Alma 61

 (All of my own thoughts are in red type 7/20 green6/21 8/22 Brown 10/23.) 

CHAPTER 61

Pahoran tells Moroni of the insurrection and rebellion against the government—The king-men take Zarahemla and are in league with the Lamanites—Pahoran asks for military aid against the rebels. About 62 B.C.

  1 Behold, now it came to pass that soon after Moroni had sent his epistle unto the chief governor, he received an epistle from ^aPahoran, the chief governor. And these are the words which he received: Pahoran was quick to respond to correct Moroni's "story"
  2 I, Pahoran, who am the chief governor of this land, do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army. Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great ^aafflictions, yea, it grieves my soul. Acknowledge; compassion
  3 But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions, yea, insomuch that they have risen up in ^arebellion against me, and also those of my people who are ^bfreemen, yea, and those who have risen up are exceedingly numerous.
  4 And it is those who have sought to take away the judgment-seat from me that have been the cause of this great iniquity; for they have used great ^aflattery, and they have ^bled away the hearts of many people, which will be the cause of sore affliction among us; they have withheld our provisions, and have daunted our ^cfreemen that they have not come unto you. What words of flattery did they use to lead away the hearts of many? Promises of wealth? ease? no consequence for choices? no rules? no accountability? false gods? incorrect view of God? Flattery is a test you can use to discern what you are being taught is true or not. If it appeals to the carnal man, then it is false. If it causes the natural man to feel uncomfortable then it is probably true... watch out for flattery! This applies to discerning true and false revelations and visitations.
  5 And behold, they have driven me out before them, and I have fled to the land of Gideon, with as many men as it were possible that I could get.
  6 And behold, I have sent a proclamation throughout this part of the land; and behold, they are ^aflocking to us ^bdaily, to their arms, in the defence of their country and their ^cfreedom, and to avenge our ^dwrongs.
  7 And they have come unto us, insomuch that those who have risen up in rebellion against us are set at defiance, yea, insomuch that they do fear us and durst not come out against us to battle.
  8 They have ^agot possession of the land, or the city, of Zarahemla; they have appointed a ^bking over them, and he hath written unto the king of the Lamanites, in the which he hath joined an alliance with him; in the which alliance he hath agreed to maintain the city of Zarahemla, which maintenance he supposeth will enable the Lamanites to conquer the remainder of the land, and he shall be placed king over this people when they shall be conquered ^cunder the Lamanites. Interesting that he's already a "king", but he thinks he can secure that position by uniting with the Lamanites and being a "king" under their rule...
  9 And now, in your epistle you have ^acensured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not seek  for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us ^cfree. He sees Moroni's intention and doesn't take it personally. He unites with his "greatness of heart" over preserving rights and liberty in God.
 10 And now, behold, we will resist wickedness even unto bloodshed. We would ^anot shed the blood of the Lamanites if they would stay in their own land. Ah....there you have it. You do not fear resisting wickedness, even if it brings persecution, war, or death. "Stand for truth and righteousness at ALL times, in ALL things, in ALL places! (Feels appropriate to post this here:)

MESSAGE TO THE UNVACCINATED: (AUTHOR UNKNOWN)

  "Even if I were fully vaccinated, I would admire the unvaccinated for withstanding the greatest pressure I have ever seen, even from partners, parents, children, friends, colleagues and doctors.
  People who were capable of such personality, courage and critical ability are undoubtedly the best of humanity. They are everywhere, in all ages, levels of education, states, and ideas. They are of a special kind; they are the soldiers that every army of light wants to have in its ranks. They are the parents that every child wants to have and the children that every parent dreams of having. They are beings above the average of their societies, they are the essence of the people who have built all cultures and conquered horizons. They are there, next to you, they look normal, but they are superheroes.
  They did what others could not, they were the tree that withstood the hurricane of insults, discrimination and social exclusion. And they did it because they thought they were alone, and believed they were the only ones.
  Banned from their families' tables at Christmas, they never saw anything so cruel. They lost their jobs, let their careers sink, had no more money...but they didn't care. They suffered immeasurable discrimination, denunciation, betrayal and humiliation...but they kept going
  Never before in humanity has there been such a "casting", now we know who are the best on planet Earth. Women, men, old, young, rich, poor, of all races or religions, the unvaccinated, the chosen of the invisible ark, the only ones who managed to resist when everything collapsed.
  That's you. You passed an unimaginable test that many of the toughest Marines, commandos, Green Berets, astronauts and geniuses could not withstand.
  You are made of the stuff of the greatest who ever lived, those heroes born among ordinary men who glow in the dark."

