Anger in the War Chapters

As we read the account of the war chapters in Alma, one thing that Mormon seemed to bring out was that Moroni was often angry because of the hypocrisy and evil of others.  In the first battle with Zerahemnah, after he had tried to end the fighting without the shedding of any more blood, "Moroni was angry, because of the stubbornness of the Lamanites; therefore he commanded his people that they should fall upon them and slay them" (Alma 44:17).  Much of his anger was towards Nephite dissenters such as Amalickiah: "And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah" (Alma 46:11).  When the king-men among the Nephites were putting the people's freedom in peril Moroni was also understandably very upset: "And it came to pass that when Moroni saw this, and also saw that the Lamanites were coming into the borders of the land, he was exceedingly wroth because of the stubbornness of those people whom he had labored with so much diligence to preserve; yea, he was exceedingly wroth; his soul was filled with anger against them" (Alma 51:14).  When Ammoron continued to wage an unjust war after his brothers death, Moroni was very wroth with him.  He wrote, "Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people; ye have sought to murder us, and we have only sought to defend ourselves. But behold, if ye seek to destroy us more we will seek to destroy you; yea, and we will seek our land, the land of our first inheritance" (Alma 54:13).  When Ammoron in his hypocrisy continued seeking to destroy the Nephites under a facade of justice, Moroni was all the more upset: "Now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle he was more angry, because he knew that Ammoron had a perfect knowledge of his fraud; yea, he knew that Ammoron knew that it was not a just cause that had caused him to wage a war against the people of Nephi" (Alma 55:1). Moroni also was upset when his people were slaughtered due to the lack of action in the government:"And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government, because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country" (Alma 59:13).  Clearly, these many years at war including some intensely frustrating times as he watched innocent people murdered and valiant soldiers suffer because of the unfaithfulness, hypocrisy, and wickedness of others. 

            I don’t write this to criticize Moroni for being angry—I believe these passages are more about Moroni’s commitment to preserving the lives and freedom of his people than a commentary on holding one’s temper.  And the kind of anger Moroni had was in stark contrast to that of the leaders of the Lamanites.  For example, we have this description of Zarehemnah: "For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage" (Alma 43:8).  Amalickiah similarly sought to incite anger among the people so he could gain power.  We read that he “did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites" (Alma 47:1).  In the next chapter we read that his plan worked: "Therefore he had accomplished his design, for he had hardened the hearts of the Lamanites and blinded their minds, and stirred them up to anger, insomuch that he had gathered together a numerous host to go to battle against the Nephites" (Alma 48:3).  Moroni, on the other hand, channeled his own anger to fight harder for freedom and inspire his people to defend their rights.  He went forth with the title of liberty, prayed for the cause of the Christians, and sought to inspire his people to “maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them” (Alma 46:20).  Amalickiah manipulated the people too get them to be angry against the Nephites, whereas Moroni sought to inspire them to do right and defend their freedoms and families.