Moroni Hates Indifference
Book of Mormon Notes - Friday, November 10, 2023, Alma 59
I’ve mentioned previously that there are symbolic readings of the “war chapters” and metaphors for life in everything that Moroni and his associates accomplished. I’ve also mentioned that it makes sense to read these “war chapters” first very literally, considering especially that the last days have been, are, and will be a time of wars and of rumors of wars. As much as I think that it is necessary to understand the plain and literal meaning of the “war chapters”, this morning in my study I began to think of the loss and the recapturing of Nephite cities in terms of the spiritual warfare in which we are each engaged, and the loss of, and the restoration of souls to Jesus Christ.
Without elaborating too much upon this idea, I’m sure that it’s easy to think of the loss of, and the recapture of the Nephite cities in terms of the souls of those of us who stray and then are reclaimed by the Lord. In the most recent General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Uchtdorf spoke on this topic as well. Elder Uceda also spoke in a similar vein recently. Elder Alan T. Phillips’ recent talk is also memorable in this regard. If we think of Moroni, Helaman, and the other Nephite heroes in terms of ministering and leading souls unto Christ, it is easy to see many parallels between the military matters in the Book of Alma and spiritual matters in rescuing lost and straying sheep. This is just an idea to keep in mind as we proceed in our study of this great and most correct book, the Book of Mormon.
With this thought in mind, consider how much Moroni’s response to Helaman’s encouraging letter might remind us of the joy of our Lord and the joy of our Father in Heaven whenever one soul repents:
Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, after Moroni had received and had read Helaman’s aepistle, he was exceedingly rejoiced because of the welfare, yea, the exceeding success which Helaman had had, in obtaining bthose lands which were lost.
Yea, and he did make it known unto all his people, in all the land round about in that part where he was, that they might rejoice also. (Alma 59:1-2)
Like Helaman, Moroni also sent an epistle to Pahoran in Zarahemla in order to request more aid for Helaman and his men. Helaman’s good news inspired Moroni and gave him the boost that he needed in order to lay a play for recapturing the remainder of those possessions and cities which the Lamanites had taken from them. But the onslaught and the opposition from the Lamanites was relentless. No sooner had Moroni begun to plan to rescue more Nephite cities than the Lamanites attacked once again, this time seizing the city of Nephihah and causing the inhabitants thereof to flee to Moroni’s armies.
Ammoron and his fierce Lamanite warriors were relentless and much more numerous than the Nephites. Unsurprisingly, Moroni was righteously furious because he had supposed that there ashould be men sent to the city of Nephihah, to the assistance of the people to maintain that city. Moroni knew that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them. He thought that the Nephites could have easily maintained the city of Nephihah. But to his great sorrow and dismay, Moroni discovered that the great Nephite city of Nephihah was alost. Returning to our allegorical reading, it is well to remember that no one, no matter how great, no matter how strong in the Gospel, is immune from the attacks of the adversary, and that each one of us, no matter how strong, must repent and come unto Christ daily.
Moroni was exceedingly sorrowful. He even began to doubt, as did all of his chief captains, because of the wickedness of the people. In spite of the great victories of the Nephites in the west with Helaman at the head of the armies, Moroni and his chief captains doubted and marveled because of the wickedness of the Nephites. They attributed the Lamanite victories over the Nephites to the Nephites own degeneracy. And they were right.
But Moroni didn’t dwell in his sorrow and disappointment. His sorrow immediately transformed into righteous anger that was directed toward what he, and Helaman, supposed was the root cause of the problem, namely corruption in the Nephite central government.
And what was it exactly that roused righteous Moroni’s ire about the government? Moroni was angry with the government, because of their aindifference concerning the freedom of their country.
As much as Moroni sorrowed because of the wickedness of the people and the loss of the city of Nephihah, there is one thing that Moroni detested even more, that is, indifference, or in other words, pride and complacency.