Lessons on Prayer From a Nephite Battle

The story of the battle between the Nephites and the Lamanites recorded in Alma 43-44 provides insights on the purposes and efficacy of sincere prayer.  When the Lamanites came upon the Nephites near Jershon, they “departed out of the land of Antionum into the wilderness” and Moroni wasn’t sure where they were going.  So he did two things: he “sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp” and he “knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should inquire of the Lord whither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites.”  He did everything in his power to find answers through human means, but he also went to the Lord for revelation on the matter.  Alma prayed and “the word of the Lord came unto Alma” telling him that the Lamanites were headed to the land of Manti (Alma 43:23-24).  It was in large part because he had this information that Moroni was able to set up his armies in such a way that they could surprise the more numerous Lamanites and ultimately defeat them.  Thus the first purpose of prayer that this story teaches us about is to obtain information to guide our lives.  When we go to the Lord  sincerely seeking knowledge to direct our course of action, especially in critical moments like it was for these Nephites, He will provide what we need to move forward. 

                A second purpose of prayer that this story teaches us about is obtaining strength from the Lord.  Sometimes it is not information that we need—we know what has to be done and we simply need added strength to do it.  Despite the revelation that the Nephites received concerning the whereabouts of the Lamanites, the battle was not easy and they struggled against an army more than twice their size.  When “they were about to shrink and flee” from the Lamanites because of the “fierceness and anger of the Lamanites,” they instead turned to the Lord in mighty prayer: “And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they cried with one voice unto the Lord their God, for their liberty and their freedom from bondage.”  They did not simply ask a “please help us” kind of prayer, but they cried mightily unto Him.  It was that sincere petition, and the added strength because of it that they received from the Lord, that saved them from their enemies.  Mormon recorded, “And they began to stand against the Lamanites with power; and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them” (Alma 43:48-50).  They had cried unto Him with great faith and He empowered them because of it; Moroni testified to Zerahemnah that the Lamanites were delivered into their hands because of their “faith in Christ” (Alma 44:3).  He granted the power they sought in their prayer of faith.  When we fervently petition the Lord for help and then fight our battles with everything we have, the Lord will indeed strengthen us.

                The final purpose of prayer we learn from this story is gratitude.  After their miraculous deliverance, in large measure due to the revelation and strength the Lord granted them through their prayers, the Nephites thanked the Lord: “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).  This was not a simple “I thank thee for my many blessings” one time prayer, but they did “fast and pray much” to give glory to God for His hand in preserving the people.  They did not just say thanks but did “worship God with exceedingly great joy,” they did “worship God in spirit and in truth” knowing who truly did strengthen and preserve them (Alma 43:10).  Their gratitude and recognition of where their preservation had come from surely prepared them for the challenges of war that lay ahead for them.  Though we may not have physical battles to fight like these Nephites, we can all seek to emulate their powerful prayers in our own challenges as we earnestly seek revelation and strength and offer heartfelt thanks to the Lord.