1:5-7 - "...And it came to pass that Pacumeni, when he saw that he could not obtain the judgment-seat, he did unite with the voice of the people. But behold, Paanchi, and that part of the people that were desirous that he should be their governor, was exceedingly wroth; therefore, he was about to flatter away those people to rise up in rebellion against their brethren..."
The government system at the time was a system of Judges, voted by the voice of the people. Just like in those times, today our responsibility is to uphold those who are elected by the voice of the people.
If we don't, it can easily become anarchy, and can be displeasing to God, considering that we believe in being subject to kings, presidents, rulers, and magistrates, in obeying, honoring, and sustaining the law (Articles of Faith 12).
Even if we don't agree with the politician - we have the opportunity to make our voices heard and vote somebody else into place. We also have the right to give our opinions.
1:12 - "...Kishkumen was not known among the people of Nephi, for he was in disguise at the time that he murdered Pahoran. And Kishkumen and his band, who had covenanted with him, did mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all could not be found..."
This is a scary thought, because the wicked people just mingled with everybody else and they couldn't be found, even though they had committed murder and broke the law.
We need to be careful and check for sins that creep in daily and subtly before they become a huge problem.
1:12 - "...[the band of Kishkumen] did mingle themselves among the people, in a manner that they all could not be found..."
If we act in faith and keep the commandments, we will receive the Holy Ghost, which will help us recognize the evil and avoid it.
63:2 - "...And he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God..."
Helaman was righteous and a good example in keeping the commandments. He was an example of the believers (1 Timothy 4:12).
We must also do the same - living righteously and being good examples.
63:2 - "...and also did his brother..."
His brother was Corianton, who had been chastised by Alma for having chased after the harlot Isabel. This shows that we can repent from our sins and come unto Christ.
We must repent and come closer to Christ daily.
63:13 - "...these things were to be kept sacred, and handed down from one generation to another..."
A very effective way that we can show our faith is by keeping the messages we receive in the scriptures and the Ensign and General Conference sacred. We keep them sacred by studying and receiving and applying the messages. This, in turn, opens us up to receive more of the gift of faith. It's a great circle.
62:4 - "...he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter..."
Moroni raised the standard of liberty in all places.
We must also make sure that others know our standards, and live the standards.
As we do so, we make sure that we're following the correct path.
62:41 - "...But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility..."
We aren't judged based on the trials that we go through - we are judged by the way that we react and change ourselves based on those trials.
We must separate the message from the Messenger - true greatness is doing our best.
62:49-51 - "...But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes..."
Sometimes it takes greater faith to avoid pride than it does to lift up a sword in defense of your country.
When we have the necessary humility to recognize and be grateful for what the Lord has done for us, our faith increases.
61:2-3 - "...I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul..."
Pahoran was awesome! He could have been very offended by what Moroni had to say, but he supported Moroni and accepted the counsel.
We need to accept our leaders and support them - it leads away from apostasy. When you question authority, you need to be careful, because it can also be an indication of pride.
61:9 - "...I, Pahoran, do not seek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us free..."
Pahoran did not seek for power, but to preserve the liberty of the people. When we look for leaders, especially in the Government, we must look for people who do not seek for power but to preserve liberty.
61:14 - "...Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our words, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us resist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God..."
These men, Moroni and Pahoran, were men of faith and not bloodthirsty - they sought first to resist their enemies in a peaceful manner, then if that failed, then they would fight. They had faith that God would help them.
We must seek to be peacemakers and use peaceful manners to resist enemies or create change. If we have faith in God, and work to exercise that faith, we will be guided to know how to best approach each situation.
60:13 - "...For the Lord suffereth the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God..."
The Lord sometimes suffers the righteous to be slain so justice can be met (Alma 14:10).
We need to realize that we may go through difficult times - even death - that may not make sense, and instead of blaming God, we need to be righteous and accept that we will go through the trials and tribulations.
60:24 - "...And now, except ye do repent of that which ye have done, and begin to be up and doing...behold it will be expedient that we contend no more with the Lamanites until we have first cleansed our inward vessel..."
Moroni was chastising Pahoran, but we can learn from this lesson as well. We also need to be "up and doing" and make sure that we are accomplishing what the Lord wants us to do.
60:25-26 - "...I will leave a part of my freemen to maintain this part of our land, and I will leave the strength and the blessings of God upon them, that none other power can operate against them—And this because of their exceeding faith, and their patience in their tribulations..."
These verses do not say that the tribulations were removed from these people through their faith - but that nothing had power over them, even in their tribulations. We will go through life experiencing joys and tribulations. The true test is how we will react to those tribulations. We do receive help as we are patient and have faith.
59:1-3 - "...after Moroni had received and had read Helaman’s epistle, he was exceedingly rejoiced because of the welfare, yea, the exceeding success which Helaman had had, in obtaining those lands which were lost. Yea, and he did make it known unto all his people, in all the land round about in that part where he was, that they might rejoice also..."
One way to boost our own faith is to see the successes of others in their own acts of faith. This is why unity is important - to learn from and gain faith from others, and to increase faith in others through our experiences.
This is why it's important to share our experiences with others - perhaps through bearing our testimony, or sharing them in class discussion, etc. You never know who may need that boost at that time.
59:2 - "...Yea, and he did make it known unto all his people, in all the land round about in that part where he was, that they might rejoice also..."
Moroni rejoiced and made it known unto the people so they could rejoice as well. We rejoice in each other's successes.
This is the spirit of Zion. We have our own successes and rejoice when other people succeed as well. It's not a zero-sum game. When somebody else is blessed, it doesn't mean that you are blessed less. It's a time to rejoice for them.
59:5 - "...Moroni was thus making preparations to go against the Lamanites to battle..."
A major message of the war chapters is that Moroni was always preparing. We must also be prepared at all times - temporally, spiritually, emotionally, etc.
58:12 - "...and we did take courage with our small force which we had received, 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..."
This relates to Alma 47:6 - Lehonti and his army were fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would not come down from the mountain and be subjected to the Nephites. This shows how important acting in faith can be. Helaman and his warriors worked to be obedient to the commandments and fight for their lands and wives and children (Alma 58:40-41; 57:21-22).
Lehonti took the easy route and came down from the mountain (Alma 47:10-14).
Helaman and his brethren succeeded and had the help of the Lord while Lehonti was poisoned by degrees.
We must make the correct choice and follow it.
58:15-19 - "...now this was done because the Lamanites did suffer their whole army, save a few guards only, to be led away into the wilderness..."
The Lamanites allowed Teancum to lure them out of their stronghold and take over their city.
We must not come out of our strongholds. Satan would have us if he could - and sift us like wheat.
