During April, I have studied the wars in the Book of Mormon. In particular, I’ve focused on the following wars:
- Zoram leads the Nephite army to victory (Alma 16)
- The Lamanites attack the people of Ammon (Alma 24-25)
- The battle of Jershon (Alma 28)
- Captain Moroni defeats Zerahemnah (Alma 43-44)
- Captain Moroni prepares the Nephites to defend themselves (Alma 46, 48-50)
- Captain Moroni defeats Amalackiah and Ammoron (51-55, 59-62)
- Helaman leads his young Ammonite army (Alma 56-58)
- Moronihah leads the Nephite armies against the Lamanites (Helaman 1, 4)
- Lachoneus leads the Nephites to victory against the Gadianton robbers (3 Nephi 3-4)
- Mormon leads the Nephite armies in their final war (Mormon 1-6, Moroni 9)
- Coriantumr leads the Jaredite armies in their final war (Ether 13-15)
Just as I’ve done with other types of content, I have tried to learn lessons from these chapters that I can apply in my daily life from these stories. The lessons I have learned fall into the following categories:
Responding to Adversity
- When we face daunting challenges, we ought to adopt an attitude of solemnity, and turn our hearts to God.
- We must keep trying, even when we encounter discouraging situations.
- Difficult experiences can motivate us to humble ourselves and change, just as successes can inspire gratitude in our hearts.
- Take time to connect with God and listen to His Spirit during times of adversity.
Acting with Integrity
- We should follow Captain Moroni’s example by acting with strength and wisdom, being kind and respectful of the people around me, being thankful for the privileges I have been given, and being hard-working and dependable.
- We should fulfill our duties quietly and consistently.
- Sincerity and virtue will ultimately lead to success.
- Our integrity can inspire integrity in others.
- We need to avoid being distracted and remember our priorities.
Self-mastery
- We need to be the master of our passions, not a slave to them.
- We need to control our negative emotions and not allow them to be directed toward others.
Preparation
- Some of the decisions which are most impactful occur long before they are needed.
- It’s important to prepare our minds for the challenges we will face in the future.
Loving Others
- Feelings of animosity toward others will drive away the Spirit of the Lord. Even as we defend the truth, we must treat others with respect.
- We should love all people, even those who are difficult to love, including those who don’t seem to benefit from our love.
- When we love others, we welcome them, but we also warn them of danger.
Power in Unity
- A strong sense of community is essential for our collective safety and prosperity.
- There is power and safety in unity.
- We can overcome the storms and the pressures we face if we choose to face them in unity.
Leadership
- Words of truth, courageously spoken, can inspire others to courage.
- Leaders must remember that the people they lead are counting on them to make wise decisions on their behalf.
Repentance
- Repentance enables us to receive the power of God.
- We can avoid catastrophic outcomes by repenting quickly.
God’s Love
- When God judges us, He will be both just and merciful.
- If we choose to repent, we can be “clasped in the arms of Jesus.”
Prayer
- We need to make sure that our motives are aligned with God’s will, so that we can pray with confidence.
- We should follow the prophet’s guidance to pray, listen, write the answers that we receive, and act upon what we learn.
