Because of the Prayers of the Righteous

The account of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites recorded in Alma 43-62 covered a period of about 13 years. Ultimately the Nephites were victorious under Captain Moroni and the Lamanites were defeated and returned to their lands. What was the most important reason for their success? We might be tempted give answers such as the strong Nephite fortifications, or the protective armor of the Nephites, or the brilliant military mind of Moroni. Those certainly contributed to the success of the Nephites, but none is the reason that Mormon gave for the Nephite victory. He wrote this, “And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the righteous’ sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared” (Alma 62:40). I was struck by this simple reason for the reason the Nephites did not ultimately fall into the hands of the Lamanites: the prayers of the righteous. Prayer was the main reason for their success.

                We see a few examples of faithful, fervent prayers in these war chapters. After the first victory over Zarahemnah, “The people of Nephi were exceedingly rejoiced, because the Lord had again delivered them out of the hands of their enemies; therefore they gave thanks unto the Lord their God; yea, and they did fast much and pray much, and they did worship God with exceedingly great joy” (Alma 45:1). There troubles were far from over, though, and soon Amalickiah stirred up the people to reject their liberties and seek instead for power. In response, Moroni raised the title of liberty and prayed: “And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land…. And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored” (Alma 46:13, 16). There are many depictions in art of Moroni with his title of liberty, and the truest are those I believe that show him kneeling with it as is described in these verses. Surely these powerful prayers that he offered up unto God were instrumental in helping the Nephites be victorious over their enemies.

                Helaman and his stripling warriors also reached out to God in fervent prayer for help in overcoming their enemies. He described their struggles to Moroni and then said this, “Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for the support of our people. Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him” (Alma 58:10-11). And indeed, they were strengthened despite their small numbers, and Helaman and his young sons proved victorious through their faith and trust in God. It was their prayers more than their armor or battle tactics or physical strength that were the cause of their success despite all odds being against them. Their story and that of all the Nephites in this great war remind us that whatever challenges we face, prayer is the first and most important step to overcoming them. We should be like the Nephites who, even after they were victorious, “did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and prosper in the land” (Alma 62:51).