Moroni's Soldier

I’m impressed by the actions of Moroni’s soldier in the confrontation between Moroni and Zerahemnah in Alma 44.  Moroni stopped the fighting between the Lamanites and Nephites and tried to get Zerahemnah to make an oath that he would no longer fight against the Nephites.  The two spoke to each other in front of all of the soldiers, and it must have been an extremely tense few minutes as they exchanged words.  When Moroni refused to budge on his terms of surrender, we read that Zerahemnah “rushed forward that he might slay Moroni” (Alma 44:12). 

In a moment that was supposed to be a sort of “cease-fire”, Zerahemnah tried to take advantage of Moroni’s attempt at peace and slay him while he wasn’t prepared to fight.  But this solder of Moroni’s was ready and acted without hesitation.  He must have been watching very carefully during the whole encounter between the two leaders and never let down his guard—he knew his job was to protect Moroni.  So he reacted instantly when Zerahemnah lunged at Moroni, and this unnamed soldier managed to break the Lamanite leader’s sword and cut off part of his scalp.  I think his example in a physically dangerous situation reminds us that we must be ever vigilant amidst the spiritual dangers around us.  We cannot let our guard down.  If he had lost focus for just a moment on what was happening he may have missed his chance to save Moroni’s life.  He was an example of following this counsel of the Savior: “Watch, therefore, that ye may be ready” (D&C 50:46).  In the Joseph Smith-Matthew account, the Lord said something similar: “Therefore be ye also ready, for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of Man cometh” (JSM 1:48).  Both of those references speak in particular to a need for spiritual preparation before the Second Coming, but more generally the message is that we must always be prepared to cleave to good and reject evil.  Joseph was a good example of this in the scriptures; when Potiphar’s wife came to him and tempted him he “fled, and got him out” (Genesis 39:12).  We must learn to have that kind of immediate reaction when sin is presented to us.  Unfortunately we don’t know much else about this soldier of Moroni, but I think his example can remind us of our own need to always be ready to serve the Lord.  Our job is not to fight physical battles but to seek to follow the Lord’s counsel: “But my disciples shall stand in holy placed and shall not be moved” (D&C 87:8).