Alma 62:40-48

⁴⁰ And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the righteous' sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared. ⁴¹ But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.

⁴² And it came to pass that after Moroni had fortified those parts of the land which were most exposed to the Lamanites, until they were sufficiently strong, he returned to the city of Zarahemla; and also Helaman returned to the place of his inheritance; and there was once more peace established among the people of Nephi. ⁴³ And Moroni yielded up the command of his armies into the hands of his son, whose name was Moronihah; and he retired to his own house that he might spend the remainder of his days in peace.

Alma 62:40-43 (Emphasis mine)

During the war, there were problems among the Nephites.  Mormon writes, “there had been murders, and contentions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi.”  In spite of this wickedness, the Nephites were preserved.  Why?  Mormon continues, “because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared.”

He tells us that there were two types of people.  Because of the length of the war, there were those who “had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war.”  Then there were those who “were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.”

Hugh Nibley observes:

“It is true that some environments favor virtue as others do sin, that ‘an unrighteous king doth pervert the ways of all righteousness’ (Mosiah 29:23), and sometimes ‘the voice of the people doth choose iniquity’ (Mosiah 29:27), but that is no excuse for an individual; he is not thereby deprived of his knowledge of good and evil or his free agency: in a telling passage Alma reports how ‘because of the exceedingly great length of the war ... many had become hardened ... and many were softened because of their afflictions’ (Alma 62:41). The same cause produced a hardening in the one case and a softening in the other—who could blame the war for his bad behavior? No person or thing can force another to sin, for a sin is only a sin to that degree to which one participates of his own free will.”[1]  (Emphasis mine)

Once the war ended, Moroni₁ retired as the commander of the Nephite armies.  He turned the command over to his son, Moronihah, and returned home. 

As I read these two verses, I couldn’t help but think about George Washington.  He was a man who could have had the power of a king, yet he resigned and returned home, just like Moroni₁.

“And as soon as the long war was over, what did he do? As the savior of his country and a national hero, he could have been elected to any position he chose, including that of king or dictator—he had achieved the very thing for which Amalickiah had plotted and struggled so long. But instead of going on to a brilliant career, Moroni, though still a young man (Alma 43:17), ‘yielded up the command of his armies, ... and he retired to his own house that he might spend the remainder of his days in peace’—all his words about peace and equality had not been just talk (Alma 62:43).”[2]  (Emphasis mine)

⁴⁴ And Pahoran did return to his judgment–seat; and Helaman did take upon him again to preach unto the people the word of God; for because of so many wars and contentions it had become expedient that a regulation should be made again in the church. ⁴⁵ Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth, and did declare the word of God with much power unto the convincing of many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins and to be baptized unto the Lord their God. ⁴⁶ And it came to pass that they did establish again the church of God, throughout all the land.

⁴⁷ Yea, and regulations were made concerning the law.  And their judges, and their chief judges were chosen. ⁴⁸ And the people of Nephi began to prosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land.  And they began to grow exceedingly rich.

Alma 62:44-48 (Emphasis mine)

Pahoran returned to the judgment-seat; Helaman₂ returned to his role in the church.  The word of God was preached to the people, and they repented and were baptized.  The church was established throughout the land.

Changes were made in how the chief judges were chosen.  The people began to prosper and “to grow exceedingly rich.”

“After the war, the Nephite system for administering justice had to be reconstituted, demonstrating how thoroughly disrupted the judicial system was during this time. As the record indicates, soon after the recapture of Zarahemla, ‘Pahoran did return to his judgment-seat’ (Alma 62:44), and new ‘regulations were made concerning the law. And their judges, and their chief judges were chosen’ (Alma 62:47). Evidently, defending the nation had involved everyone. Even Helaman, the high priest over the church, had temporarily set aside his ecclesiastical responsibilities to lead a regiment. After the war, he too found that ‘a regulation should be made again in the church.’ He and his brothers ‘did establish again the church of God, throughout all the land’ (Alma 62:44, 46). During this particular time of extreme national crisis, most social institutions — including the judicial system and the church organization — were effectively placed on hold until victory was won. In most other times of war, however, the Nephites apparently were able to maintain their judicial system and religious organization.”[3]  (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Good People and Bad People, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 1, 2012.

[2] Freemen and King-men in the Book of Mormon, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 1, 2012.

[3] Law and War in the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed June 1, 2012.