General Comments on Alma 43-52 These chapters could be summarized as "Moroni versus the Bad Guys". The history covered in these chapters presents one bad guy after another being beaten by Moroni: ch. 43-44 Moroni versus Zerahemnah ch. 46-51 Moroni versus Amalikiah ch. 51 Moroni versus King men ch. 52 Moroni versus Ammoron While it would be easy to say the underlying message is the good guy survives and wins while the bad guys are destroyed, this is obviously a gross simplification. The real underlying message is Moroni is a righteous Nephite and most, if not all, of the leaders he is fighting against are apostate Nephites. The Nephite problems throughout these chapters are not instigated by the Lamanites, but by the dissident and apostate Nephites. If it were not for the apostate Nephites inspiring the Lamanites to war the Nephites would never have to defend themselves. Who are the Nephites worst enemies? Themselves. General Comments on Alma 43-46 Chapters 43-44 deal mainly with events surrounding a Lamanite invasion inspired by apostate Nephites. Chapter 45 mainly addresses Alma's departure from Zarahemla. And chapter 46 deals with Amalikiah's leadership over a group of apostate dissenters and Moroni's reaction to them. While the chapters appear to be largely historical, there is an underlying spiritual theme. In ch. 43-44 the Lamanites attack the Nephites and fail because, as Moroni puts it: God will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion; and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith. (44:4) Then in ch. 45 Alma predicts the demise of the Nephites: Behold, I perceive that this very people, the Nephites, ... shall dwindle in unbelief. Yea, and then shall they see wars and pestilences, yea, famines and bloodshed, even until the people of Nephi shall become extinct Yea, and this because they shall dwindle in unbelief and fall into the works of darkness, and lasciviousness, and all manner of iniquities; yea, I say unto you, that because they shall sin against so great light and knowledge, yea, I say unto you, that from that day, even the fourth generation shall not all pass away before this great iniquity shall come. (45:10-12) While Alma's prediction of the annihilation of the Nephites is still hundreds of years off, we see a similar situation only months later because of the evil desires of Amalikiah: Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous' sake. However, again, the believers are led by Moroni and once again prevail because, as Moroni puts it: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions. This remains a major underlying theme throughout the rest of the book of Mormon. The Nephites and Lamanites wax and wane in righteousness for the next 500 years until the final Nephite slide into apostasy. This final act of rebellion results in their annihilation as the Lord abandons them to their enemies. Comments on Alma 43 v1-2 conclude Mormon's detailed account of the history of Alma and his sons and segue to the more general historical accounts of the Nephites. Alma and his sons return to preaching the gospel among the Nephites (v. 1) according to the Spirit and their callings in the Priesthood (v. 2). v3-22 Mormon's account returns to the general history of the Nephites (v. 3). The Zoramites, who are dissident Nephites, combine with the Lamanites and instigate a Lamanite invasion of the Nephites (v. 4-5). The leader of the invasion force (v. 6) uses apostate Nephites as military leaders because their hatred is so great it inspires the Lamanites to war against an otherwise peaceful group of people who have caused no offense to the Lamanites (v. 7-14). When the invasion force approaches Nephite territory the two armies face off (v. 15). The Nephite armies have been well prepared with weapons and armor by their leader (v. 16-19), but the Lamanite armies are completely without armor. The result is the Lamanite armies are scared of conflict even though they outnumber the Nephite armies (v. 20-21) by more than double (cf. v. 51). The result is the Lamanites decide not attack here, but to start their invasion where they assume the Nephites will not be so well defended (v. 22). v4 This group of Zoramites consist of the most hardened and apostate members of that population as the more repentant persons who were favorably disposed to Alma's message were expelled in 35:6. v5 "Zerahemna", while the text never explicitly states he is an apostate Nephite, his connection to and use of Zoramite and Amlicite leadership suggests he is. v7-14 are a lengthy parenthesis by Mormon explaining how it is the Lamanites in general were persuaded to go to war with the Nephites when they did nothing to instigate it per v. 9-10. It was only the intense hatred of this tiny minority of apostate Nephites placed in leadership positions that pushed the larger Lamanite population to invasion. v13-14, 21 Mormon reviews the relative sizes of populations and the relative numbers involved in the war. Even though a sizeable population of Lamanites left and joined the Nephites as Anti- Nephi-Lehis the two populations are roughly the same size. This is because the Lamanites are composed of the natural lineage of Laman as well as all of the descendants of dissenters and current dissenters as well. However, while the populations are roughly the same size the armies are not. The Nephites maintained a well equipped (cf. 43:18-19) professional standing army (cf. 27:23-24, 28:1, 43:16- 17; note in 43:26 the professional armies muster all available hands for the Nephite defense against the Lamanites, which necessarily implies there was no general mustering of troops among the Nephites previous to this) where the Lamanites appear to have mustered all available men for a war of conquest. Hence the Nephite armies being smaller (cf. v. 21) but better equipped (cf. v. 20-21) than the recently mustered Lamanites armies. v18 "cimeters", the contemporary English spelling for a curved blade sword is "scimitar". Anciently, straight swords were typically thrusting weapons rather than slicing weapons. A scimitar would have been different in that it had a curved and sharpened edge used for slicing. They were commonly employed by cavalry, so this might imply the Nephite forces included cavalry. v20-21 Note the jab Mormon takes at the apostate Nephite leaders among the Lamanites. They have thick clothing and helmets to protect themselves while the men under their command are effectively naked. v23-54 When the invading Lamanite force retreats Moroni sends spies to follow them and also sends messengers to Alma to see if the Lord will reveal to him where they are going and what to do (v. 23). Moroni receives word from Alma that the Lamanites plan on attacking a poorly defended section of Nephite territory (v. 24). Moroni leaves a portion of his army there in Jershon (v. 25), musters all available Nephites for the defense (v. 26), and then goes to set an ambush for the Lamanite armies (v. 27-34). The Lamanites fall into the trap set for them (v. 35-36) with the Lamanites suffering much heavier casualties because of their poorly armored condition (v. 37-38). The Lamanites start to retreat out of fear and cross the river Sidon only to find a fresh army of Nephites on that side of the river as well (v. 39- 42). The Lamanites fight bravely in the battle and are inspired by their hate-filled leaders (v. 43-44), but the Nephites are inspired by a better cause and a righteous leader who compels them to fight for it (v. 45-48). Despite being outnumbered two to one, the Nephites rally in the name of the Lord and attack the Lamanites forcing them to retreat into the river Sidon (v. 49- 51). With the armies of the Lamanites forced against the river and surrounded in the front and rear with Nephite armies they retreat into a single defensive body out of fear (v. 51-52). When Moroni sees this he calls a halt to the Nephite offensive (v. 53). v29-30 are a parenthetical comment by Mormon explaining why it is Moroni felt it was justifiable to use spies in combat. Today using spies and whatever intelligence and whatever means are available simply goes without question, no matter how dubious or scandalous. Which, more than anything else, indicates how much moral ground we've ceded when our first reaction is "the means justify the ends". v46-47 are a parenthetical comment on the religious position regarding war. As long as you are not guilty of offense or instigating (v. 46) then you must defend your families even if it means killing by war (v. 47). For similar statements cp. 1 Sam. 13:1-4, 3 Ne. 3:21, D&C 98:23-48 and ct. Mosiah 21:6-12. Copyright © 2001 by S. Kurt Neumiller . All rights reserved. No part of this text may be reproduced in any form or by any means for commercial gain without the express written consent of the author. Digital or printed copies may be freely made and distributed for personal and public non-commercial use.