Righteous Warriors by John Bytheway

Author:John Bytheway [Bytheway, John]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Book of Mormon, War
Publisher: Deseret Book Company
Published: 2004-03-09T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 11

Alma 54: Fear God More Than Armies

Ammoron and Moroni negotiate for the exchange of prisoners—Moroni demands that the Lamanites withdraw and cease their murderous attacks—Ammoron demands that the Nephites lay down their arms and become subject to the Lamanites (Alma 54 headnote).

Warning: It is a federal offense to read other people’s mail. Nevertheless, we get to read a couple of other people’s letters in Alma 54. Ammoron, the new king of the Lamanites who succeeded his brother, Amalickiah, sent a message to Moroni indicating that he wanted to exchange prisoners. Moroni rejoiced at the suggestion since food was scarce. He wanted to feed his own armies rather than divide food between his people and the Lamanite prisoners.

The Nephites held only Lamanite men as prisoners, while the Lamanites held entire families. Moroni wanted all of these Nephite families back, and in his response to Ammoron, Moroni told him that he had more to fear than just the Nephite armies.

This exchange of letters is so packed with passion and emotion that you’ll really miss out unless you read every word in Alma 54. I’ll just give you a few of my favorite verses and make a few comments.

Moroni doesn’t pull any punches as he responds to Ammoron’s initial request:

Behold, we are prepared to receive you; yea, and except you withdraw your purposes, behold, ye will pull down the wrath of that God whom you have rejected upon you, even to your utter destruction. But, as the Lord liveth, our armies shall come upon you except ye withdraw, and ye shall soon be visited with death, for we will retain our cities and our lands; yea, and we will maintain our religion and the cause of our God (Alma 54:9–10).

~ Mini Lesson: Moroni lets Ammoron know that he ought to fear God more than anything else. Moroni seems to be saying, “It’s not my wrath you ought to fear but the wrath of God, which we will be happy to deliver unless you withdraw.” Similarly we are told in modern scripture, “Fear not what man can do,” and “You should not have feared man more than God” (D&C 122:9; 3:7). ç

When Moroni wrote his letter to Ammoron, was he measuring his words? Was he beating around the bush? Was he trying to “win friends and influence people?” Read on: “But behold, it supposeth me that I talk to you concerning these things in vain; or it supposeth me that thou art a child of hell” (Alma 54:11).

Some may read those words and think, “Gee, Moroni, don’t sugarcoat it. How do you really feel about this guy?” Others may think Moroni’s words were a little too harsh. Some may even ask, “Would Jesus talk that way?”

Is Being Meek the Same As Being Weak?

Fortunately we are supplied with the answer, right in our scriptures. Open your Book of Mormon to Alma 54 and look at footnote “a” in verse 11. What do you see? It points you to John 8:44.

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