Alma 62:1-29
62:1-14 - This is a very long, but very good chapter. We just finished it as a family today and it was just so awesome, so many good and subtle lessons. CM has just received the letter from Pahoran telling him all the crazy things that have been going on in Zarahemla and asking him to come with the army and over throw the king men. So CM gave command to Teancum and Lehi, then took the rest of his army and marched to Gideon, and on the way "he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon. And it came to pass that thousands did flock unto his standard, and did take up their swords in the defence of their freedom, that they might not come into bondage." The people want to be free, they want to fight for their freedom, but with the overthrow of the government, they probably didn't know how to join except for walking off into the wilderness and hoping, plus the kingmen probably threatened their families if they left, so I can see why they would stay home until they felt confident enough to go with the chief himself. So CM gathers the willing, goes to Zarahemla and put the smack down on Pachus, who was the king of the kingmen, "and behold, Pachus was slain and his men were taken prisoners, and Pahoran was restored to his judgment seat. And the men of Pachus received their trial, according to the law, and also those king-men who had been taken and cast into prison; and they were executed according to the law; yea, those men of Pachus and those king-men, whosoever would not take up arms in the defence of their country, but would fight against it, were put to death." My kids saw this as pretty brutal, but the truth of the matter is that this a most generous and forgiving gesture. Most countries don't give you a second chance at treason, in fact I would venture to guess that some of those king-men who are being allowed the chance to fight for their country instead of be executed are some of the same ones who fought against the government when Amalickiah was trying to become king back in chapter 51, so really, there is no "first offense" "second offense" thing, all that was done previously was forgiven, and they were given the same opportunity to repent and change their ways as everyone else, even though the sins were very serious, treason. This is similar to when we commit sin, even very serious sin, and we are allowed to repent, instead of being cast off forever, even maybe when it's not our first time doing such a serious thing, he allows us another chance. I guess it makes sense that I've committed treason against God, in fact I've done it many times, very serious sin, yet I'm allowed to repent, he's willing to take me back. Not only is he willing to take me back, but he's desperate for me to come back, he has a plan that will allow me to come back, and he's executed the plan, he's desirous to help me come back. It's really quite amazing, divine, and inspiring.
62:15-17 - Another incredible part of this chapter is what happens after CM takes the conquering Nephite army and goes towards the city of Nephihah, "And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war. And it came to pass after they had take them, they caused them to enter into a covenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites. And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to dwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain." It's doesn't say specifically when CM gave the Lamanite army the option to surrender, but after what we've seen him do so many times, I would think that it would have been as soon as possible. Another interesting concept here is that when the Lamanite "prisoners" got to the people of Ammon, it would seem like there were probably at least some of them who were crazy and acted up, how did the people of Ammon deal with that, since they refused to use violence? Maybe they didn't and that was the point. Maybe the people of Ammon offered the Lamanites the opportunity to be free, to learn the gospel, to be treated like human beings instead of POWs, and that can change people. Like was said before, but of course I can't find it right now, something like "nothing is more effective at bringing peace than the preaching of the gospel." I guess the other part would be that, since no one would stop them violently from leaving, they could run off and try to find their army if they wanted to. Thinking back to when this "covenant of peace" thing started, that's what CM did initially, he made them deliver up their weapons and then make a covenant not to fight again, then they went home, and that's similar to what they were doing here now, they make a covenant and it's up to them to keep it. It's interesting that whenever they've had Lamanite prisoners, it's ended poorly, with uprisings, slaughter during transport, but allowing the prisoners to live among their "own" but converted people seems to be going well. Interesting, treat people like humans and give them the gospel and respect and they do pretty well. This is actually quite a revolutionary way to handle POWs, unlike anything I've ever heard before and look how well it's turned out. CM is a very inspired man, must have been very in tune with the Holy Ghost.
62:18-29 - After dealing with the POWs, CM and his men continue on to Nephihah, and the Lamanites won't leave their fortified city to come out to battle against CM, which is probably pretty smart of them. So during the night time "Moroni went forth in the darkness of the night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out in what part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their army." I find it interesting that CM went himself to perform this recon, and I also find it interesting that the Lamanites kept all their army in one place in the city. Maybe my daughter is just exceptionally brilliant at military strategy, but her first reaction to this statement was "the Lamanites probably should have spread out their army through the whole city," seems pretty common sense to me. Anyway, CM went back to his men, and they took ropes and ladders and climbed over the walls of the city so that "when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies of Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass. And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him, he did cause that his men should march forth against them, and slew many, and surrounded many others, and took them prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore." CM took the city of Nephihah "without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain." Amazing, the righteous Nephites took back their city without losing a single man, and even though the Lamanites lost many, their losses were probably quite reduced due to the nature of the attack, the strategic way that it was planned and executed. It was logic and strategy here, not brute force, there was a respect for life. And now here's the interesting part "Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were prisoners were desirous to join the people of Ammon and become a free people. And it came to pass that as many as were desirous, unto them it was granted according to their desires." The Lamanite prisoners probably have never enjoyed the freedom that the gospel and democracy bring, ever in their whole lives, even before the war, they lived unto the Lamanite kings who were probably varying degrees of wickedness. The idea of freedom and industry were very appealing to them, so much in fact that all the Lamanite prisoners went, none stayed, they all wanted to be free. I guess the next logical question is, what did the prisoners do once they got there? They went to work, "therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammon, and did begin to labor exceedingly, tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain, and flocks and herds of every kind; and thus were the Nephites relived from a great burden; yea, insomuch that they were relived from all the prisoners of the Lamanites." That's incredible, it would seem to me that this is an excellent example of the eternal principle of work. The Lamanite prisoners were treated like people, given respect and the gospel, probably shown brotherly love and kindness for the first time ever, and they were able to work and build their self worth that way. When they "did begin to labor exceedingly" they were able to see the fruits of their hard work, they were able to build a sense of self worth and a sense of accomplishment as men and contributors. This is truly an inspired program. It's like what President Gordon B. Hinckley taught in the Feb 1999 Ensign article entitled "Every Convert Is Precious," when he said "Every convert needs 'a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with 'the good word of God.'" This is truly what was provided to the Lamanite prisoners by the people of Ammon and what a difference it made, it's a miracle to be quite honest.
