Alma 52 - Teancum Thought It Was Not Expedient That He Should Attempt to Attack

There are different models in the scriptures for meeting a military adversary. In Alma chapter 52 we read that a Nephite general avoided direct conflict with the Lamanites: “Seeing the enormity of their number, Teancum thought it was not expedient that he should attempt to attack [the Lamanites] in their forts” (Alma 52:5). He saw that it was impossible that he could overpower them while they were in their fortifications; therefore he abandoned his designs and returned again to the city Bountiful, to wait for the coming of Moroni, that he might receive strength to his army (Alma 52:17). Teancum made a strategic military decision based on his judgment of the relative strength of his army, and decided to wait for reinforcements before attacking the Lamanites. Eventually, Teancum and Morni succeeded through their use of decoys and stratagem. While they were surely inspired and aided in their actions, the story of this battle does not describe the revelations or protections from God.

As chance would have it, Bren and I are studying the Old Testament as a couple and read the account of David’s battle against the Philistines in 2 Samuel 5 last night. David's approach was very different than that of Teancum and Moroni: after inquiring of the Lord and receiving direction at His hand, he attacked. As the LDS Institute Manual comments, “David did not count his men, meaning to rely on the size of his army, but rather he relied on the Lord.” David showed deliberate disregard for the relative strength of his army as a symbol of his faith in God.

So which is the right way? Should we use our own faculties, wisdom, and judgement to weigh and decide the matters of our lives, or should we seek direction from God and rely wholly on His guidance and strength? The fact that the scriptures present these, and numerous other examples of both models, implies to me that both approaches are faithful, inspired, and appropriate.

I could characterize the influence of the Spirit in my life in two ways: general direction, and acute intervention. (Elder David A. Bednar used the analogy of light to discuss these two modes or revelation in depth in his April 2011 Conference address The Spirit of Revelation.) When I am trying my best to regularly communicate with God (pray), internalize His teachings (read scriptures), and love and serve others I am blessed with a general sense of confidence that my ideas are good ones, and that I'm on the right track unless warned otherwise by the Spirit. This is how I imagine the actions of Teancum. As a generally righteous person, his daily thoughts and experiences were infused with the oxygen of the Spirit. Similarly, when my life is aligned with God, there is no need to agonize over academic or career decisions, the number of children to have, the house to live in, or the hobbies to pursue. Instead, these choices are a form of cooperative creation with God, in which God honors our personal agency, and consecrates otherwise arbitrary decisions for our good. Answers to these questions can certainly be found in the scriptures and through prayer, but are also readily available in books, academic research, blogs, conversations with friends, advice from parents, and our own thinking. In this almost imperceptible ecosystem of the Spirit, our own opinions and good judgment are sufficiently inspired to keep us on a path to salvation.

The other way the Spirit influences my life is through acute intervention. This is how I view the experience of David battling the Philistines. "And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand. And David came to Baal-perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters" (2 Samuel 5:19-20). In this case, David had an explicit question and received clear direction from the Lord. I have experienced similar moments of acute intervention--a burst of clarity--around a doctrinal question, or more often regarding a specific action I need to take. Sometimes they have been in response to sincere and protracted pleadings, and other times gifted without prompting. These are moments for reckless righteousness. These are the times when the conventional wisdom, logic, and practicality that generally serve me so well can safely, and must essentially, be abandoned.

Application Questions

When has God allowed you to study out an issue and make a decision based solely on your own judgement? How did it bless you?

When have you received undeniable direction and clarity from God? How did you react?

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