Thus Were They Prepared

One of the great lessons from Captain Moroni in the Book of Mormon is the need to prepare for the attacks of the enemy. One of the major reasons that he was so effective as a leader was that he prepared extensively before the enemy arrived. After Amalickiah had stirred up the Lamanites to go against the Nephites, he sent his armies thinking they would easily take the city of Ammonihah. Mormon recorded what happened when they came and found that this city had been protected with incredible fortifications: “Now at this time the chief captains of the Lamanites were astonished exceedingly, because of the wisdom of the Nephites in preparing their places of security…. But behold, to their uttermost astonishment, they were prepared for them, in a manner which never had been known among the children of Lehi. Now they were prepared for the Lamanites, to battle after the manner of the instructions of Moroni.” The Lamanites decided not to attack that city but instead went to Noah “for they knew not that Moroni had fortified, or had built forts of security, for every city in all the land round about.” When they got there they found similar fortifications at this city too. I love the way that Mormon described what they found: “And thus were the Nephites prepared to destroy all such as should attempt to climb up to enter the fort by any other way, by casting over stones and arrows at them. Thus they were prepared, yea, a body of their strongest men, with their swords and their slings, to smite down all who should attempt to come into their place of security by the place of entrance; and thus were they prepared to defend themselves against the Lamanites (Alma 49:5,8,13,19-20). They were prepared for the enemies and so the Lamanites could have no power over them.

               Surely there is a great spiritual lesson in this story for us as we seek to prepare ourselves and our families for future challenges and adversity. We must prepare ourselves spiritually with the same intensity as we look forward to prophesied future events which we know must come. Moroni knew of course that Amalickiah’s armies would one day be coming upon them, and he prepared feverishly to be ready for the day. We also know that difficulties and temptations and increased wickedness in the world await us. The Lord warned us in these words in the Olivet Discourse: “For in those days there shall also arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great signs and wonders, insomuch, that, if possible, they shall deceive the very elect, who are the elect according to the covenant. Behold, I speak these things unto you for the elect’s sake; and you also shall hear of wars, and rumors of wars; see that ye be not troubled, for all I have told you must come to pass; but the end is not yet…. Behold I speak for mine elect’s sake; for nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom; there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. And again, because iniquity shall abound, the love of men shall wax cold” (JSM 1:22-23,29-30). There will be deceivers who will seek to take us off the covenant path, there will be wars and tribulations, there will be famines and earthquakes, and there will be increased iniquity and less love among men. The Lord has given us these warnings for a reason—so that we will prepare. He said in another revelation after telling of similar calamities to come: “I tell you these things because of your prayers… but if ye are prepared ye shall not fear” (Doctrine and Covenants 38:30). But we must prepare with the same fervor as Captain Moroni as we seek to spiritually protect ourselves and our families. Perhaps the most important way that we will prepare ourselves is to do as the Savior also said in the Olivet Discourse: “And whoso treasureth up my word, shall not be deceived” (JSM 1:37). We must treasure up His word from the scriptures, from modern prophets, from the temple, and from the whisperings of the Holy Spirit. As we do so we will not be deceived by these difficult times ahead.  

 After the Lamanites failed to take these two Nephite cities and departed for a time, I love how Mormon described what Moroni did next: “And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites” (Alma 50:1). He did not let a single victory cause him to let down his guard. Rather, he kept preparing and doing all that he could to be ready for the next attack of the Lamanites. We must spiritually seek to do the same in our lives as we likewise arm ourselves against the attacks of the adversary. If we can be like he was, then we have this powerful promise from Mormon: “Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men” (Alma 48:17).