62:15-17 - Another incredible part of this chapter is what happens after CM takes the conquering Nephite army and goes towards the city of Nephihah, "And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war. And it came to pass after they had take them, they caused them to enter into a covenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites. And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to dwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain." It's doesn't say specifically when CM gave the Lamanite army the option to surrender, but after what we've seen him do so many times, I would think that it would have been as soon as possible. Another interesting concept here is that when the Lamanite "prisoners" got to the people of Ammon, it would seem like there were probably at least some of them who were crazy and acted up, how did the people of Ammon deal with that, since they refused to use violence? Maybe they didn't and that was the point. Maybe the people of Ammon offered the Lamanites the opportunity to be free, to learn the gospel, to be treated like human beings instead of POWs, and that can change people. Like was said before, but of course I can't find it right now, something like "nothing is more effective at bringing peace than the preaching of the gospel." I guess the other part would be that, since no one would stop them violently from leaving, they could run off and try to find their army if they wanted to. Thinking back to when this "covenant of peace" thing started, that's what CM did initially, he made them deliver up their weapons and then make a covenant not to fight again, then they went home, and that's similar to what they were doing here now, they make a covenant and it's up to them to keep it. It's interesting that whenever they've had Lamanite prisoners, it's ended poorly, with uprisings, slaughter during transport, but allowing the prisoners to live among their "own" but converted people seems to be going well. Interesting, treat people like humans and give them the gospel and respect and they do pretty well. This is actually quite a revolutionary way to handle POWs, unlike anything I've ever heard before and look how well it's turned out. CM is a very inspired man, must have been very in tune with the Holy Ghost.
62:18-29 - After dealing with the POWs, CM and his men continue on to Nephihah, and the Lamanites won't leave their fortified city to come out to battle against CM, which is probably pretty smart of them. So during the night time "Moroni went forth in the darkness of the night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out in what part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their army." I find it interesting that CM went himself to perform this recon, and I also find it interesting that the Lamanites kept all their army in one place in the city. Maybe my daughter is just exceptionally brilliant at military strategy, but her first reaction to this statement was "the Lamanites probably should have spread out their army through the whole city," seems pretty common sense to me. Anyway, CM went back to his men, and they took ropes and ladders and climbed over the walls of the city so that "when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies of Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass. And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him, he did cause that his men should march forth against them, and slew many, and surrounded many others, and took them prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore." CM took the city of Nephihah "without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain." Amazing, the righteous Nephites took back their city without losing a single man, and even though the Lamanites lost many, their losses were probably quite reduced due to the nature of the attack, the strategic way that it was planned and executed. It was logic and strategy here, not brute force, there was a respect for life. And now here's the interesting part "Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were prisoners were desirous to join the people of Ammon and become a free people. And it came to pass that as many as were desirous, unto them it was granted according to their desires." The Lamanite prisoners probably have never enjoyed the freedom that the gospel and democracy bring, ever in their whole lives, even before the war, they lived unto the Lamanite kings who were probably varying degrees of wickedness. The idea of freedom and industry were very appealing to them, so much in fact that all the Lamanite prisoners went, none stayed, they all wanted to be free. I guess the next logical question is, what did the prisoners do once they got there? They went to work, "therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammon, and did begin to labor exceedingly, tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain, and flocks and herds of every kind; and thus were the Nephites relived from a great burden; yea, insomuch that they were relived from all the prisoners of the Lamanites." That's incredible, it would seem to me that this is an excellent example of the eternal principle of work. The Lamanite prisoners were treated like people, given respect and the gospel, probably shown brotherly love and kindness for the first time ever, and they were able to work and build their self worth that way. When they "did begin to labor exceedingly" they were able to see the fruits of their hard work, they were able to build a sense of self worth and a sense of accomplishment as men and contributors. This is truly an inspired program. It's like what President Gordon B. Hinckley taught in the Feb 1999 Ensign article entitled "Every Convert Is Precious," when he said "Every convert needs 'a friend, a responsibility, and nurturing with 'the good word of God.'" This is truly what was provided to the Lamanite prisoners by the people of Ammon and what a difference it made, it's a miracle to be quite honest.
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