 11 We would not shed the blood of our brethren if they would not rise up in rebellion and take the sword against us.
 12 We would subject ourselves to the ^ayoke of bondage if it were requisite with the justice of God, or if he should command us so to do. Sounds like two different things... Does God ask us to submit to bondage sometimes? Isn't submitting to bondage not standing for truth and righteous even unto death? 
 13 But behold he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our ^atrust in him, and he will deliver us. Is he saying God doesn't command them to subject themselves in this particular case or as a general rule...
 14 Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our ^awords, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us ^bresist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God. Always try "words" first...
 15 Therefore, come unto me speedily with a few of your men, and leave the remainder in the charge of Lehi and Teancum; give unto them power to conduct the ^awar in that part of the land, according to the ^bSpirit of God, which is also the ^cspirit of freedom which is in them. Interesting...the Spirit of God is also the spirit of freedom. Seems like you cannot claim to have the Spirit of God if you do not also feel a spirit of freedom. Does that mean that everyone who is passively submitting to the bondage rule of covid don't have the spirit of God?
 16 Behold I have sent a few provisions unto them, that they may not perish until ye can come unto me.
 17 Gather together whatsoever force ye can upon your march hither, and we will go speedily against those dissenters, in the strength of our God according to the faith which is in us. This is the only way to fight - in the strength of God and with faith in Him.
 18 And we will ^atake possession of the city of Zarahemla, that we may obtain more food to send forth unto Lehi and Teancum; yea, we will go forth against them in the strength of the Lord, in the spirit of freedom and we will put an end to this great iniquity.
 19 And now, Moroni, I do joy in receiving your epistle, for I was somewhat worried concerning what we should do, whether it should be just in us to go against our brethren.
 20 But ye have said, except they repent the Lord ^ahath commanded you that ye should go against them.
 21 See that ye ^astrengthen Lehi and Teancum in the Lord; tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and also all those who ^bstand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free. And now I close mine epistle to my beloved brother, Moroni.  This is our promise and faith also...or should be. Fear not! God will deliver you. Stand fast in that liberty which God has given you to make you free! The following feels appropriate here:

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 56

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

 CHAPTER 56  

Helaman sends an epistle to Moroni, recounting the state of the war with the Lamanites—Antipus and Helaman gain a great victory over the Lamanites—Helaman’s two thousand stripling sons fight with miraculous power, and none of them are slain. Verse 1, about 62 B.C.; verses 2–19, about 66 B.C.; and verses 20–57, about 65–64 B.C.

