While Amalickiah had been active organizing the Lamanites
for war, Moroni was also make preparations.
Forts had been built. Earthen
mounds were built as was stone walls around cities and borders. This was done throughout the land. He identified weak spots and made an extra
effort to fortify their defense.
Mormon tells us about Moroni. He described him as a strong, might man. He had perfect understanding. He wanted his
people to continue their liberties and freedom.
He fought against bondage and slavery. He did not desire bloodshed.
He was grateful to God for the blessings upon the Nephites.
He cared deeply for the welfare and safety of his people.
Moroni was firm in his faith in Christ. He had sworn an oath to protect the Nephites.
“Behold, whosoever will maintain
this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter
into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that
the Lord God may bless them. And it came to pass that when Moroni had
proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their
armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant,
that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they
should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed
to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they
had rent their garments. Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast
their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we
shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall
fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even
as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall
fall into transgression” (Alma 46:20-22).
Mormon reiterates the Lord’s law of war. War is only justified if the other side
attacks first and war is needed to preserve life and liberty. “And they were doing that which they felt was
the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and
also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first
offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the
hands of your enemies. And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your
families even unto bloodshed. Therefore
for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend
themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their
rights, and their religion” (Alma 43:46-47).
“Now the people said unto Gidgiddoni: Pray unto the Lord,
and let us go up upon the mountains and into the wilderness, that we may fall
upon the robbers and destroy them in their own lands. But Gidgiddoni saith unto
them: The Lord forbid; for if we should go up against them the Lord would deliver
us into their hands; therefore we will prepare ourselves in the center of our
lands, and we will gather all our armies together, and we will not go against
them, but we will wait till they shall come against us; therefore as the Lord
liveth, if we do this he will deliver them into our hands” (3 Nephi 3:20-21).
The people had faith if they kept the commandments of God,
they would prosper in the land. The Lord
would also warn them to flee or prepare for war as appropriate.
The Nephites also had faith the Lord would guide them to
their enemies. A previous chief captain,
Zoram, turned to Alma during a time of war.
“And it came to pass that Alma inquired of the Lord concerning the
matter. And Alma returned and said unto
them: Behold, the Lamanites will cross the river Sidon in the south wilderness,
away up beyond the borders of the land of Manti. And behold there shall ye meet them, on the
east of the river Sidon, and there the Lord will deliver unto thee thy brethren
who have been taken captive by the Lamanites” (Alma 16:6).
Moroni also sent messengers to Alma, inquiring of him where
he should place his army. “But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed
into the wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp;
and Moroni, also, 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. And it came to
pass that the word of the Lord came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers
of Moroni, that the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the
wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might
commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the
message unto Moroni” (Alma 43:23-24).
The chief captain was a man of faith. “Now it was the custom among all the Nephites
to appoint for their chief captains, (save it were in their times of
wickedness) some one that had the spirit of revelation and also prophecy;
therefore, this Gidgiddoni was a great prophet among them, as also was the
chief judge” (3 Nephi 3:19).
It was not the Nephite custom to destroy the enemy. They fought until the freedoms were assured. “But
behold, this was not the desire of Moroni; he did not delight in murder or
bloodshed, but he delighted in the saving of his people from destruction; and
for this cause he might not bring upon him injustice, he would not fall upon
the Lamanites and destroy them in their drunkenness” (Alma 55:19).
Mormon sums up his description of Moroni, “[I]f 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. Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the
son of Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and
his sons, for they were all men of God” (Alma 48-17-18).
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