I have read the Book of Mormon many, many times over the past 38 years since joining the Church. I remember being told the Book of Mormon was written for our day so carefully consider and ponder what is written and how it pertains to us. Of course I have found a tremendous about of information and inspiration that has helped me over the years. The Book of Mormon is true.
One thing I have wondered about was why so many chapters are included in Alma and Helaman that concern about a 70 to 100 year time frame when the rest of the 1000 years take up the rest of the book. It seemed un-proportional to me. I always wanted 4th Nephi to be longer. Have you ever wondered what “no tongue can speak, neither can there be written by any man, neither can the hearts of men conceive so great and marvelous things as we both saw and heard Jesus speak; and no one can conceive of the joy which filled our souls at the time we heard him pray for us unto the Father.” (3rd Nephi 17:17)
I never felt the “war” years really pertained to our time. Oh, I know we have had wars somewhere in the world all the time, but it never seemed to touch me. I remember a Sunday School lesson once when our teacher told us how he studied Captain Moroni during his time in Vietnam and used many of his strategies with the men he was in charge of. I think he was a Lieutenant or Captain. I thought at that time, “Wow! The war chapters really are for us.” But after a while I went back to thinking what do they really have to do with most of us.
Well, I have finally figured out why those 70 to 100 years are in the Book of Mormon for us today. When I hear the news or read the several news emails I get, I feel like I am reading a modern day Moroni talking about the Kingmen refusing to defend their country or Amalickiah leading the people astray with his vain and flattering words as he tries to be make himself a king over all the people by taking away their freedoms.. The promise of wealth and power creates many followers who do the bidding of an unrighteous leader.
I find now when I read those chapters I can almost replace prominent names in the scriptures with current people in politics today. We truly can and should learn from the past. We need to take up our own Title of Liberty and stand up for what is right. The is a song we sing in Church that goes like this:
Who’s on the Lord’s Side? Who?
Now is the time to show.
We ask it fearlessly:
Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who?
We wage no common war,
Cope with no common foe.
The enemy’s awake;
Who’s on the Lord’s side? Who?
The Book of Mormon is a gift from our Heavenly Father and we need to accept it and use it as He intended. It is time we follow Nephi’s counsel and “liken all scripture unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.” I know I need to commit to studying the scriptures and especially the Book of Mormon better. It not only teaches us about our past, but it will show us our future if we don’t heed the lessons that are taught.