  1 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges, on the second day in the first month, ^aMoroni received an ^bepistle from Helaman, stating the affairs of the people in ^cthat quarter of the land.
  2 And these are the words which he wrote, saying: My dearly beloved brother, Moroni, as well in the Lord as in the tribulations of our warfare; behold, my beloved brother, I have somewhat to tell you concerning our warfare in this part of the land.
 3 Behold, ^atwo thousand of the sons of those men whom Ammon brought down out of the land of Nephi—now ye have known that these were descendants of Laman, who was the eldest son of our father Lehi; how cool that these faithful sons were descendants of Laman. It shows you can overcome your past and your DNA and your generational iniquity.  
  4 Now I need not rehearse unto you concerning their traditions or their unbelief, for thou knowest concerning all these things—
  5 Therefore it sufficeth me that I tell you that two thousand of these young men have taken their weapons of war, and would that I should be their leader; and we have come forth to defend our country.
  6 And now ye also know concerning the ^acovenant which their fathers made, that they would not take up their weapons of war against their brethren to shed blood. This must have had a profound influence on them.
  7 But in the twenty and sixth year, when they saw our afflictions and our tribulations for them, they were about to ^abreak the covenant which they had made and take up their weapons of war in our defence.
  8 But I would not suffer them that they should break this ^acovenant which they had made, supposing that God would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of the fulfilling the ^boath which they had taken. Covenants are so serious and important. We need to not look at them as just promises, but oaths that we vow to never break!
  9 But behold, here is one thing in which we may have great joy. For behold, in the twenty and sixth year, I, Helaman, did march at the head of these ^atwo thousand young men to the city of ^bJudea, to assist Antipus, whom ye had appointed a leader over the people of that part of the land.
 10 And I did join my two thousand ^asons, (for they are worthy to be called sons) to the army of Antipus, in which strength Antipus did rejoice exceedingly; for behold, his army had been reduced by the Lamanites because their forces had slain a vast number of our men, for which cause we have to mourn.
 11 Nevertheless, we may console ourselves in this point, that they have died in the cause of their country and of their God, yea, and they are ^ahappy. This could help us in the future...Somewhere here we have to reconcile the cognitive dissonance with "God protects the righteous" and men dying in the cause of freedom in war...
 12 And the Lamanites had also retained many prisoners, all of whom are chief ^acaptains, for none other have they spared alive. So they killed anyone who wasn't a captain. Why would they spare the strongest and smartest? Ransom? And we suppose that they are now at this time in the land of Nephi; it is so if they are not slain.
 13 And now these are the cities of which the Lamanites have obtained possession by the shedding of the blood of so many of our valiant men:
 14 The land of ^aManti, or the city of Manti, and the city of Zeezrom, and the city of ^bCumeni, and the city of Antiparah.
 15 And these are the cities which they possessed when I arrived at the city of Judea; and I found Antipus and his men toiling with their might to fortify the city.
 16 Yea, and they were depressed in body as well as in spirit, for they had fought valiantly by day and toiled by night to maintain their cities; and thus they had suffered great afflictions of every kind.
 17 And now they were determined to conquer in this place or die; therefore you may well suppose that this little force which I brought with me, yea, those sons of mine, gave them great hopes and much joy. I would think that they would have felt the Lord had blessed them with this help as a result of their dedication and determination.
 18 And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Antipus had received a greater strength to his army, they were compelled by the orders of Ammoron to not come against the city of Judea, or against us, to battle.
 19 And thus were we favored of the Lord; for had they come upon us in this our weakness they might have perhaps destroyed our little army; but thus were we preserved. Pretty sure they had no idea these boys were coming and felt they would fight to the death...
 20 They were commanded by Ammoron to maintain those cities which they had taken. And thus ended the twenty and sixth year. And in the commencement of the twenty and seventh year we had prepared our city and ourselves for defence.
 21 Now we were desirous that the Lamanites should come upon us; for we were not desirous to make an attack upon them in their strongholds.
 22 And it came to pass that we kept spies out round about, to watch the movements of the Lamanites, that they might not pass us by night nor by day to make an attack upon our other cities which were on the northward.
 23 For we knew in those cities they were not sufficiently strong to meet them; therefore we were desirous, if they should pass by us, to fall upon them in their rear, and thus bring them up in the rear at the same time they were met in the front. We supposed that we could overpower them; but behold, we were disappointed in this our desire.
 24 They durst not pass by us with their whole army, neither durst they with a part, lest they should not be sufficiently strong and they should fall.
 25 Neither durst they march down against the city of Zarahemla; neither durst they cross the head of Sidon, over to the city of Nephihah.
 26 And thus, with their forces, they were determined to maintain those cities which they had taken.
 27 And now it came to pass in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons. The fathers couldn't fight but they could help in other ways. This is kind of a stretch comparison...but I think older people who have means but not health or circumstance to serve senior missions should help others who have desire but no means.
