Constant Preparation for War

Around 74 B.C., an epic battle broke out between rival Native American nations. The battle became a war that lasted seventeen years and defined a generation on both sides of the conflict. Throughout the war, prophet-historians recorded many details that can help us in our fight against evil today.

The two nations were the progeny of four brothers who emigrated to the American continent more than five hundred years earlier: Laman, Lemuel, Nephi and Sam. When their father died, the two older brothers wanted dominion and absolute power over the entire family. The two younger brothers were unwilling to surrender their faith and eventually fled with their families for their own safety.

Five centuries later, the Lamanites still fought for power and dominion. They believed Nephi and Sam had stolen their right to govern and passed a tradition of hatred toward the Nephites from generation to generation. They sought now to use their armies to compel the Nephites into slavery. The Nephites, meanwhile, fought to defend their families and preserve their freedoms.

As the first battle commenced, the more numerous Lamanites attacked in large numbers. They were also slain in large numbers. The Nephites had an advantage: while the Lamanites wore only their loin cloths into battle, the Nephites had made breastplates, thick clothing and shields to deflect their enemies' blows.

The Nephites soon gained the advantage, and when they did their chief captain, named Moroni, called for a pause in the action. He offered to end the battle if the Lamanites would leave their weapons and depart with an oath of peace. The Lamanites fought a while longer before accepting the terms and returning to their own land.

Two years later, the Lamanites returned with the same body armor they had observed on the Nephite armies. Believing they would now overwhelm the Nephites, they approached a border city they had easily conquered in the past.

But behold, how great was their disappointment; for behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance...

And behold, [the] chief captains durst not attack the Nephites at the city of Ammonihah, for Moroni had altered the management of affairs among the Nephites, insomuch that the Lamanites were disappointed in their places of retreat and they could not come upon them (Alma 49:4, 11).

Determined to conquer the Nephites, the Lamanite captains swore an oath to attack the next city, which they found even more heavily fortified than Ammonihah. Yet, they had sworn an oath, so they attacked. As they did so, they discovered the Nephites were ready for them.

Thus [the Nephites] were prepared, yea, a body of their strongest men, with their swords and their slings, to smite down all who should attempt to come into their place of security by the place of entrance... And it came to pass that the captains of the Lamanites brought up their armies before the place of entrance, and began to contend with the Nephites, to get into their place of security; but behold, they were driven back from time to time, insomuch that they were slain with an immense slaughter.

Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might have an equal chance to fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling up their ditches by pulling down the banks of earth, they were filled up in a measure with their dead and wounded bodies.

Thus the Nephites had all power over their enemies; and thus the Lamanites did attempt to destroy the Nephites until their chief captains were all slain; yea, and more than a thousand Lamanites were slain; while, on the other hand, there was not a single soul of the Nephites which was slain (Alma 49:20-23).

Soon, Moroni had commanded that all the Nephite cities should have "heaps of earth round about"; and not just dirt mounds, but "timbers built up to the height of a man" along the ridges, a strong and high frame of pickets on top of the timbers and towers overlooking it all from which they could attack enemies approaching the city. "And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites" (Moroni 50:1-6).

In a similar way, we are each engaged in the battle for our souls. Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles has taught:

Brothers and sisters, we are at war with Satan for the souls of men. The battle lines were drawn in our pre-earth life. Satan and a third of our Father in Heaven's children turned away from His promises of exaltation. Since that time, the adversary's minions have been fighting the faithful who choose the Father's plan.

Satan knows his days are numbered and that time is growing shorter. As crafty and cunning as he is, he will not win. However, his battle for each one of our souls rages on (Ensign, May 2019).

We must not stop making preparations for this war, or to defend ourselves and our families against Satan and his minions. To prevail in this battle, each of us must put on the armor of God, as the Apostle Paul admonished the ancient Ephesians:

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feed shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.

And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints (Ephesians 6:11-18).

This armor is essential but no longer sufficient on its own. Just as the Lamanites replicated the Nephite armor, Satan is a master of imitation and deception. For every temple covenant, there are dark oaths and secret combinations. For every advancement in technology to speed the work of family history, there is a plague of spiritual disease and distraction using that same technology. For all the armor we can and must put on, there is an attempt by the minions of Satan to find the weak spots.

