Chapter 60 contains Moroni1’s
epistle to the chief judge, Pahoran.
This epistle illustrates the complex nature of Moroni1’s
personality. We’ve seen his genius as a
military strategist and leader of men. He’s
committed to his soldiers and their needs.
But, we’ve also seen the quick to
anger and impulsive Moroni1. (See his negotiations with
Ammoron. He called him “a child of hell”
[Alma 54:11], not the wisest approach during a negotiation. Ammoron ends up to agreeing to his terms for
a prisoner exchange [Alma 54:20], but Moroni1 is so angered that,
even though he got the terms he wanted, he rejects a prisoner exchange [Alma
55:2]).
In this epistle, we once again see
the angry and impulsive Moroni1.
Chapter
60
Moroni complains to Pahoran of the government's neglect of the
armies—The Lord suffers the righteous to be slain—The Nephites must use all of
their power and means to deliver themselves from their enemies—Moroni threatens
to fight against the government unless help is supplied to his armies. About 62
B.C.
1 AND it came
to pass that he wrote again to the governor of the land, who was Pahoran, and
these are the words which he wrote, saying: Behold, I direct mine epistle to
Pahoran, in the city of Zarahemla, who is the chief judge and the governor over
the land, and also to all those who have been chosen by this people to govern
and manage the affairs of this war. 2 For behold, I
have somewhat to say unto them by the way of condemnation; for behold,
ye yourselves know that ye have been appointed to gather together men, and arm
them with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war of every
kind, and send forth against the Lamanites, in whatsoever parts they should
come into our land. 3 And now behold, I say unto you that myself,
and also my men, and also Helaman and his men, have suffered exceedingly great sufferings;
yea, even hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and all manner of afflictions of every
kind.
4 But behold, were
this all we had suffered we would not murmur nor complain.
Alma 60:1-4 (Emphasis mine)
Helaman2 has
written and ask for reinforcements and provisions and twice mentions he
received no response. Moroni1,
too, has not heard from the government. He
is rightfully unhappy with this apparent lack of support.
He begins by telling them he
has “somewhat to say unto them by the way “of condemnation.” He makes his unhappiness very clear.
He reminds them of their
responsibility to provide men and armaments.
They sent them throughout the land to battle the Lamanites.
They have suffered many
things (“myself, and also my men, and also Helaman and his men, have suffered
exceedingly great sufferings”). He
continues telling them “were this all we had suffered we would not murmur nor
complain.”
Richard Rust looks at the
epistle.
“The tone of Moroni's epistle
is described by Hugh Nibley: ‘The letter seethes with the resentment of
the man at the front for the easy-living ways of the “VIP's” back at the
capital—the old misunderstandings between the “office” and the “field.”' In
his thorough analysis of the letter, Nibley goes on to say:
“’Moroni
was bursting with pent-up emotions and the accumulated memories of reverses
that could have been avoided and operations that could have ended the war had
the necessary support been forthcoming from home. He knows, as Helaman
suspects, that someone in high places is working against him, and for his noble
and idealistic nature the thought that anyone should make capital of the
miseries of others was simply maddening.’
“Granted the bursting of
pent-up emotions, the epistle nevertheless has a shape of development that makes it
powerful and persuasive. (Moroni is incorrect in his surmise concerning
Pahoran, yet he is right in his main suspicion, and the force of his challenge
impels Pahoran to decisive action.) Though directing his epistle to
Pahoran specifically, Moroni at first speaks generally ‘by the way of
condemnation’ to ‘those who have been chosen by this people to govern and
manage the affairs of this war’ (Alma 60:2, 1). He reminds them of their
responsibility, tells how he and others have suffered afflictions, and then
recounts the slaughter among the people—which, he asserts, might have been
otherwise "if ye had rendered unto our armies sufficient strength and
succor for them" (Alma 60:5).”[1]
5 But
behold, great has been the slaughter among our people; yea, thousands have
fallen by the sword, while it might have otherwise been if ye had rendered unto
our armies sufficient strength and succor for them. Yea, great has been your neglect towards us. 6
And now behold, we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect;
yea, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state.
7 Can
you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your
enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands of
your brethren— 8 Yea, even they who have looked up to you for
protection, yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have succored
them, yea, ye might have sent armies unto them, to have strengthened them, and
have saved thousands of them from falling by the sword.
Alma 60:5-8 (Emphasis mine)
Thousands of our people have
been slaughtered because you, our government, did not provide us with “sufficient
strength and succor.” Moroni1
demands that he received an explanation.
Hugh Nibley writes, “[h]e admits his ignorance of the situation and asks
for information, and yet he cannot resist passing judgment with a peevish and
quite unjustified charge of negligence: ‘We desire to know the cause of this ...
neglect; yea ... of your thoughtless state’ (Alma 60:6—7).”[2]
We see an example of chiasmus
in these verses.
A But behold, great has been the slaughter among
our people; yea, thousands have
fallen by the sword,
B while it might have
otherwise been if ye had rendered unto our armies
sufficient strength and succor for them.
C Yea, great has been your neglect
towards us.
D And now behold, we desire to know the
cause of this exceedingly great
neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of
your thoughtless state.
D’ Can
you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor,
while
your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yea,
while they are murdering thousands of your
brethren—
B’ Yea, even they who have looked up
to you for protection, yea, have
placed you in a situation that
ye might have succored them, yea, ye might
have sent armies unto them, to
have strengthened them,
A’ and have saved thousands of them
from falling by the sword.
He continues his
accusations. Can you think to sit upon
your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading
the work of death around you?” He
reminds them again that he has placed them in a situation where support might
have saved thousands.
[1] "Their
Fathers" - Letters and Autobiography, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo,
Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 20, 2012.
[2] A
Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed May 20, 2012.
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