 28 And also there were sent two thousand men unto us from the land of Zarahemla. And thus we were prepared with ten thousand men, and provisions for them, and also for their wives and their children. Did the families move about with the soldiers?
 29 And the Lamanites, thus seeing our forces increase daily, and provisions arrive for our support, they began to be fearful, and began to sally forth, if it were possible to put an end to our receiving provisions and strength.
 30 Now when we saw that the Lamanites began to grow uneasy on this wise, we were desirous to bring a stratagem into effect upon them; therefore Antipus ordered that I should march forth with my little sons to a neighboring city, ^aas if we were carrying provisions to a neighboring city.
 31 And we were to march near the city of Antiparah, as if we were going to the city beyond, in the borders by the seashore.
 32 And it came to pass that we did march forth, as if with our provisions, to go to that city. I'm thinking the boxes and such were empty...so to not tap their strength?
 33 And it came to pass that Antipus did march forth with a part of his army, leaving the remainder to maintain the city. But he did not march forth until I had gone forth with my little army, and came near the city Antiparah.
 34 And now, in the city Antiparah were stationed the strongest army of the Lamanites; yea, the most numerous.
 35 And it came to pass that when they had been informed by their spies, they came forth with their army and marched against us.
 36 And it came to pass that we did flee before them, northward. And thus we did lead away the most powerful army of the Lamanites;
 37 Yea, even to a considerable distance, insomuch that when they saw the army of Antipus pursuing them, with their might, they did not turn to the right nor to the left, but pursued their march in a straight course after us; and, as we suppose, it was their intent to slay us before Antipus should overtake them, and this that they might not be surrounded by our people.
 38 And now Antipus, beholding our danger, did speed the march of his army. But behold, it was night; therefore they did not overtake us, neither did Antipus overtake them; therefore we did camp for the night.
 39 And it came to pass that before the dawn of the morning, behold, the Lamanites were pursuing us. Now we were not sufficiently strong to contend with them; yea, I would not suffer that my little sons should fall into their hands; therefore we did continue our march, and we took our march into the wilderness.
 40 Now they durst not turn to the right nor to the left lest they should be surrounded; neither would I turn to the right nor to the left lest they should overtake me, and we could not stand against them, but be slain, and they would make their escape; and thus we did flee all that day into the wilderness, even until it was dark.
 41 And it came to pass that again, when the light of the morning came we saw the Lamanites upon us, and we did flee before them.
 42 But it came to pass that they did not pursue us far before they halted; and it was in the morning of the third day of the seventh month.
 43 And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they might catch us in their snare;
 44 Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?
 45 And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great ^bcourage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.
 46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not  suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
 47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the ^aliberty of their ^bfathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their ^cmothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
 48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their ^amothers, saying: We ^bdo not doubt our mothers knew it. Children can rely on their mother's faith. Mothers, make that faith known to your children!
 49 And it came to pass that I did return with my two thousand against these Lamanites who had pursued us. And now behold, the armies of Antipus had overtaken them, and a terrible battle had commenced.
 50 The army of Antipus being weary, because of their long march in so short a space of time, were about to fall into the hands of the Lamanites; and had I not returned with my two thousand they would have obtained their purpose.
 51 For Antipus had fallen by the sword, and many of his leaders, because of their weariness, which was occasioned by the speed of their march—therefore the men of Antipus, being confused because of the fall of their leaders, began to give way before the Lamanites.
 52 And it came to pass that the Lamanites took courage, and began to pursue them; and thus were the Lamanites pursuing them with great vigor when ^aHelaman came upon their rear with his two thousand, and began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that the whole army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helaman.
 53 Now when the people of Antipus saw that the Lamanites had turned them about, they gathered together their men and came again upon the rear of the Lamanites.
 54 And now it came to pass that we, the people of Nephi, the people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did surround the Lamanites, and did slay them; yea, insomuch that they were compelled to deliver up their weapons of war and also themselves as prisoners of war. 
 55 And now it came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain.
 56 But behold, to my great joy, there had ^anot one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the ^bstrength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war. I wonder what this looked like...it would make a great movie!
 57 And as we had no place for our prisoners, that we could guard them to keep them from the armies of the Lamanites, therefore we sent them to the land of Zarahemla, and a part of those men who were not slain of Antipus, with them; and the remainder I took and joined them to my stripling ^aAmmonites, and took our march back to the city of Judea.