Why Were the War Chapters Included?
Why did Mormon spend 1/10th of the
Book of Mormon describing the wars?
There are many great wars in the Book
of Mormon that are barely mentioned at all (see Alma 28:2-3; Mormon 2:27); why
is the Lamanite War described in so much detail?
What are the elements of the Lamanite
War that Mormon felt we needed to understand?
A Christian’s Justification for War
READ Alma 43:4-11
What are the motivations for war from
the Lamanites or attacker's perspective?
What are the motivations for war from
the Nephites or defender's perspective?
READ Alma 50:21
What caused the war in the first
place?
READ Alma 43:45-47 and Alma 48:14
D&C 98:16 says we are to renounce
war and proclaim peace, so are Christians justified in going to war?
READ Alma 48:14
Are Christians justified in retaliating or exacting revenge – an
“eye for an eye” – on those who perpetrate war or violence against them?
Are Christians justified in importuning the Lord to avenge the
blood of the saints and prophets?
READ Alma 43:27-30
Are Christians justified in using “stratagem” if their intention
is only to defend themselves and their liberty; and what is allowed?
READ Alma 43:52-54
Are Christians justified in using torture, secret combinations,
and terror tactics to defend themselves and their liberty?
READ Alma 44:1-2, 6-7, 10, 19-20
Are Christians justified in conducting
pre-emptive strikes or preventative war?
Are Christians justified in exterminating a possible threat if those
individuals promise to retreat and not declare war again?
If Christians are not justified in using these traditional war
strategies for “righteous” purposes, how can they defend themselves against
enemies that will use these methods?
Who does God employ to punish and destroy the wicked?
What does this imply about the word “defend”?
The Curse and Blessing Upon America
READ Alma 45:16 and Alma 48:25
There is a promise and a curse laid
upon America, what is it?
READ Alma 46:18, 20-22
Captain Moroni knew of the
promise/curse that is laid on America, so what covenant did he inspire his
people to make?
So what does that imply about the
safety of the Nephites?
READ Alma 46:7-16
So what was the Title of Liberty meant
to do?
The War Chapters as a Symbol of the
War with Satan
The war chapters are symbolic of the
spiritual war that Satan is waging with us every day (read 1 Nephi 14:12-14).
READ Alma 48:7-8, 14-16
How does Captain Moroni prepare his
people for war?
READ Alma 49:3-8 and Alma 50:20
What do the Lamanites’ tactics teach
us about Satan's tactics with us?
How do we thwart his attacks?
READ Alma 49:12-14
What happens next?
READ Alma 50:22-23
Why was this time of war the
"happiest" in Nephite history since Lehi left Jerusalem? (50:23)
