Furious about the lack of support for the army, Moroni writes a scathing letter to Pahoran, the chief judge. He accuses Pahoran and his colleagues of slothfulness and warns him that if he doesn’t immediately send reinforcements and provisions, Moroni will be forced to bring part of his army to Zarahemla and cleanse “the inward vessel.”
Chapter Outline
- The problem: You have not provided sufficient provisions and troops (v. 1-5)
- The question: Why have you been so negligent? (v. 6-23)
- The warning: If you do not provide support, I will compel you to do your duty (v. 24-36)
My Takeaways
- When we neglect our responsibilities, we betray the trust that others have placed in us.
- We can’t assume that God will bail us out when we haven’t made use of the resources He has provided.
- It’s important to deal with the root cause of an issue, not just the symptoms.
Featured Blog Posts
Was Captain Moroni Right to Chastise Pahoran so Harshly?
I wrote yesterday about the difference between complaining and raising issues. I shared Helaman’s letter to Captain Moroni as a good example of raising in important issue without complaining. One of my readers responded with another good example: a subsequent letter from Captain Moroni to the Pahoran, the chief judge, requesting more troops be sent.…
❖ Reason for Neglect – Alma 60:6-23
Ye Ought to Have Stirred Yourselves More Diligently – Alma 60:8-10
8 Yea, even they who have looked up to you for protection, yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have succored them, yea, ye might have sent armies unto them, to have strengthened them, and have saved thousands of them from falling by the sword. 9 But behold, this is not all—ye…
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Self-Reliance?
A core message of the Book of Mormon is that we are nothing compared with God. King Benjamin reminded his people that God created them, and that he preserves them from day to day “by lending you breath, that ye may live and move and do according to your own will, and even supporting you…
What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Complacency?
The word “complacent” doesn’t appear in the Book of Mormon, but warnings against complacency are pervasive: “Arise from the Dust” Near the end of his life, Lehi pleads with his sons to “arise from the dust…and be men.” He tells them to “shake off [their] chains,” “put on the armor of righteousness,” and “come forth…
❖ Cleansing the inward vessel – Alma 60:24-36
I, Moroni, Am Constrained, According to the Covenant Which I Have Made – Alma 60:34
34 And now behold, I, Moroni, am constrained, according to the covenant which I have made to keep the commandments of my God; therefore I would that ye should adhere to the word of God, and send speedily unto me of your provisions and of your men, and also to Helaman. (Alma 60:34) We all…
Old Testament Foundations
Up!
When Deborah, the leader of Israel, instructed a man named Barak to recruit an army and fight against their Canaanite oppressors, Barak responded with trepidation but with confidence in her leadership. “If thou wilt go with me,” he said, “then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not…
New Testament Parallels
What Does It Mean to Cleanse the Inward Vessel?
At a critical moment in the largest war recorded in the Book of Mormon, Moroni, the commander of the Nephite army, became aware that something was wrong. One of his subordinates, Helaman, had questioned in a letter why the government had not sent more troops to bolster the strength of his armies. He had even…
Church History Connections
“A Lively Member”
When Frederick G. Williams became a member of the First Presidency of the church, he also became part of an organization called the United Firm, which had been established to help fund the work of the church. After instructing existing members of the Firm to “receive him into the order,” the Lord directed Brother Williams…
All Posts Referencing Alma 60
- Up! (6/4/2022)
- Glory (12/28/2021)
- “A Lively Member” (8/22/2021)
- King-Men and Freedom of Speech (1/14/2021)
- What Does It Mean to Cleanse the Inward Vessel? (12/20/2019)
- What Is Authority? (10/15/2019)
- What Should I Think About? (8/24/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Self-Reliance? (7/18/2019)
- How Can I Be More Patient with Myself? (6/26/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Say About Complacency? (5/11/2019)
- Was Captain Moroni Right to Chastise Pahoran so Harshly? (5/3/2019)
- How Should We Respond When Others Threaten or Attack Us? (4/28/2019)
- What Does It Mean to “Succor” Someone? (2/27/2019)
- Ye Ought to Have Stirred Yourselves More Diligently – Alma 60:8-10 (11/30/2017)
- It Is My God Whom I Fear – Alma 60:28 (8/27/2015)
- I, Moroni, Am Constrained, According to the Covenant Which I Have Made – Alma 60:34 (8/26/2015)