ON HIGHER GROUND

 

This is my favourite lesson from the war chapters of the Book of Mormon.

When Captain Moroni defeated Amalickiah, who sought to be king, he fled the land of Zarahemla with some followers, and headed for the land of Nephi (Alma 47:1). His plan was  to dethrone the king of the Lamanites (Alma 47:4).  Having convinced the king to go to battle against the Nephites, he caused a division amongst the people. Those who would not consent to fight the Nephites fled to a place called Onidah with a leader called Lehonti, gathering themselves upon the top of the mountain Antipas. Here comes into play one of the most interesting stories of drama, evil and intrigue in the Book of Mormon.

Amalickiah, being a 'subtle man to do evil' (Alma 47:4) devised a plan most clever to obtain the kingdom through Lehonti, who originally opposed him in every way. Causing his army to pitch their tents in the valley near the mount Antipas, Amalickiah proceeded to coax Lehonti to come down the mountain to speak with him. The record states that Lehonti at first would not dare to do so but Amalickiah was patient and persistent. After sending the third message to Lehonti, Amalickiah decided to get closer and ascended half way up the mountain enticing Lehonti to come to down to him with his guards to speak with him.

On the fourth message, Lehonti relented and came half way down the mountain. There Amalickiah lay open his plan before him as to how he could assist Lehonti in obtaining command of the whole army if he would place him, Amalickiah, as second in charge. Lehonti could not resist this temptation of power and came all the way down the mountain, took possession of the whole army through Amalickiah's assistance and became the leader he desired to be. There was only one problem. He had a dangerous man as his 'second in charge' who according to the Lamanite custom stood to become chief leader if the chief was killed (Alma 47:17).

The plan worked beautifully for Amalickiah instructed one of his servants to administer poison 'by degrees' to Lehonti and Lehonti died (Alma 47:18) leaving Amalickiah in charge of the entire army of the Lamanites. With such power under his belt, the whole kingdom fell into his hands as he proceeded with his evil plan and caused the death of the king by the hands of his servants. Thus, by secret works, manipulating others to do his dirty work, did Amalickiah obtain the whole kingdom of the Lamanites.

The story of Lehonti, who took his army to the top of the mountain for physical safety has many parallels with us today. As the covenant people of God, we have been invited to preserve our spiritual safety on top of another mountain, the mountain of the Lord's house, the temple (2 Nephi 12:2). Today, LDS temples are always built on the highest vantage point in the designated community, suggesting that once we have entered into sacred covenants with God, we stand on higher ground. Those who adhere to their temple covenants and make their abode with God within its sacred walls, receive spiritual protection and power against the enemy of all righteousness. This, however, does not mean that this enemy sleeps or has no interest in those who have made temple covenants and enjoy the safety of such. On the contrary, the adversary takes no sabbaticals and has more interest in those who are endowed with temple covenants than those who are not and he will use all his skills to bring them down the mountain.

Viewing Amalickiah as a prototype of the adversary we can learn that our enemy is three things - he is subtle, he is persistent and he is cunning. He watches patiently and plots with dedication to bring about our demise. He knows which buttons to push and he will do so repeatedly until cracks in our resolve begin to appear. Using subtle means he will make his enticements appear appealing and even of good value. Like Amalickiah, he will meet us half way up the mountain and make his propositions difficult to resist appealing to our egos and "what's in it for me" attitude. Once we succumb, he will 'poison' us 'by degrees' until he succeeds in bringing about our spiritual death. Compromising ourselves in such a way where our obedience to the commandments suffers can only lead us down the slippery slope to the valley of shadow and death where we are eventually cut off from the presence of the Lord (Alma 50:20). This is what our enemy hopes for, works for and lives for.

Like Nephites of old, we are at war. The battle is raging and many are falling by the way. When Amalickiah left the Nephites, he fled before the armies of Captain Moroni. Is it any wonder considering Moroni’s valour, determination and fearlessness???

