(All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 green6/21 yellow 8/22 Brown 10/23.)
CHAPTER 62
Moroni marches to the aid of Pahoran in the land of Gideon—The king-men who refuse to defend their country are put to death—Pahoran and Moroni retake Nephihah—Many Lamanites join the people of Ammon—Teancum slays Ammoron and is in turn slain—The Lamanites are driven from the land, and peace is established—Helaman returns to the ministry and builds up the Church. About 62–57 B.C.
1 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle his heart did take courage, and was filled with exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoran, that he was not also a atraitor to the freedom and cause of his country. Immediate forgiveness! And willingness to change his “story”. No mention of any remorse for having assumed the worse and lashed out in anger with his false story....
2 But he did also mourn exceedingly because of the iniquity of those who had driven Pahoran from the judgment-seat, yea, in fine because of those who had rebelled against their country and also their God. Notice he didn't get angry, but mourned that his brethren had rebelled against their country and God. This is how we should feel about those who are promoting socialism and the overthrow of our nation. We should mourn this and not be angry (at our core)
3 And it came to pass that Moroni took a small number of men, according to the desire of Pahoran, and gave Lehi and Teancum command over the remainder of his army, and took his march towards the land of Gideon.
4 And he did raise the astandard of bliberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon.
5 And it came to pass that thousands did aflock unto his standard, and did take up their swords in the defence of their freedom, that they might not come into bondage. In one sense, these examples from scripture might lead me to believe that we should be doing this now raising the standard of liberty (Constitution) (or at least should have done it when our rights were assaulted over COVID) but here we are a year later and sooo much further down the road of evil that one could also take the position that other end time scriptures about our day were given to us so that at some point we would know it was too late to “march” against evil, and all that is left is to flee it, sanctify ourselves and help those who will listen, prepare for Zion.
6 And thus, when Moroni had gathered together whatsoever men he could in all his march, he came to the land of Gideon; and uniting his forces with those of Pahoran they became exceedingly strong, even stronger than the men of Pachus, who was the aking of those dissenters who had driven the bfreemen out of the land of Zarahemla and had taken possession of the land.
7 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran went down with their armies into the land of Zarahemla, and went forth against the city, and did meet the men of Pachus, insomuch that they did come to battle.
8 And behold, Pachus was slain and his men were taken prisoners, and Pahoran was restored to his judgment-seat.
9 And the men of Pachus received their trial, according to the law, and also those king-men who had been taken and acast into prison; and they were bexecuted according to the law; yea, those men of Pachus and those cking-men, whosoever would not take up arms in the defence of their country, but would fight against it, were put to death. This seems harsh, but Moroni is held up as a pillar of righteousness, so maybe we aren’t to judge it incorrectly....it was their “law” after all.
10 And thus it became expedient that this law should be strictly observed for the safety of their country; yea, and whosoever was found denying their freedom was speedily aexecuted according to the law. Zero tolerance for another’s “beliefs”, perhaps because those “beliefs” caused them to seek the destruction of their lives and their freedom. Notice is was “for their safety”. This reason has been co-opted by Satan to push Communism on us. I have always maintained that standing up against masks and vaccines was really “being a good global citizen”; because in the end it was for everyone’s safety and liberty to not go along.
11 And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; Moroni and Pahoran having restored peace to the land of Zarahemla, among their own people, having ainflicted death upon all those who were not true to the cause of freedom. Definitely not our law today, so we’ll have to leave this kind of enforcement to God.
12 And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Moroni immediately caused that provisions should be sent, and also an army of six thousand men should be sent unto Helaman, to assist him in preserving that part of the land.
13 And he also caused that an army of six thousand men, with a sufficient quantity of food, should be sent to the armies of Lehi and Teancum. And it came to pass that this was done to fortify the land against the Lamanites.
14 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran, leaving a large body of men in the land of Zarahemla, took their march with a large body of men towards the land of Nephihah, being determined to aoverthrow the Lamanites in that city.
15 And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war.
16 And it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a acovenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites.
17 And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to adwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain. They could always choose to live instead of die if they would promise to stop trying to kill them...
18 And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they pursued their march towards the land of aNephihah. And it came to pass that when they had come to the city of Nephihah, they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near the city of Nephihah.
19 Now Moroni was desirous that the Lamanites should come out to battle against them, upon the plains; but the Lamanites, knowing of their exceedingly great courage, and beholding the greatness of their numbers, therefore they durst not come out against them; therefore they did not come to battle in that day.
20 And when the night came, Moroni went forth in the darkness of the night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out in what part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their army.
21 And it came to pass that they were on the east, by the entrance; and they were all asleep. Really? They kept no watch? It seems like "sleep" is a thing that God uses literally to thwart the enemy. How many times have the Lamanites been "asleep" while the Nephites have escaped? It is also a word He uses symbolically to describe His children who are unaware of the "awfulness" of their situation and who are "drunk" with the things of the world. Interesting... And now Moroni returned to his army, and caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders, to be let down from the top of the awall into the inner part of the wall.
22 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his men should march forth and come upon the top of the wall, and let athemselves down into that part of the city, yea, even on the west, where the Lamanites did not camp with their armies.
23 And it came to pass that they were all let down into the city by night, by the means of their strong cords and their ladders; thus when the morning came they were all within the walls of the city.
24 And now, when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies of Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass.
25 And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him, he did cause that his men should march forth against them, and slew many, and surrounded many others, and took them prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore.
