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".

Alma 49

(All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 green 5/21  orange 8/22 Brown 10/23)

CHAPTER 49

The invading Lamanites are unable to take the fortified cities of Ammonihah and Noah—Amalickiah curses God and swears to drink the blood of Moroni—Helaman and his brethren continue to strengthen the Church. About 72 B.C.

  1 And now it came to pass in the eleventh month of the nineteenth year, on the tenth day of the month, the armies of the Lamanites were seen approaching You can't see them coming if you aren't looking for them...towards the land of ^aAmmonihah.
  2 And behold, the city had been rebuilt, Have I "rebuilt" my home in to a sanctuary and a refuge for the coming attack?  to "rebuild" you first have to take down...what do I need to take down? Where have I been attacked by the adversary? What has he destroyed that I need to rebuild? and Moroni had stationed an army by the borders of the city, and they had ^acast up dirt round about to shield them from the arrows and the ^bstones of the Lamanites; for behold, they fought with stones and with arrows.
  3 Behold, I said that the city of ^aAmmonihah had been rebuilt. I say unto you, yea, that it was in part rebuilt; and because the Lamanites had destroyed it once because of the iniquity of the people, Notice it was destroyed not because the Lamanites were superior, but because of the iniquity of the people. We need to have faith that if we keep the commandments, that God will prosper and protect us. And also the faith that if we have sinned and then suffered the attacks of the adversary that we can repent and strengthen and fortify that part of our life from future attacks. Notice we have to focus on that former area of weakness and take actions to make it stronger...not just "repent" and leave it the same. they supposed that it would again become an easy prey for them. Once Satan has been successful in getting us to fall in a certain area, we become "easy prey" for him to do it again and we will fall unless we take actions to fortify ourselves against that temptation.
  4 But behold, how great was their disappointment; for behold, the Nephites had dug up a ^aridge of earth round about them, which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their place of ^bentrance. Make Satan come through the front door so that you can meet him with expectation and armed. Don't let him come through secret back doors where you are unprotected and unexpecting.
  5 Now at this time the chief ^acaptains of the Lamanites were astonished exceedingly, because of the wisdom of the Nephites in preparing their places of security. Another example of the wisdom being "forward thinking" Notice Satan gave them no "revelation" about the doings of the Nephites. 
  6 Now the leaders of the Lamanites had supposed, because of the greatness of their numbers, yea, they supposed that they should be privileged to come upon them as they had hitherto done; The Lamanites had no idea that it was God that allowed them to be successful against the Nephites because of the curse on the land yea, and they had also prepared themselves with shields, and with ^abreastplates; and they had also prepared themselves with garments of skins, yea, very thick garments to cover their nakedness. They learned from their last encounter with the Nephites how to be more protected. They just didn't learn that the ultimate protection was God..
  7 And being thus prepared they supposed that they should easily overpower  and ^asubject their brethren to the yoke of bondage, or slay and massacre them according to their pleasure. So sick that they had pleasure in murder!|
  8 But behold, to their uttermost astonishment, they were ^aprepared for them, in a manner which never had been known among the children of Lehi. Now they were prepared for the Lamanites, to battle after the manner of the instructions of Moroni. The Nephites "one up" the Lamanites again! Here we see Moroni had received "new revelation" for their time.
  9 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, or the Amalickiahites, were exceedingly astonished at their manner of preparation for war. The Nephite dissenters should know full well that God is the source of the Nephite's strength!
 10 Now, if king Amalickiah had come down out of the ^aland of Nephi, at the head of his army, perhaps he would have caused the Lamanites to have attacked the Nephites at the city of Ammonihah; for behold, he did care not for the blood of his people. No evil leader cares for the lives of their people. Mark it well. Those in power now don't care for the lives of the people either. Too many people don't realize they don't care about our health or safety. They are purposely dismantling our country for their own power and gain. 
 11 But behold, Amalickiah did not come down himself to battle. And behold, his chief captains durst not attack the Nephites at the city of Ammonihah, for Moroni had altered the management of affairs among the Nephites, insomuch that the Lamanites were disappointed in their places of retreat and they could not come upon them.
 12 Therefore they retreated into the wilderness, and took their camp and marched towards the land of ^aNoah, supposing that to be the next best place for them to come against the Nephites.
 13 For they knew not that Moroni had fortified, or had built ^aforts of security, for every city in all the land round about; therefore, they marched forward to the land of Noah with a firm determination; yea, their chief captains came forward and took an ^boath that they would destroy the people of that city.
