Twenty five—that’s how old Moroni was when he began commanding the Nephite armies. Thirteen years later, he stepped down to “spend the remainder of his days in peace” (Alma 62:43). What kind of man was he? Mormon makes it clear that Moroni “did not delight in bloodshed” but that he was committed to the liberty of his people (Alma 48:11, Alma 55:19). He was innovative, inspiring, and unyielding in his defense of the oppressed. As a result, he successfully led the Nephites to victory over two invading armies, the first led by a man named Zerahemnah, and the second led by a man named Amalickiah.
A couple of years ago, I spent a month studying all of the war chapters in the Book of Mormon, including the chapters we are studying this week. Here is a post summarizing what I learned that month, including lessons about acting with integrity, preparing for the future, and praying with faith:
Lessons from Wars in the Book of Mormon
Here are some posts about this week’s reading:
When and how to defend yourself and others
- Do as little harm as possible: When Is Violence Justified?
- Defending the truth without enmity: We Do Not Desire to Be Men of Blood – Alma 44:1
- Are you willing to consider other people’s perspectives? We Are Not of Your Faith – Alma 44:9
- Don’t lower your standards: He Durst Not Go Down – Alma 47:10-12
- Preparing for the future: What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Self-Reliance? What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Provident Living?
- Multiple lines of defense: Heaps of Earth, Timbers, and Frames of Pickets – Alma 50:1-6
- Be careful whom you trust: He Being a Very Subtle Man – Alma 47:3-4
Leadership lessons from Moroni
- Seven exemplary attributes: Moroni Was a Strong and a Mighty Man – Alma 48:11-13
- The power of a single person to inspire others: What Was the Title of Liberty?
- Prioritizing: It Was His First Care – Alma 51:13-16
- Steadiness and consistency: Supposing by Their Numbers to Overpower Teancum- Alma 52:21-24
- Trusting the people you lead: How Can I Delegate More Effectively?
Personal Integrity
- Motives matter: In That Selfsame Hour That They Cried unto the Lord – Alma 43:48-50
- Keeping our prosperity in perspective: They Grew Rich in Their Own Eyes – Alma 45:24
- How our decisions change us: They Became More Hardened and Impenitent – Alma 47:36
- Creating tangible reminders of our promises: He Caused the Title of Liberty to Be Hoisted upon Every Tower – Alma 46:36
- Praying with sincerity and with intensity: What Does It Mean to Pour Out Your Soul to God?
Blog Posts: August 4-9
“Perceiving Their Intent” – Alma 43:48
Captain Moroni was a successful military leader partly because of his emotional intelligence. He made it a point to observe the “intent” of the enemy and the “intent” of his own troops. For example: As Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites, that it was their intention to destroy their brethren, or to subject them…
Follow the Prophet
Two different military leaders asked Alma for guidance on two different occasions. Notice how similar these two stories are: Now Zoram and his two sons, knowing that Alma was high priest over the church, and having heard that he had the spirit of prophecy, therefore they went unto him and desired of him to know…
Was Alma Translated?
Mormon’s description of the end of Alma’s life is mysterious: He departed out of the land of Zarahemla, as if to go into the land of Melek. And it came to pass that he was never heard of more; as to his death or burial we know not of (Alma 45:18). Those are the facts.…
Your Influence – Alma 46:9
Never underestimate the influence that one person can have. Mormon opens his account of the seven-year war between the Nephites and the Lamanites by focusing on two leaders: Amalickiah and Moroni. After describing the influence Amalickiah had over many of the Nephites and the disruptive effect of his leadership, Mormon explains what we can learn…
Prepared – Alma 43:19, Alma 49:8
When the Lamanite armies, under the leadership of Zerahemnah, arrived at the land of Jershon, they were dismayed. Captain Moroni and the Nephite army were prepared in a way that they had not anticipated: Moroni had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they…
“There Never Was a Happier Time…” – Alma 50:23
After successfully fending off an attempted invasion by the Lamanites, Moroni and his people immediately got busy fortifying their cities further and preparing for the next attack. During this time of uncertainty and hard work, Mormon tells us that their emotional state was unexpectedly positive: But behold there never was a happier time among the…
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