26 Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the apossession of the city of Nephihah without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain. I am assuming the difference between those they slew and those they took captive was the person's actions. Were they surrendering or fighting?
27 Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were prisoners were desirous to ajoin the people of Ammon and become a free people.
28 And it came to pass that as many as were desirous, unto them it was granted according to their desires. They didn’t even really have to “prove” that they were being truthful. Amazing mercy and trust.
29 Therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammon, and did begin to labor exceedingly, tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain, and flocks and herds of every kind; and thus were the Nephites relieved from a great burden; yea, insomuch that they were relieved from all the prisoners of the Lamanites. I guess they had to “prove” their honesty by actually working with the Nephites. And of course they were surrounded by them so if they were lying they probably knew they would be killed or thrown back in prison.
30 Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had obtained possession of the city of Nephihah, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who had been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moroni exceedingly; therefore Moroni went forth from the land of Nephihah to the land of aLehi.
31 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Moroni was coming against them, they were again frightened and fled before the army of Moroni.
32 And it came to pass that aMoroni and his army did pursue them from city to city, until they were met by Lehi and Teancum; and the Lamanites fled from Lehi and Teancum, even down upon the borders by the seashore, until they came to the land of Moroni.
33 And the armies of the Lamanites were all gathered together, insomuch that they were all in one body in the land of Moroni. Now Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites, was also with them.
34 And it came to pass that Moroni and Lehi and Teancum did encamp with their armies round about in the borders of the land of Moroni, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about in the borders by the wilderness on the south, and in the borders by the wilderness on the east.
35 And thus they did encamp for the night. For behold, the Nephites and the Lamanites also were weary because of the greatness of the march; therefore they did not resolve upon any stratagem in the night-time, save it were Teancum; for he was exceedingly angry with Ammoron, insomuch that he considered that Ammoron, and Amalickiah his brother, had been the acause of this great and lasting war between them and the Lamanites, which had been the cause of so much war and bloodshed, yea, and so much famine.
36 And it came to pass that Teancum in his anger did go forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and did let himself down over the walls of the city. And he went forth with a cord, from place to place, insomuch that he did find the king; and he did acast a javelin at him, which did pierce him near the heart. But behold, the king did awaken his servants before he died, insomuch that they did pursue Teancum, and slew him. "He who lives by the sword shall die by the sword"...this seems to mean that if you kill in anger; are motivated by vengeance; then you will die by the sword.
37 Now it came to pass that when Lehi and Moroni knew that Teancum was dead they were exceedingly sorrowful; for behold, he had been a man who had afought valiantly for his country, yea, a true friend to liberty; and he had suffered very many exceedingly sore afflictions. yet he didn't seem to have been filled with the love of God towards all men But behold, he was dead, and had gone the way of all the earth. no judgment one way or the other recorded for Teancum’s actions. And as per any funeral, they extolled his heart and virtues and extended mercy for his sufferings.
38 Now it came to pass that Moroni marched forth on the morrow, and came upon the Lamanites, insomuch that they did slay them with a great slaughter; and they did drive them out of the land; and they did flee, even that they did not return at that time against the Nephites.
39 And thus ended the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and thus they had had wars, and bloodsheds, and famine, and affliction, for the space of many years.
40 And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the righteous' sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared. Notice that the Nephites all during these wars were not free from their own iniquity, but God still blessed them to prevail against the Lamanites “for the righteous sake” and because of the “prayers of the righteous”. This can happen again. Be among the righteous and prayer for the deliverance of your people.
41 But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their aafflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility. This is the test of affliction - softening or hardening of your heart. Humility is always the better choice.
42 And it came to pass that after Moroni had fortified those parts of the land which were most exposed to the Lamanites, until they were sufficiently strong, he returned to the city of Zarahemla; and also Helaman returned to the place of his inheritance; and there was once more peace established among the people of Nephi.
43 And Moroni yielded up the acommand of his armies into the hands of his son, whose name was bMoronihah; and he retired to his own house that he might spend the remainder of his days in peace. We forget (or don't have record) that Moroni may have sometime married and had a home and children...
44 And Pahoran did return to his judgment-seat; and Helaman did take upon him again to preach unto the people the word of God; for because of so many wars and contentions it had become expedient that a aregulation should be made again in the church. The word "regulation" seems to allude to policies/rules/correlation
45 Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth, and did declare the word of God with much power unto the aconvincing of many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins and to be baptized unto the Lord their God. Were these not already baptized Nephites?
46 And it came to pass that they did establish again the church of God, throughout all the land. What does this phrase mean? One possibility is that even though "members", we are not the "church of God" when we are wicked. Then when we repent, we are "established" again as the church of God. Or...it could mean that conversion and activity were again made the norm.
47 Yea, and regulations were made concerning the law. And their ajudges, and their chief judges were chosen.
48 And the people of Nephi began to aprosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land. And they began to grow exceedingly rich.
49 But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they aslow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him. Prosperity doesn't have to corrupt you. It is a choice...
50 Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had adelivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of bafflictions, and he had cdelivered them out of the hands of their enemies.
51 And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and aprosper in the land. Lessons:
1. No pride when God prospers you with riches and strength and prosperity
2. Be quick to remember God
3. Humble yourself “exceedingly”
4. Remember the great things the lord has done for you - delivering you from death and bondage and prison and all manner of afflictions and out of the hands of your enemies
5. Pray “continually”
52 And it came to pass that all these things were done. And aHelaman died, in the thirty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
