"To which we owe all our happiness" (Alma 44:5)

When reading The Book of Mormon one of the first exposures we have to the Nephite general Moroni is an epistle written by him to the Lamanite leader Zerahemnah. Towards the beginning of this address Moroni commands Zerahemnah to "deliver up the weapons of war." As part of this demand Moroni declares "and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God, to which we owe all our happiness." Moroni's choice of words in this statement is interesting to me. There are many ways in which Moroni could have chosen to describe the word of God. Powerful, instructive, comforting, guiding, healing, enabling, protective and redemptive are just a few that come to mind. Any one of these descriptors and a host of others could rightly be employed in this statement. However, when faced with an enemy who desired to destroy Moroni's entire way of life, his liberty and freedom, this great man chose to mention the happiness the word of God provides.

If we look directly to the heart of this scene, this episode in The Book of Mormon is not about military negotiations thousands of years ago any more than the parables of Christ are about sheep and weddings. This scene, along with all others recorded in scripture, is a lesson on our own path of discipleship and journey closer to our Savior. Given the wartime setting of this particular event it can rightly be seen as even more acutely relevant to the struggle between good and evil and the opposition from which none will be spared.

Some find it difficult to see the relevance of the large number of chapters in the book of Alma which deal with the wars of the Nephite people. I have come to love these chapters, however, as I have realized that in reality they aren't about battles, soldiers and weapons at all. War is dark and grim. It is ugly and brutal. In an instant it snuffs out the light and plunges individuals, families and nations into darkness. Many lives are left with a crater in their souls much deeper and far less visible than that which any missile or mortar can create. Yet, even with all these unpleasant scenes in our mind, when the principles of truth are threatened, war is necessary.

War is not so different from our own lives. Scriptural scenes of struggle and conflict are fitting shadows of our own modern equivalent to such events. Every description of war can equally be applied to all of us who stagger under the burdens inherent to a fallen world. Those whose spirits are slowly being suffocated through sin. Those who feel abandoned or rejected. Those who each day struggle to win battles known only to themselves and their Redeemer in the lonely foxholes of the heart. Those who, for reasons we may never know, have been asked to toil through each day of this life while shouldering the burden of debilitating and all too often irreparable health conditions. Those who fear, though incorrectly, they have strayed beyond the reach of our Savior. Those "who feel life has passed them by and others who wish it would pass them by" (Jeffrey R. Holland). All of these and countless more know perfectly well what it means for the sun to be darkened and the music of peace to be silenced. They understand what it means for all things to be in commotion. In short, they understand what war is because they, and we all, are at war in our own personal, private, no less literal way. This is why I love the chapters of war in The Book of Mormon.

I give my witness of our Conqueror who is the victor of all conflicts and the architect of all our peace. In the midst of our anguish may we remember that the greatest battle and the victory of all victories has been fought and won on our behalf by the innocent, unblemished Lamb of God. To any who "encompassed about on all sides" I say stand strong and be believing. Look upon your Savior and in your moment of despair remember that in his own moment of anguish he looked to my God and your God and said "Father, it is finished." Because he finished the work set before, because of the absolute perfection of his offering, you and I never need wonder or worry about the path stretching on ahead. "It [was] finished" for you and for me by the Prince of Peace and King of kings who has been confronted by physical and spiritual death and laid both under his feet. When the faithful blind man brought his trial to the Lord he overcame and the blind saw the light once more. When the adulterer was thrust at His feet in fearful despair he declared "Neither do I condemn thee, go thy way and sin no more." When the cold grip of death took hold he commanded to "arise" and "come forth." When the sinner hung next to him on the cross he promised "today shalt thou be with me in paradise." He is a God of triumph, a conqueror, and the author of hopeful tomorrows.

That each of us will allow him to also be the conqueror of our struggles is my prayer.

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.