The prophets of our day have been inspired to alter the management of the affairs of the faithful to stay ahead of the enemy of our souls. They have, in particular, re-emphasized the need to focus on our families and gospel instruction in the home. "For our safety," Elder Renlund continued, "we must build a fortress of spirituality and protection for our very souls, a fortress that will not be penetrated by the evil one."

After handily defeating the Lamanites the first time, it would have been easy to feel safe. Some may have even resented Moroni's command to begin digging up mounds of earth around their cities. What for? They had won!

It can be just easy for us to become complacent about our spiritual preparation. It is not enough to enter into covenants, to attend church, or to be casual about the way we live the gospel. Satan is not concerned about collateral damage in his pursuit of power and dominion. We must join with Captain Moroni-- in memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children-- in the constant preparation for war.

Risk, Benefits, and Alternatives

A few years ago, I had a medical condition that required surgery. On the appointed day, I went to the hospital and began preparations for the operation. Once I had settled in the hospital bed, the surgeon came in to see me. As he had in his office a few weeks prior, the surgeon explained the operation, gave me a few post-surgery symptoms to watch out for, and answered my questions.

In the medical world, my short conversation with the surgeon is known as "risks, benefits and alternatives," or more colloquially, as RBAs. Surgeons are required to personally share this information with each patient. If a patient has a question later on, the surgeon must return to address that question personally. No part of RBAs can be delegated to a nurse or other staff.

Our Heavenly Father operates in our lives very much like a surgeon. The scriptures testify that all of us lived with God before we were born. We are his spirit children (Romans 8:16-17). "Even before [we] were born, [we], with many others, received [our] first lessons in the world of spirits and were prepared to come forth in the due time of the Lord" (D&C 138:56). When the time was right, God the Father personally shared the risks, benefits and alternatives of His plan for us in a grand premortal council.

As with any surgeon, the Lord provided information but the choice was ours. We knew that life would be a difficult learning experience and that the stakes were high. Side effects would include pain, frustration, temptation and other symptoms common to mortality. We would need to check in frequently with our Heavenly Father and rely on the Great Physician, our Savior Jesus Christ, to help us heal the wounds we would inevitably receive. If we were faithful to the prescribed plan, we would find great joy, peace and love in this life. We would have his image in our countenances. We would return home to Him to inherit all He has in the life to come. If not, our progress and our royal inheritance would be lost.

Some of our brothers and sisters chose not to come to earth. Perhaps for some, the risks were too great. Lucifer, the scriptures say, wanted God's glory without enduring the trials of life and attempted unsuccessfully to create his own alternative. Many followed him. All people that have lived, that now live, or will yet live, understood the risks, benefits and alternatives and chose to proceed with the plan to come to earth.

Thankfully, unlike most surgeries, our communication with our Heavenly Father does not end once the procedure has begun. Throughout our lives, it is often the case that we will think of questions we may not have before. Why do bad things happen to good people? Is there a specific mission or purpose for my life? How can I have peace, love and joy when my circumstances aren't ideal? What should I do about a particularly vexing problem I've encountered at work or in my marriage or just with life in general?

We must never allow ourselves to believe that we are alone. Our Heavenly Father is invested in our success and He is always there to guide the operation of our lives. "For behold," he has said, "this is my work and my glory-- to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man" (Moses 1:39).

Just as a surgeon will return when a patient has a new question, our Heavenly Father has provided access to him through prayer. He is always there and he always answers in his own time. Christ taught:

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened (Matthew 7:7-8).

We should never hesitate to speak with our Heavenly Father about the trials and temptations we face. We should pray to him about our aspirations, ask him for the strength and protection we need and express our gratitude for his marvelous plan and the Savior that makes it possible (Alma 34:17-27).

These years later, the pain of my medical condition is now a distant memory. Following my surgeon's orders, I was able to make a full recovery. Even so, his name and contact information remains on my medical record and in my phone in case I ever have a question.

I know that I can always contact my Heavenly Father also; and that he will take my calls personally. He oversees the mortal operation that I chose to experience. He knows how to make it a success and he's deeply interested in doing so. You see, he's not only my surgeon, my god and my king; he's also my dad and he wants me to come home.