Alma 56: 45 And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.
We need that “great courage” today more than ever. These chapters remind me of Thomas S. Monson’s constant plea for us to have courage in our daily walk. “Be strong and of good courage.” “May we ever choose the harder right instead of the easier wrong. As we contemplate the decisions we make in our lives each day—whether to make this choice or that choice—if we choose Christ, we will have made the correct choice.” (Thomas S. Monson) Moroni, Helaman, the stripling warriors, and the freeman are great examples of standing for truth and righteousness during turbulent times. “Because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances.” (Alma 53:9)”They were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.” (Alma 53:21) “They were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.” (Alma 53:20) “They were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity.” (Alma 53:20)
They supported each others righteous desires, “I would not suffer them that they should break this covenant which they had made, supposing that God would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of the fulfilling the oath which they had taken.” (Alma 56:8) We too can lift and support each other with our ministering aid, “brought unto us many provisions.”( Alma 56:27) “We were strong, yea, and we had also plenty of provisions brought unto us.” (Alma 57:6) It is through the answered prayers by the loving hands of others that moments of darkness are lifted and we can say, “thus were we preserved.” (Alma 56:19)
Sometimes we must be like these heroes and wait upon the Lord. “It became expedient that we should wait, that we might receive more strength.” (Alma 58:3)”We did wait to receive provisions and strength.” (Alma 58:4) “We did wait in these difficult circumstances for the space of many months, even until we were about to perish for the want of food.” (Alma 58:7) The good news is—the Lord always listened to our pleas for help, and comfort. “We did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength.” (Alma 58:10) “The Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in him.” (Alma 58:11)
Alma 58:12 We did take courage
These righteous warriors knew their purpose, and their focus and nothing moved them. “Neither would I turn to the right nor to the left lest they should overtake me.” (Alma 56:40) “And were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty.” (Alma 58:12) “I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country.” (Alma 60:36) “It is my God whom I fear.” (Alma 60:28) “My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free.” (Alma 61:9) “According to the Spirit of God, which is also the spirit of freedom.” (Alma 61:15)
They never gave up! “They never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.” Alma 56:47) “Fought most desperately; yea, they were firm.” (57:19)
They trusted the Lord, and moved forward with faith. “Behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth.” (Alma 56:46) “We trust in our God who has given us victory.” (Alma 58:33) “It mattereth not—we trust God will deliver us.” (Alma 58:37) “Their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.” (Alma 57:27)
They kept watch continually, and followed the Lord with exactness. “I caused that my men should not sleep, but that they should march forward.” (Alma 58:26) “We did sleep upon our swords, and keep guards, that the Lamanites could not come upon us by night and slay us.” (Alma 57:9) “They did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness.” (Alma 57:21) “They stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.” (Alma 58:40)
Alma 56:45 Never had I seen so great courage
“We will all face fear, experience ridicule, and meet opposition. Let us—all of us—have the courage to defy the consensus, the courage to stand for principle. Courage, not compromise, brings the smile of God’s approval. Courage becomes a living and an attractive virtue when it is regarded not only as a willingness to die manfully but also as the determination to live decently. As we move forward, striving to live as we should, we will surely receive help from the Lord and can find comfort in His words. I love His promise recorded in the book of Joshua:
“I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. …
“… Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” (Thomas S. Monson April 2014)
-written by Sherri Jorgensen
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