17 Gather together whatsoever force ye can upon your
march hither, and we will go speedily against those dissenters, in the strength of our
God according to the faith which is in us. 18 And we will
take possession of the city of Zarahemla, that we may obtain more food to send
forth unto Lehi and Teancum; yea, we will go forth against them in the strength
of the Lord, and we will put an end to this great iniquity.
Alma 61:17-18 (Emphasis mine)
Once Moroni1 arrives with his forces, Pahoran
writes, “we will go speedily against those dissenters, in the strength of our
God according to the faith which is in us.”
Once we take possession of the city of Zarahemla, food and other
supplies will be sent to Lehi2 and Teancum.
“Pahoran wrote back explaining that the king-men had risen
up and driven him from the center of government and the dissenters had made an
alliance with the Lamanites. He called on Moroni to join him in resisting these
rebellious dissensions ‘with our swords,’ by marching at the head of part of
his army, joining up with Pahoran, and ‘we will go speedily against those
dissenters, in the strength of our God according to the faith which is in us’
(Alma 61:17). Moroni did so, and he and Pahoran defeated the armies of the
dissenters, led by Pachus.”[1]
19 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. 20 But ye have
said, except they repent the Lord hath commanded you that ye should go against
them. 21 See that ye strengthen Lehi and Teancum in
the Lord; tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and
also all those who stand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free. And now I close mine epistle to my beloved
brother, Moroni.
Alma 61:19-21 (Emphasis mine)
Once again, we see the hesitant Pahoran. Before receiving this epistle, he still
questioned the use of force. “Even in
this dire emergency he hesitates to use force, being ‘worried concerning what
we should do, whether it should be just in us to go against our brethren’ (Alma
61:19). Like Moroni sparing the drunken guards, he is more concerned with doing
what is just than anything else, and it is Moroni's letter, he
says, that has made up his mind for him, since it declares that the Lord wants
action (Alma 61:20).”[2]
Having received the courage he needed from Moroni1’s
epistle, he is ready to fight once Moroni1’s forces arrive. He tells him to assure Lehi1 and Teancum “God
will deliver them, yea, and also all those who stand fast in that liberty
wherewith God hath made them free.”
Remember, the Nephites were reluctant warriors. They fought only when they had no other
choice. They were very quick to accept
surrender and reluctant to keep prisoners of war. Lynn Wardle looks at a possible downside of the
philosophy.
“Indeed, it might be speculated that Moroni and the
righteous Nephites endured much more war and destruction because of Moroni's
policy of enduring dissent and readily forgiving and reaccepting dissenters. Perhaps
the internal disruptions that Moroni and Pahoran had to put down in year 31 of
the reign of the judges would not have occurred if Moroni had not so quickly
reaccepted the dissenting followers of Amalickiah in year 19 of the reign of
the judges, or the king-men who rebelled a few years later (Alma 46:35–36;
51:19–20; 61:3–8; 62:2–10). But patient suffering to give the rebellious
full opportunity to use their agency to work through their dissent and repent,
or to seal their own condemnation, was Moroni's policy. It seems to be the
Lord's policy in our day as well (D&C 98:23–48).”[3]
(Emphasis mine)
Chapter 62
Moroni marches to the
aid of Pahoran in the land of Gideon—The king–men who refuse to defend their
country are put to death—Pahoran and Moroni retake Nephihah—Many Lamanites join
the people of Ammon—Teancum slays Ammoron and is in turn slain—The Lamanites
are driven from the land, and peace is established—Helaman returns to the
ministry and builds up the Church. About 62–57 B.C.
1 AND now it came to pass that when Moroni had
received this epistle his heart did take courage, and was filled
with exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoran, that
he was not also a traitor to the freedom and cause of his country. 2
But he did also mourn exceedingly because of the iniquity of those who had
driven Pahoran from the judgment–seat, yea, in fine because of those who had
rebelled against their country and also their God.
3 And it came to pass that Moroni took a small number of
men, according to the desire of Pahoran, and gave Lehi and Teancum command over
the remainder of his army, and took his march towards the land of Gideon.
4
And he
did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained
whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon. 5
And it came to pass that thousands did flock unto his standard,
and did take up their swords in the defence of their freedom, that they might
not come into bondage.
Alma 62:1-5 (Emphasis mine)
Having received Pahoran’s epistle, Moroni1 had
mixed feelings. He “was filled with
exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoran.” On the other hand, “he did also mourn
exceedingly because of the iniquity of those who had drive Pahoran from the judgment-seat.”
He organized a small group and began the march to support
Pahoran. Along the way, “he did raise
the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter [In memory of our God,
our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—Alma 46:12].” This was an effective recruiting tool. “[T]housands did flock unto his standard, and
did take up their swords in the defence of their freed, that they might not
come into bondage.”
Moroni1 is now prepared to face the final battle.
[1] Dissent:
Perspectives from the Book of Mormon, Lynn D. Wardle, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, accessed May 27, 2012.
[2] A
Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed May 27, 2012.
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