Moroni’s counterpart in most of his battles was a man called Lehi, who was a man like Moroni, a man of faith in Christ (Alma 48:13; 53:2). Together they fought valiantly and had many victories. And here is the most interesting thing, the Lamanites ‘feared Lehi exceedingly’ (Alma 49:17). Be a Moroni and be a Lehi, make the devil fear you exceedingly and make him flee. Stand firm. Don't come down the mountain.

- CATHRYNE ALLEN 

(Artist Unknown)

THE INEXHAUSTIBLE BOOK OF MORMON

Some years ago when my daughter returned home from her mission, she gave a copy of the Book of Mormon to a co-worker and told him to read the last 20 chapters of the book of Alma. When I she told me this, I said: “Oh no, not the war chapters!!! How dry and boring!!!”  My reasoning was that the war chapters were lacking doctrine. A few days later, my daughter’s co-worker got back to her with: “Oh I loved the war chapters!!!” Hmmmm

A short time after that experience I started to study the war chapters more intently and I discovered a treasure trove. Now I read these chapters with bated breath wondering what they will teach me next. I am constantly amazed by the inexhaustible lessons I learn from the Book of Mormon.

Of course, when I study the war chapters, Captain Moroni leaves me breathless, every time. I can't say enough good things about him. A motivator, a source of inspiration, a believer in the cause of truth (Alma 43:48,49) Moroni took command of the entire Nephite army at the tender age of 25 (Alma 43:16-17).  His warfare acumen and military strategies are astounding. His achievements as protector of his people and defender of liberty, legendary. His devotion to God and the covenants he had made to keep the commandments of God, more than admirable. Equal to all these qualities, was his passionate nature which was the genesis of the success he achieved. Who can forget the title of liberty which he raised to defend the liberty of his people as the insurrection fuelled by the rise of the king-men sought to overthrow the government of the judges (Alma 46:4-6,12)?

This is what I admire about Moroni the most, he was a man of God. Besides being the brightest miliary mind of his day, Moroni was a man of humility who sought the prophet’s counsel for his actions (Alma 43:23,24); he was well versed in scripture and a fervent upholder of covenants (Alma 60:34,36); and a man who feared only God (Alma 60:28). It is Moroni’s spiritual strength that gave him enormous advantage over his enemies.

Hugh Nibley described the onset of the war chapters introducing Moroni thus: “The Lamanite campaign was directed by Amalekite and Zoramite officers, whose knowledge [being Nephite dissenters] of Nephite military secrets and methods would have given them an enormous advantage over any commander but Moroni.” (Hugh Nibley, Since Cumorah, 2^nd ed. [1988], 296). As I read chapter 43 I understood that statement. The greatest sign of Moroni’s genius would have to be the armour he prepared his people with to fight the scantily clad Lamanites (v 18-22). This resulted in absolute slaughter of the Lamanites (v 37,38). What spiritual lesson can we take away from this military strategy of Captain Moroni?

When writing to the Ephesians, Paul admonished them to put on the whole armour of God accentuating gospel principles which offer spiritual protection. He took this concept to a new level when he admonished the Romans to put on ‘the armour of light’ meaning ‘the Lord Jesus Christ’ (Romans 13:14). The armour of God truly does protect us from spiritual darkness because each section of the armour deals with a gospel principle that counteracts sin. This is the greatest protection we can have. The ‘armour of light’, however, suggests something more. It means bringing the light of Christ to the world to counteract the darkness.

Now more than ever, we, the disciples of Christ and bearers of truth, need to wear the ‘armour of light’ and bring it to the world.  The more righteous we are, the more light we are endowed with until we come to that day when we become as glorious as the one who is the source of all light. Nephi saw the power of God in our day descending on the saints of the Church of the Lamb who were few and scattered upon the face of the earth, but 'armed with righteousness and with the power of God in great glory' (1 Nephi 14:14). Why were we given this power? Because ‘gathered together were multitudes upon the face of all the earth, among all the nations of the Gentiles, to fight against the Lamb of God….and his covenant people’ (v 13, 14).

We are at war too but in the words of Terri Savelle Foy: Satan has no power on his best day to take you out on your worst day……

- CATHRYNE ALLEN

(Art: Captain Moroni - Come Forth by Walter Rane)