Alma 59

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 green 6/21 8/22 Brown 10/23)

CHAPTER 59

Moroni asks Pahoran to strengthen the forces of Helaman—The Lamanites take the city of Nephihah—Moroni is angry with the government. About 62 B.C.

  1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, after Moroni had received and had read Helaman’s ^aepistle, he was exceedingly rejoiced because of the welfare, yea, the exceeding success which Helaman had had, in obtaining ^bthose lands which were lost.
  2 Yea, and he did make it known unto all his people, in all the land round about in that part where he was, that they might rejoice also.
  3 And it came to pass that he immediately sent ^aan epistle to ^bPahoran, desiring that he should cause men to be gathered together to strengthen Helaman, or the armies of Helaman, insomuch that he might with ease maintain that part of the land which he had been so miraculously prospered in regaining. Moroni was a man of action. He was decisive and quick to think and act. 
  4 And it came to pass when Moroni had sent this epistle to the land of Zarahemla, he began again to lay a plan that he might obtain the remainder of those possessions and cities which the Lamanites had taken from them.
  5 And it came to pass that while Moroni was thus making preparations to go against the Lamanites to battle, behold, the people of ^aNephihah, who were gathered together from the city of Moroni and the city of Lehi and the city of Morianton, were attacked by the Lamanites.
  6 Yea, even those who had been ^acompelled to flee from the land of Manti, and from the land round about, had come over and joined the Lamanites in this part of the land.
  7 And thus being exceedingly numerous, yea, and receiving strength from day to day, by the command of Ammoron they came forth against the people of Nephihah, and they did begin to slay them with an exceedingly great slaughter. Why no protection now? 
  8 And their armies were so numerous that the remainder of the people of ^aNephihah were ^bobliged to flee before them; and they came even and joined the army of Moroni.
  9 And now as Moroni had supposed that there ^ashould be men sent to the city of Nephihah, to the assistance of the people to maintain that city, There must have been time for Pahoran to get Moroni's letter and for Pahoran to get men to Nephihah and knowing that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them, he supposed that they would easily maintain that city. Easier to keep people from apostacy than to reclaim them once lost.
 10 Therefore he retained all his force to maintain those places which he had recovered. Moroni was "certain" that Pahoran would do as he had requested.
 11 And now, when Moroni saw that the city of Nephihah was ^alost he was exceedingly sorrowful, and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the people, whether they should not fall into the hands of their brethren. This is now Moroni's story: It must be the wickedness of the people, or God would have been able to help them see they should have sent men; or they couldn't send men because they had fallen into wickedness; or the people in Nephihah somehow didn't merit God's protection because of their wickedness...
 12 Now this was the case with all his chief captains. They doubted and marveled also because of the wickedness of the people, and this because of the success of the Lamanites over them. They had just experienced such miraculous guidance and protection, that the only reason that would not continue, in their eyes, was the wickedness of the people. What were they guilty of? 
 13 And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government, because of their ^aindifference concerning the freedom of their country.  Oh man...this is how I feel right now. What is with all the "indifference" concerning our freedom by my fellow Americans, my neighbors, ward members, Ward and Stake leaders, Area Authorities and even the prophet and apostles? We are under a major attack through the "stratagem" of evil and conspiring men. Can't people see it? Are we all in a deep sleep? When will we "awake to our awful situation"? Will it take death and destruction? I fear that it will... Look what Isaiah prophesied...

“Procrastinate, and become bewildered; preoccupy yourselves, until you cry for help. Be drunk, but not with wine; stagger, but not from strong drink. Jehovah has poured out on you a spirit of deep sleep: he has shut your eyes, the prophets; he has covered your heads, the seers.” (Isaiah 29:9–10)

“Jehovah will cut off from Israel head and tail, palm top and reed, in a single day; the elders or notables are the head, the prophets who teach falsehoods, the tail. The leaders of these people have misled them, and those who are led are confused.” (Isaiah 9:14–16)

“All you wild beasts, you animals of the forest, come and devour! Their watchmen are altogether blind and unaware; all of them are but dumb watchdogs unable to bark, lolling seers fond of slumber. Gluttonous dogs, and insatiable, such indeed are insensible shepherds.” (Isaiah 56:9–11).

To be fair, I admit I do not know what the prophets/leaders/other know or don't know. I just don't know why they are not vocal about it. According to Isaiah, it is because He has poured a spirit of deep sleep upon us. Maybe it is because of our collective sins that God does not allow them to share what they know. Like Moroni, our response to their silence should be, "where are we sinning" and "repent now".