Alma 51-52

Alma 51

Summary of Events:

The Nephites experience an internal fall-out as a portion of the people want the law to be changed to incorporate a king. These “kingmen,” however, are outnumbered by the majority of the people, who classify themselves as “freemen,” and vote to keep the judges system as it is. Even though freedom in the law prevails, this is a bad time for an internal conflict, because Amalekiah and the Lamanites wage war again. The kingmen see this as an opportunity to boycott in revenge, and they refuse to fight. Moroni’s armies are weakened enough that the Lamanites take over at least 7 cities, “all of which were strongly fortified after the manner of the fortifications of Moroni; all of which afforded strongholds for the Lamanites (v. 27).” Bad news—very bad news. Amalekiah would have succeeded in taking over even more cities, except he is stopped by Teancum and his army, who are basically super warriors, and they stop Amalekiah’s army in their tracks. In the middle of the night, when both armies are camped after an intense day of battle, Teancum covertly sneaks into the Lamanite’s camp and puts a javelin to the heart of Amalekiah, killing him on the spot. Teancum successfully sneaks back to his camp and wakes up his army so they will be ready in the morning when the Lamanites wake up and discover their king is dead. 

Spiritual Insights:

I think the story of the kingmen is a powerful illustration of the destructive consequences that can come from a lack of unity. Our modern society really values individualism and personal rights and the freedom to rebel against the majority, and in many cases that is a good thing, but it can also go too far and be damaging to everyone. I believe there is a line at which personal freedom should not trump the freedom of the whole.

Alma 52

Summary of Events:

Moroni creates a clever strategy to reclaim one of the cities taken by the Lamanites—Mulek. The city’s fortifications are too strong for the Nephites to attack it directly, so they need to somehow coax the Lamanites out onto the open plains to fight. 

There are 3 different players on the Nephite team: (1) Teancum’s army, which is stationed in the part of the land where Mulek is, (2) Moroni’s army, which secretly travels from a different part of the country to join Teancum, and (3) Lehi’s army, stationed in the land Bountiful. 

So the strategy plays out like this: first, Teancum’s little army marches past the land Mulek. The Lamanites just can’t resist coming out of their fortifications to squash this little army, and they start chasing Teancum’s men, who start running toward the land Bountiful. Meanwhile, once the Lamanites are out of site, Moroni and his army have been hiding in the wilderness, and they emerge and attack the few Lamanites who are left to guard the city Mulek and easily take it. Moroni leaves half his army in Mulek, and takes the other half to chase after the Lamanites who are pursuing Teancum.

Teancum’s men reach the city Bountiful, and the Lamanites realize that Lehi is there and his men are strong and fresh, whereas the Lamanites are exhausted from their chase, so the Lamanites turn on their heals and rush back toward Mulek. Lehi’s men chase them until the Lamanites collide with Moroni’s men who have been chasing from behind, and the Lamanites are surrounded on both sides by Nephites and are forced to surrender. So the Nephites reclaim their city Mulek and also take an army of Lamanite prisoners.

Spiritual Insight:

I'll admit the spiritual insight isn't as obvious to me on this one, although the episode is very clever and intriguing. I suppose there is a lesson here on the power of teamwork in the battle against evil. You could also say that it's easier to defend/maintain moral ground than it is to regain it after it has been lost... but it IS possible. Do you have any insights to add?