Choosing Military Leaders

Mormon explained this about the Nephite’s method of selecting generals: “Now it was the custom among all the Nephites to appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in their times of wickedness) some one that had the spirit of revelation and also prophecy; therefore, this Gidgiddoni was a great prophet among them, as also was the chief judge.”  Mormon stated this as his introduction to Giggiddoni who was clearly a man of God who communicated with the Lord and was able to discern His will to lead his people.  This was evident in the very next verses when the people asked that they be permitted to go into the mountains to fight the robbers, but he responded, “The Lord forbid; for if we should go up against them the Lord would deliver us into their hands; therefore we will prepare ourselves in the center of our lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against them, but we will wait till they shall come against us; therefore as the Lord liveth, if we do this he will deliver them into our hands”  (3 Nephi 3:19-21).  He both received revelation about what they were to do and prophesied how the Lord would indeed deliver them.  The Nephites were blessed greatly to have chosen Gidgiddoni at this difficult time in their history. 

               We see other examples of how the Nephites selected men of God to be their military leaders.  The most obvious of these of course is Captain Moroni.  He was “a man of perfect understanding” and “who was firm in the faith of Christ” (Alma 48:11, 13).  We see his ability to receive revelation particularly in his communication with Pahoran: “Behold, the Lord saith unto me: If those whom ye have appointed your governors do not repent of their sins and iniquities, ye shall go up to battle against them” (Alma 60:33).  This was, it turns out, exactly what Pahoran needed to hear.  He said in his response: “And now, Moroni, I do joy in receiving your epistle, for I was somewhat worried concerning what we should do, whether it should be just in us to go against our brethren.  But ye have said, except they repent the Lord hath commanded you that ye should go against them” (Alma 61:19-20).  It was the revelation that Moroni received that allow them to know what they were to do.  His contemporary Helaman was another military leader who had the spirit of prophecy—indeed he was the record keeper and the leading prophet at this time as far as we know.  The way that he was able to lead the 2000 stripling warriors through dangerous battles without any of them being killed.  Surely the only way he could have done that was through prophecy and revelation (and the obedience of those young men).  Helaman’s father Alma, who was also a prophet to the Nephites, had similarly led the Nephites in battle as a military leader.  He led the Nephites in against the rebellious Amlicites, and pled with the Lord for His help in their battles: “O Lord, have mercy and spare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands to save and preserve this people” (Alma 2:30).  He indeed was that instrument and the Nephites were greatly blessed for having let him lead them physically. 

            Mormon himself was also one who as a prophet likewise led the Nephites in battle.  Even though the people in his day weren’t righteous, they still followed the Nephite method of choosing generals by picking one who had the spirit of revelation and prophecy.  Of course, it really didn’t do them any good given that they weren’t willing to repent.   Even in this time of wickedness, they left us the example for how we should select our leaders: choose those with the spirit of revelation.