The Book if Mormon was written for us, for our time, for our challenges, and to help us come closer to God. Every story and every chapter were perfectly placed to teach each of us something.
Mormon spends 2 whole chapters telling us about Amalekiah (Alma 46-47). We learn a lot about him, specifically that he had a goal...and he would rest at nothing until his goal was obtained. He wanted to be king of a people. When he was unsuccessful at becoming king of the Nephites, he turned his attention to becoming king of the Laminates. He stopped at nothing to achieve his goal. He used trickery, flattery, murder, and lies. And he was successful.
Mormon also spends a significant amount of time.telling us about Captain Moroni (Alma 43, 44, 46, 48). We know he was a talented Captain, that he had a strong sense of right, and that he hated bloodshed. He had a testimony of Jesus Christ and was willing to defend that testimony with weapons and his life. He shared his testimony and reminded the Nephites what was important: our God, our religion and freedom, our peace, and our families.
These two men had many encounters, but what struck me was what happened before they met for the second time. "Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God" (Alma 48:7).
The Book of Mormon goes on to say that Moroni prepared his Cities, strengthened the armies, erected forts, and made their previously weak spots strengths. "And thus he was preparing to support their liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace, and that they might live unto the Lord their God, and that they might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians" (Alma 48:10).
Moroni knew Amalekiah was out there. He knew what this wicked man was capable of, and he knew that Amalekiah was out to destroy everything the Nephites believed in. He knew that his people needed to be prepared, not only physically, but also faithfully for the long, bloody war that was about to come.
Sisters, we are also at war. This war began in the premortal life. We chose then to follow our Savior and to fight against the devil and his angels. Satan has been preparing for a long time, seeking to overthrow the kingdom and to rule over us. He is using deceit, flattery, and lies, hoping to murder the souls of those belonging to the Betallion of God. He wants us, he wants our husbands, and he wants our children.
But Jesus Christ also wants us, our husbands, and our children. He needs us to prepare, to strengthen ourselves to defend our God, our religion and freedom, our peace, and our families.
For each of us, this will look a bit different. It may take the form of significant conversations, teaching our sons the evils of pornography and helping them have a plan for when (not if) they encounter it. It may look like having important conversations with our daughters about the sanctity of life and the miracles that happen when procreative powers are used appropriately, and help them make a plan for when (not if) the temptations come to sell themselves short. Preparation may look like teaching a stubborn 2 year old to fold his arms during prayers, or helping a 7 year old learn the Articles of Faith before baptism.
Personal preparation is vital also was we read and study the scriptures, pray fervently, attend the temple, and seek the Lord's guidance to make our weaknesses become strengths. (I have also heard that if couples will regularly do these things together, it will strengthen marriages and tie them together more firmly).
I CHALLENGE YOU to know, by personal revelation and the power of the Holy Ghost, what you need to do to prepare yourself, your husband, and your children against the onslaught of Satan. Yes, it's that important.
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