 14 But behold, to their astonishment, the city of Noah, which had hitherto been a weak place, had now, by the means of Moroni, become strong, yea, even to exceed the strength of the city Ammonihah. This is a fulfillment of the scripture that God can make weak things become strong. 
 15 And now, behold, this was wisdom in Moroni; for he had supposed that they would be frightened at the city Ammonihah; and as the city of Noah had hitherto been the weakest part of the land, therefore they would march thither to battle; and thus it was according to his desires. The Lamanites were running the plays just as Moroni wanted them to. 
 16 And behold, Moroni had appointed Lehi to be chief captain over the men of that city; and it was that ^asame Lehi who fought with the Lamanites in the valley on the east of the river Sidon.
 17 And now behold it came to pass, that when the Lamanites had found that Lehi commanded the city they were again disappointed, for they feared Lehi exceedingly; nevertheless their chief captains had ^asworn with an oath to attack the city; therefore, they brought up their armies. I love integrity, but this duty to keep an oath even though it would bring death seems a great folly to me...
 18 Now behold, the Lamanites could not get into their forts of security by any other way save by the entrance, because of the highness of the bank which had been thrown up, and the depth of the ditch which had been dug round about, save it were by the entrance.
 19 And thus were the Nephites prepared to destroy all such as should attempt We should be prepared to destroy even an "attempt" to destroy us. In this, we have failed miserably this last year...to climb up to enter the fort by any other way, by casting over stones and arrows at them.
 20 Thus they were prepared, yea, a body of their strongest men, with their swords and their slings, to smite down all who should attempt to come into their place of security by the place of ^aentrance; and thus were they prepared to defend themselves against the Lamanites.
 21 And it came to pass that the captains of the Lamanites brought up their armies before the place of entrance, and began to contend with the Nephites, to get into their place of security; but behold, they were driven back from time to time, insomuch that they were slain with an immense slaughter.
 22 Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling up their ditches by pulling down the banks of earth, they were filled up in a measure with their dead and wounded bodies.
 23 Thus the Nephites had all power over their enemies; It really is possible to have "all power over our enemies" and thus the Lamanites did attempt to destroy the Nephites until their ^achief captains were all slain; yea, and more than a thousand of the Lamanites were slain; while, on the other hand, there was not a single soul of the Nephites which was slain. How can you doubt that God is with you and that the price we pay to receive that protection is worth every sacrifice! Their actions to protect themselves were rewarded with God's additional protection. Faith plus works is the magical combination!
 24 There were about fifty who were wounded, who had been exposed to the arrows of the Lamanites through the pass, but they were shielded by their ^ashields, and their breastplates, and their head-plates, insomuch that their wounds were upon their legs, many of which were very severe. Protection sometimes is only just short of death...but they were still preserved.
 25 And it came to pass, that when the Lamanites saw that their chief captains were all slain they fled into the wilderness. And it came to pass that they returned to the land of Nephi, to inform their king, Amalickiah, who was a ^aNephite by birth, concerning their great ^bloss.
 26 And it came to pass that he was exceedingly angry with his people, because he had not obtained his desire over the Nephites; he had not subjected them to the yoke of bondage.
 27 Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did ^acurse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an ^boath that he would drink his blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people. Oh how we need a Moroni! We so need direction right now on keeping the commandments and preparing and strengthening against Satan's attacks that are so bold and evil. I think Pres. Benson was a "Moroni" and he tried to prepare us against the attacks we see. The Proclamation on the Family to the World was also an effort to prepare us against today's attacks. The difference is that we, the people, did not heed their calls to action, so now we suffer great losses.
 28 And it came to pass, that on the other hand, the people of Nephi did ^athank the Lord their God, because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies. Truly, God's power is MATCHLESS! It is probably important to remember that the maximum protection came from following a plan of preparation before the attacks came.
 29 And thus ended the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
 30 Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and exceedingly great prosperity in the church because of their heed and diligence which they gave unto the word of God,see...heed and diligence. That is what they had done in their preparations which was declared unto them by Helaman, and Shiblon, and Corianton, and Ammon and his brethren, yea, and by all those who had been ordained by the ^aholy order of God, being baptized unto repentance, and sent forth to preach among the people. Who is the prophet right now of these people?