Jacob 1 - That We Might Persuade Them to Come Unto Christ I'm taking an online economics class right now, which prompted me to think of the definition of economics in the context of the scriptures. Economics is the study of the allocation of scarce resources. In the case of Nephi and his successor Jacob, the plates upon which they engraved their record was a scarce resource. They were costly to make and difficult to engrave, and instilling a tradition of passing them through generations was surely cumbersome. Recognizing the great importance of spiritual things and the challenge of maintaining records, Nephi instructed Jacob to prioritize religious instruction saying, " if there were preaching which was sacred, or revelation which was great, or prophesying, that I should engraven the heads of them upon these plates, and touch upon them as much as it were possible, for Christ’s sake, and for the sake of our people" (Jacob 1:4). This priority was not only reflecte...
Chapter 43 transitions from Alma's instructions to his sons and their missionary work to recount the war that broke out between the Nephites and the Lamanites. These chapters, loosely referred to as the "war chapters" have always been a struggle for me as I try to glean spiritual lessons from the detailed account of their battles and strategies. I always come back to the question "Why would the Lord command that this record be made and preserved?" Given the difficult task of abridging the record of the people, and the challenges of engraving it on metal plates, what about these war stories met the threshold? I don't have an answer to these questions or understand why they were recorded when only a small fraction of the records of the people were preserved in the Book of Mormon, but these questions help keep me curious and engaged to try to understand their purpose.
For me one helpful but hackneyed approach is to draw large parallels between the "good guys" and the "bad guys" as a metaphor for the conflict between good and evil. In chapter 43 we learn that the Nephites faced imminent attack and prepared to defend themselves. They were motivated by a desire to protect their families, religion, and freedom, and relied on God to overcome their adversaries.
The leader of the Nephite forces, Moroni, "had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing" (Alma 43:19). This echoes the instructions that Paul issued to the people of Ephesus in the New Testament when he said, "Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil" (Ephesians 6:11). While Moroni commanded his people to wear literal armor to defend themselves against the blows of the Lamanites, we should prepare and protect ourselves from spiritual wounds by donning the armor of God.
In addition to taking effort to protect themselves, the Nephites sought the aid and direction of God through His living prophet. "Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should inquire of the Lord whither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites" (Alma 43:23). Just as the Nephites had to make their own preparations before Alma's prophesy and direction could save them, we must make our best effort spiritually to enjoy the full blessings of the Atonement. As Nephi taught, "we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 15:23).
Lastly, we learn that the Nephites only entered into battle in self defense and had just cause to do so. I am reminded that the Nephites had sent missionaries to the Lamanites to preach the word of God and encourage them to live righteously. I take from this that they had exhausted other means of avoiding conflict and or trying to resolve differences peacefully. And so the instructions they received from the Lord were that, "Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies" (Alma 43:46). The children of God are not aggressors and usurpers, but reluctant warriors intent on defending what is true and good. As Alma explains, "the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they 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" (Alma 43:45). Later Alma further emphasized that "it was the only desire of the Nephites to preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their church, therefore he thought it no sin that he should defend them by stratagem" (Alma 43:30).
This chapter is a good reminder for me to evaluate my motivations and reflect on why I do the things I do. Do my desires live up to the same high standard set by the Nephites to protect family, religion, and freedom, or are there times when I "undertake to cover [my] sins, or to gratify [my] pride, [my] vain ambition, or to exercise control or dominion or compulsion upon the souls of the children of men, in any degree of unrighteousness" and cause "the heavens [to] withdraw themselves" and "the Spirit of the Lord [to be] grieved" (D&C 121:37). When our cause is just and our motives are sincere, we can expect the aid and protection of God.
Application Questions
What spiritual preparation can you take to protect yourself and your family from temptation and sin?
What action are you taking to meet your spiritual needs? How are you calling upon God to bless and amplify your efforts to make them effective?
What are your motivations for doing the things you do? How can you shape your motives and desires to be focused on your family, religion, and freedom?
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