the dead shall come forth, and be reunited, both soul and body, and be brought to stand before God, and be judged according to their works.

 23 The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame.

All mankind will be resurrected—meaning the spirit/soul is restored to the body, but this time the body is perfect, complete, and immortal. That is a free gift from Jesus Christ as a result of his atonement and resurrection. And after each person is resurrected, she/he will stand before God to be judged to determine where they will go through eternity, based on how they lived their lives and the person they have become. But in between the time of death and resurrection, there is a waiting period for every soul. Alma describes this waiting period:

 11 Now, concerning the state of the soul between death and the resurrection—Behold, it has been made known unto me by an angel, that the spirits of all men, as soon as they are departed from this mortal body, yea, the spirits of all men, whether they be good or evil, are taken home to that God who gave them life.

 12 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of those who are righteous are received into a state of happiness, which is called paradise, a state of rest, a state of peace, where they shall rest from all their troubles and from all care, and sorrow.

 13 And then shall it come to pass, that the spirits of the wicked, yea, who are evil—for behold, they chose evil works rather than good; therefore the spirit of the devil did enter into them, and take possession of their house—and these shall be cast out into outer darkness...and this because of their own iniquity, being led captive by the will of the devil.

 14 Now this is the state of the souls of the wicked, yea, in darkness, and a state of awful, fearful looking for the fiery indignation of the wrath of God upon them; thus they remain in this state, as well as the righteous in paradise, until the time of their resurrection.

There is a lot we don’t know about life after death, but I am grateful to know we all will live again after we die. Losing loved ones is the most painful experience in life because we miss them and love them, but I believe with all my heart that we will see them again. I don’t have any doubt that there is life after death, and that helps to take away my fear of death. This life is just one important step in our journey to become more like God, and I think the next step after this life will be beautiful and exciting for those who live well in this life.

Alma 41

Alma teaches Corianton about the Restoration in this chapter —meaning, the resurrection (when every spirit is re-joined with its immortalized body after death), and what happens to souls after they are resurrected.

Alma says that people who desired good and did good in life are restored to good, and people who desired evil and did evil are restored to evil. Makes sense, right? And it’s comforting to know that God doesn’t just judge us by our actions, but also by the desires of our hearts.

 3 And it is requisite with the justice of God that men should be judged according to their works; and if their works were good in this life, and the desires of their hearts were good, that they should also, at the last day, be restored unto that which is good.

 4 And if their works are evil they shall be restored unto them for evil. Therefore, all things shall be restored to their proper order, every thing to its natural frame…

 5 The one raised to happiness according to his desires of happiness, or good according to his desires of good; and the other to evil according to his desires of evil; for as he has desired to do evil all the day long even so shall he have his reward of evil when the night cometh.

 7 … they are their own judges, whether to do good or do evil.

This last verse is important to me, because ultimately we will be our own judges. No one will think they are dealt an unfair verdict in the end. We will be restored to the state where we feel most comfortable.

Alma also says we can never find happiness by living wickedly, or doing things that are wrong or contrary to God’s commandments. Period. While worldly thrills and pleasures may bring instant or temporary satisfaction, it never lasts, and it never develops into true happiness.

10 Do not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness. Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness.

11 And now, my son, all men that are in a state of nature, or I would say, in a carnal state, are in the gall of bitterness and in the bonds of iniquity; they are without God in the world, and they have gone contrary to the nature of God; therefore, they are in a state contrary to the nature of happiness.

So if you want to be happy, then basically you should live the golden rule, because the good you send out into the world will return to you. I believe this applies after this life, and DURING this life, too.

 13 O, my son…the meaning of the word restoration is to bring back again evil for evil, or carnal for carnal, or devilish for devilish—good for that which is good; righteous for that which is righteous; just for that which is just; merciful for that which is merciful.

 14 Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgment restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again.

