The thing I loved about this chapter is it reminded me how the Lord doesn't make laws and commandments because He feels like it or because He wants us to feel constricted, He asks us to live our lives a certain way to protect us and to allow us to receive the same fullness of joy that comes from living as He does.
For example. the Lord has provided the word of wisdom as a law of health. One of the things in this law of health is to stay away from strong drink, aka alcohol, from entering our bodies. He doesn't just ask us not to do that because He doesn't want us to have fun, as shown in this chapter, alcohol causes people to become drunk which also causes a person to lose total control of their minds, also taking away agency (the ability to choose for ourselves). In this chapter, it talks about the Lamanites and how they became drunk:
13 And it came to pass that they did take of the wine freely; and it was pleasant to their taste, therefore they took of it more freely; and it was strong, having been prepared in its strength.
15 And now when Laman and his men saw that they were all drunken, and were in a deep sleep, they returned to Moroni and told him all the things that had happened.
The Lamanites originally had plans to guard and protect through the night but lost control of themselves, which also caused them to lose control of their prisoners, and became a big downfall for them in the war.
On the other hand, the Nephites went about temptation differently:
30 And many times did they attempt to administer of their wine to the Nephites, that they might destroy them with poison or with drunkenness.
31 But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction. They could not be taken in their snares;
These small and simple decisions were a huge turning point in the war:
28 And it came to pass that the Nephites began again to be victorious, and to reclaim their rights and their privileges.
The last part about this chapter that amazed me was Moroni (once again). Moroni, knowing the men were drunk had the opportunity to kill the Lamanites while they were sleeping, or wake them up and fight them while they were drunk. In a way this seems like a good way to get things done, right??
Well it just amazed me that Moroni didn't hurt a soul while they were sleeping and vulnerable. Instead his only desire was to free the prisoners. He even could have justified the situation as a defense technique or something but he had no desire to hurt anyone. Which actually probably helped him in the end because then no one would have been trying to revenge him for doing that, instead the war continued except now Moroni was stronger with all his men, women, and children back.
How do these things apply today? The word of wisdom still is a protection to us. We may not be fighting a physical war (well some of us) but we are all fighting a spiritual war. Satan would love it more than anything to take away our agency (that was his plan in the beginning after all) and if we do things that compromise our minds, we become so week and can end up doing this that will hurt ourselves and others.
Also, good people are just not violent in nature. How wonderful it would be in a world full of Moroni's. He is such a good example to me.
Love,
Becky joy
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