Description

Battle Strategies

The year was 74 B.C. and the peace of the Nephites was about to be shattered. A people called the Zoramites revolted and formed an alliance with the Lamanites, the avowed enemies of the Nephites. The Adversary stirred the Zoramites to anger, and the Zoramites in turn stirred the Lamanites to anger. War was the only solution to their irrational slights. (Alma 35:10)

Captain Moroni and the armies of the Nephites saw their preparations and knew that war was coming. (Alma 43:4) Moroni began to prepare his people for war in a manner the Lamanites had never seen before: armor; shields, breastplates, arm-shields, etc. (Alma 43:19) while the Lamanites prepared for battle naked “save it were a skin which was girded about their loins. (Alma 43:20)

Seeing the bristling defenses of the Nephites, the Lamanite/Zoramite alliance decided not to attack at Jershon. Instead, they gathered all their armies and departed into the wilderness in a wandering course intended to mislead the Nephites. (Alma 43:22) It would appear that they set out on a course to nowhere, but their destination really was Manti, the weaker part of the land, and their stratagem was surprise and stealth.

Moroni sent spies to watch them, but he also sent “certain men” to Alma, the prophet. (Alma 43:23) Now herein is a remarkable thing–Moroni was an accomplished soldier—a man of skill, determination, and grit, yet he was also a man with faith in the living God and his authorized servants. If he was going into battle, he wanted God as his ally. The trusted messengers of Moroni went to Alma and asked, ‘Where are the Lamanites going?’

Alma inquired of the Lord and came back not only with the Lamanites destination, but also their stratagem:

“The Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people.” (Alma 43:24)

It is remarkable enough that Moroni, a dedicated soldier, would come to the Prophet for battle intel, but what happens next is even more remarkable. With no more than Alma’s word, Moroni left “a part of his army in the land of Jershon,” and the rest of his army, he marched in a straight course to the land of Manti. Along the way he rallied the local citizens to prepare for war. (Alma 43:26) 

He worked out battle strategies based on the landscape, predicting where the Lamanites would enter Manti. Then with great planning, detail, and effort, he divided and strategically placed his armies. Now with all in preparation, he sent spies into the wilderness “that he might know when the camp of the Lamanites should come.” (Alma 43:27-33)

Just as the Prophet had foretold, the Lamanites came exactly where Moroni had expected them to, and because of the Nephites’ careful preparation, they won the day. Notwithstanding, the Lamanites were more than double their numbers and did “fight like dragons,” the Nephites won. (Alma 43:34-Alma 44)

Be like Moroni! Expect the devil and his soldiers to make war upon you. Prepare in every detail for the fight. Counsel with the Lord in all things. And then—fight with faith in the God of battles. You will win!