Alma 38-39

Alma 38

“…There is no other way or means whereby man can be saved, only in and through Christ. Behold, he is the life and the light of the world. Behold, he is the word of truth and righteousness.” (vs. 9)

Alma continues his fatherly counsel, but this time to his son Shiblon, who is also faithful like Helaman. Shiblon went with his dad to preach to the Zoramites, and was imprisoned and even stoned in his efforts, so we know he is invested! Alma says, “…my son, I trust that I shall have great joy in you, because of your steadiness and your faithfulness unto God; for as you have commenced in your youth to look to the Lord your God, even so I hope that you will continue in keeping his commandments; for blessed is he that endureth to the end (vs. 2).”

Even good boys need counsel and warning from their fathers. The first point Alma drives home is that Christ is the only way we can be saved (see vs. 9 above). This is the most important thing he could understand. Then Alma has 3 other points to share with Shiblon:

(1) And now my son, Shiblon, I would that ye should remember, that as much as ye shall put your trust in God even so much ye shall be delivered out of your trials, and your troubles, and your afflictions, and ye shall be lifted up at the last day. (vs 5)

I believe this—it is my source of peace and motivation when I’m going through difficult times. Keep in mind that Alma is saying this to someone who has been imprisoned and stoned! I believe the Lord will always help us through our trials, and we will even be better off because of them, if we put our trust in Him. The only thing that isn’t promised is the timing… usually our patience is tested in the process!

(2) See that ye are not lifted up unto pride; yea, see that ye do not boast in your own wisdom, nor of your much strength. (vs 11)

I see pride lead to downfall for so many individuals and families. People start to make dumb decisions that lead to even dumber decisions when they think they know better than God.

(3) …also see that ye bridle all your passions, that ye may be filled with love.

This third point reminded me of a lesson I heard as a teenager at church about Love vs. Lust. It opened my eyes and helped me to understand what love really looks like, and how lust masquerades as love but will actually extinguish true love. It is important to be able to identify the difference between the two.

LOVE	LUST
Puts the other person’s needs first	Is driven by personal desires
Enduring, eternal	Fleeting, temporary
Nurtures friendship and respect	Just wants physical fulfillment
Causes you to be your best and feel your best	Makes you feel anxious and easily upset
Wants to work through problems	Resents effort and personal discomfort
Invites the Spirit of God	Drives away the Spirit of God
Protects	Manipulates
Forgives	Blames
Sacrifices	Takes
Is Confident	Is Jealous
Shows respect through appropriate restraint	Driven by passion
Grows with time and nurturing	Requires increasing excitement to not get bored
Survives sickness, sorrow, poverty, disappointment	Leaves when the going gets tough

Alma 39

Alma now speaks to his third son, Corianton.  The previous two talks were happy and uplifting because the sons were good boys committed to the gospel. Corianton isn’t a “bad boy”—after all, he went to preach the gospel to the Zoramites along with the rest of his brothers—but he made some big mistakes.

The first of Corianton’s sins was pride: “thou didst go on unto boasting in thy strength and thy wisdom.” (vs. 2) But this isn’t the worst of it—his greater sin was sleeping with a prostitute in the land of the Zoramites, which is ungodly at any time, but especially shocking as a missionary. Alma speaks to him about the severity of his actions:

5 Know ye not, my son, that these things are an abomination in the sight of the Lord; yea, most abominable above all sins save it be the shedding of innocent blood or denying the Holy Ghost?

7 And now, my son, I would to God that ye had not been guilty of so great a crime. I would not dwell upon your crimes, to harrow up your soul, if it were not for your good.

8 But behold, ye cannot hide your crimes from God; and except ye repent they will stand as a testimony against you at the last day.

9 Now my son, I would that ye should repent and forsake your sins, and go no more after the lusts of your eyes, but cross yourself in all these things; for except ye do this ye can in nowise inherit the kingdom of God.

The happy news is that people who make mistakes of any kind—including sexual sins—can repent. The Lord loves to forgive when we are sincere!

