Weak Things Shall be Made Strong

This past week we have talked about the war chapters in Alma. This is when the Lamanites come against the Nephites, and begin to take their cities. In reply, the Nephites begin to build fortifications, and end up having to defend themselves as they attempt to take back their cities from the Lamanites. In the beginning of the war chapters (which begin in chapter 43), some dissenters from the Nephites go and join themselves to the Lamanites. However, the dissenters are even more blood-thirsty than the Lamanites, and begin to stir the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites. In their anger, the Lamanites come against the Nephites. However, the Lamanites "were not armed with breastplates, nor shields—therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of the Nephites because of their armor, notwithstanding their number being so much greater than the Nephites." Then they decide to come against the Nephites in another part of their land, but the leader of the armies of the Nephites, Moroni, knew their intentions, and so the Nephites ambushed the Lamanites, and overcame them. The Nephites, having won, made the Lamanites to promise not to come to war against them again. Of course, the Lamanites came to war again, otherwise there wouldn’t be more war chapters. So, just a few years after the Lamanites are repelled from the land, a Nephite dissenter, named Amalickiah, becomes king of the Lamanites, and begins to bring them against the Nephites again. However, when they come to the Nephite cities, they find that they have been fortified, and they dare not attack. However, they vow to attack, and so they have no more choice. Now, I’m not going to explain all of what happens in these wars, but if you’d like to know, you may read it yourself. Instead, I am going to explain how any of this could possibly relate to us. So, even though the Nephites were a peaceful people, they were prepared to defend themselves. We need to be ready to defend ourselves, but we shouldn’t instigate a fight. The Nephites prepared themselves in multiple ways. First, they had shields, armor, and helmets. Then, Moroni causes the cities to be fortified by building up walls around the cities, and placing guards on the walls. The next fortification that is made is a strengthening of the line between the Lamanites and Nephites. All of these fortifications can be applied to our own lives: We need to protect ourselves in more than just one way in order to face the trials and problems of life. The individual armor shields us on an individual scale, and, in an individual, it would be related to strengthening our front-lines: the ones that are actually going in for attack. Then, the cities are strengthened: they cover more than just the individual, and strengthen our whole self. Finally, fortifying the line between ourselves and the evil that surrounds us us mandatory once we have expelled the evil from our lives. However, in all of this we cannot do it alone. We need to turn to Christ, and ask for His help in order to properly defend ourselves. So, turn to Christ, and strengthen yourselves to fight against all wickedness.