Moronihah, having retaken half the land lost, was not able
to retake more. “For some time the battle stalls in what looks to be a
protracted stalemate (see Helaman 4:18), and the Nephite state faces an
exceptional circumstance in which its very existence is jeopardized (see 4:20).”[1]
The Lamanites had a much larger army. The Nephites realized
if they attacked, they would be overpowered and killed.
In a bad situation, the people began to remember prophecies
by the Nephite prophets. They remembered Alma’s words. “And now my beloved
brethren, I say unto you, can ye withstand these sayings; yea, can ye lay aside
these things, and trample the Holy One under your feet; yea, can ye be puffed
up in the pride of your hearts; yea, will ye still persist in the wearing of costly
apparel and setting your hearts upon the vain things of the world, upon your riches?”
(Alma 5:53).
They also remembered the words of King Mosiah. “And if the
time comes that the voice of the people doth choose iniquity, then is the time
that the judgments of God will come upon you; yea, then is the time he will
visit you with great destruction even as he has hitherto visited this land” (Mosiah
29:27).
They realized they had become a wicked people and had failed
to keep God’s commandments. “But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and
would none of my reproof” (Proverbs 1:25).
They had ignored the laws of Moses, which had been accepted
as law at the end of King Mosiah’s reign. “Now it came to pass that in the
first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, from this time
forward, king Mosiah having gone the way of all the earth, having warred a good
warfare, walking uprightly before God, leaving none to reign in his stead;
nevertheless he had established laws, and they were acknowledged by the people;
therefore they were obliged to abide by the laws which he had made” (Alma 1:1).
Membership in the church declined during this time. They
rejected the spirit of prophecy and revelations. Now, they faced the judgements
of God.
The people had become spiritually weak like the Lamanites. The
Spirit of the Lord no longer preserved them. The Lord warns us throughout the
scriptures. “Why are thy valiant men
swept away? they stood not, because the LORD did drive them. He made many to
fall, yea, one fell upon another: and they said, Arise, and let us go again to
our own people, and to the land of our nativity, from the oppressing sword. They
did cry there, Pharaoh king of Egypt is
but a noise; he hath passed the time appointed” (Jeremiah 46:15-17).
“Yea, and moreover I say unto you, that if this highly
favored people of the Lord should fall into transgression, and become a wicked
and an adulterous people, that the Lord will deliver them up, that thereby they
become weak like unto their brethren; and he will no more preserve them by his
matchless and marvelous power, as he has hitherto preserved our fathers” (Mosiah
1:13).
The Spirit no longer dwelt within them. He will not dwell in
unholy places. “Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times
some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing [GR deceitful]
spirits, and doctrines of devils” (1 Timothy 4:1).
“How that they told you there should be mockers in the last
time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate
themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit” (Jude 1:18-19).
“But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against
the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many
things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught” (2 Nephi 33:2).
“And now, I say unto you, my brethren, that after ye have
known and have been taught all these things, if ye should transgress and go contrary
to that which has been spoken, that ye do withdraw yourselves from the Spirit
of the Lord, that it may have no place in you to guide you in wisdom's paths
that ye may be blessed, prospered, and preserved. I say unto you, that the man
that doeth this, the same cometh out in open rebellion against God; therefore
he listeth to obey the evil spirit, and becometh an enemy to all righteousness;
therefore, the Lord has no place in him, for he dwelleth not in unholy temples”
(Mosiah 2:36-37).
“For behold, if ye deny the Holy Ghost when it once has had
place in you, and ye know that ye deny it, behold, this is a sin which is unpardonable;
yea, and whosoever murdereth against the light and knowledge of God, it is not
easy for him to obtain forgiveness; yea, I say unto you, my son, that it is not
easy for him to obtain a forgiveness” (Alma 39:6).
“To become unspotted from the world requires not only faith
but repentance and obedience. We must live the standards and do those things
which will entitle us to the constant companionship and guidance of the Holy
Ghost—for the Spirit cannot dwell in unholy temples.”[2]
“And he doth not dwell in unholy temples; neither can
filthiness or anything which is unclean be received into the kingdom of God;
therefore I say unto you the time shall come, yea, and it shall be at the last
day, that he who is filthy shall remain in his filthiness” (Alma 7:21).
“And this I know, because the Lord hath said he dwelleth not
in unholy temples, but in the hearts of the righteous doth he dwell; yea, and
he has also said that the righteous shall sit down in his kingdom, to go no
more out; but their garments should be made white through the blood of the Lamb”
(Alma 34:36).
The Nephites were not protected by the power of God because of
their unbelief. “And [the Savior] marvelled because of their unbelief [OR lack
of faith]. And he went round about the villages, teaching” (Mark 6:6). “Afterward
he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief
and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after
he was risen” (Mark 16:14).
Their only hope was to cleave unto the Lord. Should they fail
to do this, they will be destroyed. “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, I beseech
of you in words of soberness that ye would repent, and come with full purpose
of heart, and cleave unto God as he cleaveth unto you. And while his arm of
mercy is extended towards you in the light of the day, harden not your hearts” (Jacob
6:5).
“Yea, cleave unto me with all your heart, that you may
assist in bringing to light those things of which has been spoken—yea, the translation
of my work; be patient until you shall accomplish it” (D&C 11:19).
The Nephites and Lamanites were evenly matched. While the
Nephites had been stronger, through the sins, they became a weak people in a
few years.
[1] For
the Peace of the People: War and Democracy in the Book of Mormon, Ryan W.
Davis, Journal of Book of Mormon Studies 16/1 (2007): 51.
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