I’d never realized this before, but the topics of pride and lust/love are what Alma spoke to Shiblon about in the previous chapter. These topics were clearly on Alma’s mind because of Corianton’s recent transgressions and he wanted to warn his other son to avoid these pitfalls.

Corianton was able to repent because of Jesus Christ. You may have noticed that the Book of Mormon prophesies frequently and gives specific details about the coming of Jesus Christ, even mentioning him by name. The time period is about 74 B.C. How could they know this stuff?? Alma will explain, because Corianton was skeptical on the topic:

15 And now, my son, I would say somewhat unto you concerning the coming of Christ. Behold, I say unto you, that it is he that surely shall come to take away the sins of the world; yea, he cometh to declare glad tidings of salvation unto his people.

17 … Behold, you marvel why these things should be known so long beforehand. Behold, I say unto you, is not a soul at this time as precious unto God as a soul will be at the time of his coming?

18 Is it not as necessary that the plan of redemption should be made known unto this people as well as unto their children?

19 Is it not as easy at this time for the Lord to send his angel to declare these glad tidings unto us as unto our children, or as after the time of his coming?

Alma 37

Alma 37

This chapter contains more words of wisdom from Alma to his son Helaman. It is full of precious gems that we can apply to our lives, and I especially appreciate this parental counseling because I just became a parent for the first time last week! My most important job as a mom will be to teach my little girl who she is, who God is, and what He expects of her and promises to her in return. From this chapter I want to make sure she understands the following:

6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

This scripture gives me hope, because most of the time I am not capable of doing big things, but there are many small things I can do to make a difference. I think this also means that the Lord doesn’t always have to work big miracles to answer your prayers, but He can answer them through small means that work just as effectively.

16… for God is powerful to the fulfilling of all his words.

17 For he will fulfil all his promises which he shall make unto you, for he has fulfilled his promises which he has made unto our fathers.

God is a God of promises. He extends many invitations to us to make promises with Him, and he promises many blessings to us in return for making and keeping these sacred promises (the scriptures are FULL of these promises). He ALWAYS upholds his part of the bargain when we keep ours. God cannot default from His promises when we are faithful on our part. Sometimes we don’t see His hand immediately, but in time He will always pull through.

 36 Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever.

 37 Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be lifted up at the last day.

This scripture always serves the purpose of reminding me to make God more central in my life. It causes me to ask myself, “how many times today did I think of God? How many times did I ask God for help? How many times did I thank God for the good in today? Did I care/think more about God today than other distractions in my life?”

I also find these verses particularly relevant right now as a new mom, because now more than I ever I want to be “counsdling with the Lord in all my doings that he may direct me for good” because the job I have in physically and spiritually caring for this tiny soul is well beyond my own expertise and ability. But God is an expert at this stuff, and I know he will direct me for good as I seek His help.

The last part pulls a great lesson from an experience we read in 1 Nephi in the Book of Mormon. Lehi and his family were traveling through the wilderness and God sent them a golden compass called the Liahona to direct them. When they were faithful and good, the compass worked. When they ignored it or had sour attitudes, the compass didn’t work. The word of God works exactly the same in our lives! Don’t waste the Liahona you have been given and wander aimlessly in the wilderness!

 38 And now, my son, I have somewhat to say concerning the thing which our fathers call a ball, or director—or our fathers called it Liahona, which is, being interpreted, a compass; and the Lord prepared it.

 40 And it did work for them according to their faith in God; therefore, if they had faith to believe that God could cause that those spindles should point the way they should go, behold, it was done; therefore they had this miracle, and also many other miracles wrought by the power of God, day by day.

 41 Nevertheless, because those miracles were worked by small means…They were slothful, and forgot to exercise their faith and diligence and then those marvelous works ceased, and they did not progress in their journey;

 42 Therefore, they tarried in the wilderness, or did not travel a direct course, and were afflicted with hunger and thirst, because of their transgressions.

