Spiritual Preperation

I've been studying about Captain Moroni and the Nephites in the book of Alma.  In Alma chapter 43 the Nephites are fighting the Zoramites and Amalekites.  These Nephite dissenters were fighting for monarchy and power and Nephite bondage, but the Nephites were "inspired by a better cause" (vs 45).  The Nephites were "fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church" (vs 45).  How does this physical battle compare to the spiritual battles that we will have to fight.  What is our spiritual inspiration?  What can we learn from how the Nephites prepared and defended?   

Our inspiration comes from asking the question why?  Why are we fighting?  Why are we preparing? I think the answer is so that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father.  Knowing our goals helps us overcome our obstacles.  The Nephites were fighting to protect their families and their liberties.  We are also fighting for the same reason.  As we defend our families from Satan we are free from captivity. 

As I read chapter 43 I made a list of things that helped the Nephites beat the Lamanites.  I then took each of these physical things and found a spiritual counterpart.  The Nephites had body armor--breastplates, helmets and shields.  We also have a spiritual armor.  In D&C 27 verses 15-17 we learn what the armor of God is and how we should wear it.  They had a plan and knew where the enemy would attack. Captain Moroni sent spies to see where the enemy would attack and he also asked Alma to pray and tell him where he should put his men.  The plan of Salvation is our plan and through guidance and council from our prophets we know where Satan is going to attack.  One are of attack is the family.  It is so important for us to strengthen our families.  The Nephites had good leaders and obeyed their council. Captain Moroni and Alma were their leaders then and today our leaders are the prophets and apostles, our teachers and ward leaders and our parents.  They had a good cause and they had God on their side.  Knowing that we are on the side of good and that we will win is inspiration enough for me. 

Later, in Alma chapter 48, Moroni is preparing the people for another battle.  He first prepared their minds to be faithful, then he built walls and erected forts.  He also placed the greatest number of people in the weakest areas.  We can prepare our minds by increased study.  We can build walls and forts in our home by making it a place of refuge and safety--a place where the spirit can reside.  And make our weak areas our strengths through prayer and hard work. 

I know that there is a possibility of having to fight physical battles like the Nephites, but it is a surety that we will have to fight spiritual battles.  Will we be prepared?  Will we understand the reason we have to fight?  I find courage in the words found in D&C 38:30: "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear."

Nephi Gets the Plates

image source:
http://www.whatdomormonsbelieve.com/2008/07/shalt-thou-kill/ 

Nephi and his brothers were commanded to go back to Jerusalem and get the plates from Laban.  They make three attempts.  The first they leave the results up to fate by casting lots.  The second they try worldly things by hoping to trade all their riches for the plates.  Finally Nephi puts his faith in God and goes into the city trusting that God will guide him.  He finds Laban on the ground and the spirit tells Nephi to slay Laban.  Nephi hesitates, but eventually kills Laban and retrieves the plates and returns to his brothers outside the walls of the city. 

What did Nephi know after this experience? 

*Nephi learned that he could identify the spirit.  It was the spirit that told him to kill Laban, not his own emotions.  In 1 Ne. chapter 4 verse 11, Nephi writes all the bad things that Laban had done--all the things that make you think he deserved to be killed.  Then the spirit tells Nephi again to slay Laban and that the Lord delivered him into his hands.

*Nephi also understood the importance of the written word of God--that it was more important than Laban's life.  The spirit said that "it is better that one man should perish than that a nation should dwindle and perish in unbelief."  Along with that he also understood that the only way his people would be able to keep the commandments and prosper in the land would be if they had the commandments.  And the commandments (the Law of Moses) were written on the plates of brass.

*Nephi learned that he was obedient.  When the spirit first told Nephi to kill Laban, he "shrunk and would that [he] might not slay him."  This commandment was hard for Nephi to obey because he had never killed a man before and probably because of the commandment not to kill.  But after much pondering he understood the importance of the task. 

Nephi probably already new most of those things, but I think they were made stronger and he understood more Heavenly Father's plan for him.