David and Moroni

Reflecting on a devastating war that lasted seven years, Mormon comments on its effect on the people:

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 afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.

Alma 62:41

It’s noteworthy that Mormon, who was himself a military leader, was less interested in who won and more focused on the war’s effect on people. Many were hardened; many were softened. The outcome was not universal; it was individual.

Two military leaders who illustrate the competing influences on people at war are David and Captain Moroni. Both grew their armies organically. After David escaped from King Saul, “every one that was in distress, and every one that was in debt, and every one that was discontented, gathered themselves unto him; and he became a captain over them” (1 Samuel 22:2). Moroni raised a banner called the title of liberty, and “the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins” (Alma 46:21). Both of them could be brutal. David killed two hundred Philistines to gain permission to marry King Saul’s daughter Michal (1 Samuel 18:25-27), and he summarily executed an Amalekite who bragged about killing King Saul (2 Samuel 1:2-16). Moroni killed four thousand Nephite dissenters and threw their leaders in prison without a trial, “for there was no time for their trials at this period” (Alma 51:19). Both were passionate and spoke of their enemies harshly (see, for example, 1 Samuel 25:21-22; Alma 55:1-2; Alma 60). But in both cases, they were open to corrective feedback. David turned back from attacking Nabal’s house when his wife, Abigail, pleaded on behalf of her husband (1 Samuel 25:18-35). Moroni accepted Pahoran’s explanation for the failures of the government and united with him in overthrowing the dissenters in Zarahemla (Alma 62:1-8).

But the two leaders differed in one important respect. Moroni was committed to minimizing casualties. Mormon goes out of his way to describe Moroni as “a man that did not delight in bloodshed” (Alma 48:11), and he highlights specific moments when Moroni made strategic decisions with the intent to limit loss of life on both sides (Alma 44:1; Alma 52:37-40; Alma 55:18-19). David, on the other hand, maximized bloodshed for dubious reasons. For example, while he was living among the Philistines at Ziklag, he attacked the Geshurites, and the Gezrites, and the Amalekites “and left neither man nor woman alive.” Why? “Lest they should tell on us,” he said (1 Samuel 27:8-11). Better to eliminate the witnesses, so that his neighbors wouldn’t know how brutal he really was. This failure of conscience eerily foreshadows his subsequent murder of one of his own soldiers, Uriah, to hide his adultery with Uriah’s wife (2 Samuel 11).

One exception is David’s commitment to sparing the life of King Saul. On two occasions, David found Saul in vulnerable circumstances and could easily have killed him. Both times, his men marveled that God had delivered his enemy into his hands (1 Samuel 24:4; 1 Samuel 26:8). On both occasions, David spared Saul, calling him “the Lord’s anointed” (1 Samuel 24:6, 10; 1 Samuel 26:9, 11, 23). After Saul’s death, he mourned and urged others to mourn also (2 Samuel 1:12, 24). David’s callousness was overshadowed in this case by his respect for the leader chosen by God.

As Mormon taught, war can embitter us or humble us. Perhaps the adversities in our lives do both, in varying degrees. David and Moroni both illustrate the complexities of discipleship in wartime. Both had faith in God and a commitment to obey His commandments. Both were willing to use force to accomplish important objectives. Both failed in some cases but responded humbly to correction. David in particular lacked Moroni’s commitment to minimizing bloodshed. But both emerged from war with their faith in God intact.

Today I will strive to let my afflictions humble me, not embitter me. I will remember that while I can’t entirely choose my circumstances, I can choose my response to them.