 43 And now, my son, I would that ye should understand that these things are not without a shadow; for as our fathers were slothful to give heed to this compass (now these things were temporal) they did not prosper; even so it is with things which are spiritual.

 44 For behold, it is as easy to give heed to the word of Christ, which will point to you a straight course to eternal bliss, as it was for our fathers to give heed to this compass, which would point unto them a straight course to the promised land.

Alma 35-36

Alma 35

The preaching of the Word of God causes quite the stir in Zarahemla because it did “destroy the craft” of many of the rulers, priests, and teachers in the land. They gang up on the believers and kick them out of the city, but the believers find a new home with the people of Alma in Jershon. This makes the rulers of Zarahemla mad, and they join up with the Lamanites to start making preparations for war against the believers.

In the meantime, Alma is depressed and disturbed “that the hearts of the people began to wax hard, and that they began to be offended because of the strictness of the word (vs. 15)” so he gathers his own sons together to have a father/son heart-to-heart. The chapters to come are full of rich doctrines of the gospel which he shares with them in his fatherly counsel.

Alma 36

Alma has a heart-to-heart with his oldest son, Helaman. We get to read a beautiful re-telling of Alma’s miraculous conversion story. If you recall, when Alma was younger (actually we refer to him as “Alma the Younger”), he was rebellious and hateful against the church. Along with his buddies, the sons of Mosiah, he spent his time trying to pull down the church even though his own father (Alma Sr.) was the high priest of the church. But in answer to Alma Sr.’s prayers, God sent an angel to stir these boys up, and to their credit they immediately changed their ways and became powerful missionaries and forces for good.

We got to read this story in Mosiah 27, but here in Alma 36 we get to hear Alma’s side of the story, including what he went through during the 3 days he was unconscious to the outside world. 

Alma’s experience is a beautiful lesson about the power and reality of repentance through Jesus Christ. Alma had been a really bad dude… and he knew it. He explains how deeply terrified he was, because he knew how bad he had been:

14… so great had been my iniquities, that the very thought of coming into the presence of my God did rack my soul with inexpressible horror.

15 Oh, thought I, that I could be banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God, to be judged of my deeds.

But because Alma had a good dad who never gave up on him, and had always taught him where he could turn for help, he remembered Jesus Christ in this time of desperate fear:

17… I remembered also to have heard my father prophesy unto the people concerning the coming of one Jesus Christ, a Son of God, to atone for the sins of the world.

18 Now, as my mind caught hold upon this thought, I cried within my heart: O Jesus, thou Son of God, have mercy on me, who am in the gall of bitterness, and am encircled about by the everlasting chains of death.

19 And now, behold, when I thought this, I could remember my pains no more; yea, I was harrowed up by the memory of my sins no more.

20 And oh, what joy, and what marvelous light I did behold; yea, my soul was filled with joy as exceeding as was my pain!

22 Yea, methought I saw, even as our father Lehi saw, God sitting upon his throne, surrounded with numberless concourses of angels, in the attitude of singing and praising their God; yea, and my soul did long to be there.

I marvel at the contrast—at first he wishes he could be “banished and become extinct both soul and body, that I might not be brought to stand in the presence of my God,” and then as he begins to turn to Jesus Christ he does a 180 and his “soul did long to be there” with God and his angels!

What a powerful and drastic change. I know that Jesus Christ can bring about drastic change inside any of us—in whatever specific way we need to change. This story has the danger of giving the impression that Jesus Christ changes us instantly and easily (it is a very abbreviated account), and I think the majority of the time the repentance/change process is slower, more subtle, and takes a lot of work on our part, but the end result is absolutely achievable for everyone in every circumstance. That is what Jesus Christ is all about—YOU are what He is all about and He will never give up on you.

3 … I do know that whosoever shall put their trust in God shall be supported in their trials, and their troubles, and their afflictions, and shall be lifted up at the last day.