WAR!

Alma 43 – Helaman (All War Chapters)
Wilcox emphasized he’s a moderate independent and whatever opinion he does have wouldn’t be revealed.

So WHY write so much about WAR?

-One of Wilcox’s theories is that Mormon admired Captain Moroni
(as evidenced by his own sons name)
-Mormon was a general from age 16, his profession was a soldier/general
-His whole life was spent in conflict/war
-Wilcox proposed that the BofMormon was “Abridged for our day”
not necessarily specifically written for our day by all of the various prophets throughout the book.

The BofMormon Explains
-How you should fight?
-How to feel about war?
-How to prepare for war? Etc..
-What is a justifiable war?
(emphasized that in one class ALL details couldn’t be covered, but the major ones)

WAR is the major issue in our current political environment
Wilcox said.. “If the scriptures aren’t relevant Why read them?”

6 Principles about war (I'm 90% sure I got these right, please correct if not)

Attitudes are critical
Have the right motives
Are you guilty of the 1rst or 2cnd offense
Righteousness/Faithfulness is Critical
God prospers based on circumstances
Choose Men of God to lead you.

1rst Principle -- Attitude of nations, government, soldier, citizen are important

Alma 43:6-7, 13-14
Strong Anger, Hate makes pawns out of soldiers, people. Gives power brokers leverage
Certain groups are trying to preserve hate (Adolf Hitler was superb at stirring up anger/hate)

Alma 48:11 didn’t delight in bloodshed, If I can control attitudes I can control conflict
Alma 48:12 (compelled reluctantly) You only go to war compelled/obliged
Alma 44
v.1 "I don’t want to"
v.2 no anger because of religion
v.23 "sorry to take up arms"

Two attitudes of people in Captain Moroni’s own country

1) Anti-Nephi Lehis – didn’t fight because of covenants, Captain Moroni defended them
2) Kingmen –Went to war against them, and killed them because they would not support

2nd Principle – Motives

Alma 54:24 -- The most worthless cause to go to war is to avenge wrongs

Title of Liberty given at least 24 times (reasons to go to war)
Alma 43
V9 defense of lands, wives, children ( NOT to preserve hatred)
V26
V30land liberty, church
V45
V47
V48
7th time Alma 44 v5

Rarely is an offensive war justified (Joshua was an example)

David O McKay -- April 1942 Conference Talk
1rst Conference after the Pearl Harbor Bombing
(I’m still looking for the article link online)

Gave 3 reasons not to go to war
3 justifications for a nation for war
3) In defense of a country ( Captain Moroni did this with the Anti Nephi Lehis)

3rd Principle – Are you guilty of the 1rst or 2cnd offense

1rst Offense is “I hit you”
2cnd Offence is “ I hit you again” OR I hit you back to retaliate
3rd Offense is "I hit you again" or I retaliate/preemptive attack

God says you deserve each other if you hit people back ( opposite of "Turn the other cheek"

D&C 98:16 Renounce War and Proclaim Peace
v.23 Bear Patiently
You are promised 100 fold for not fighting on 2ncd offense a
4 fold for not on 3rd offense

Vengeance is MINE! Says the Lord

Exception given in D&C 134 – “times of exigency”
No Diplomacy is possible.
No debate/conversation is allowed.

“If a person who has a trigger to your head, you don’t have to wit 3 times for him to shoot” – Wilcox

Sunni/Shiite conflict has been going for 1400 years
Resulted after the death of Muhammed about the rightful heir to run the kingdom.
Sunni’s thought it should go to friends and close associates of prophet
Shiite’s thought it should go to ALI (family)
(Very similar to what happened with Joseph Smith)

The Key is to not pass hatred on for sake of your generation and your ancestors


4th Principle –Faithfulness.Righteousness is Critical

Alma 61 v 14 Letter to Moroni
Two ways to Resist Evil
1) First with Words
2) Sword

I thought it interesting how close the words WORD and S-WORD are. (Alma 31 says that the preaching of the WORD had a more powerful effect than any other thing)_

Armaments are not critical, not always necessary
Righteousness, Unity ARE

Battle of Captain Moroni & Zarahemna

1rst battle
Captain Moroni – prepared for defense with armor
Lamanites came at them with numbers
v.9 didn’t believe it was God who protected nephites, but cunning, protection

2cnd Battle
Moroni prepared more ( by digging ditches, and fences)
Zarahemna came with armor this time
Alma 49:6

3rd Battle
Alma 51:11
Helaman 4:14 Morinhah attacked when his soldiers had repented
George Washington was aware of the power of righteous troops.
He admonished troops to be righteous (Profanity, Gaming, Gambling, not obeying Sunday)
Spencer Kimball Quote – 70’s quote on war (someone please comment where this reference was…)


5th Principle - God prospers based on circumstance
Alma 48 v.14, v.15

We need to look at danger,threat, attacker and determine proper response
Must know enemy and know the true threat
Know your enemy so you can apply the right tactic

1) Bury Weapons and let them slaughter you ( Ghandi and India independence came this way. Shared story of British soldiers shooting 1rst and 2cnd rows of marchers and then stopping. Ghandi said, We have won, we have changed their hearts.

His advice for Palestinian conflict would be this approach. Palestinians should burn all weapons in mass demonstration and then take to marching before Democratic country. Suicide bombers prove people are willing to die anyway.
This approach probably wouldn’t have worked with Hitler, Stalin
2) Let God Change you’re their hearts
3) Fight with everything you have (2000 stripling)
There are others like Distraction ( Porter Rockwell approach)

6th principle- Chose Men of God to lead you.
Alma 48:11 A Description of a good leader.

Need Holy Spirit to help you and leaders make good decisions.
You should always pray for leadership in White house regardless of how they got their.


Next week –
I think we’ll focus on the stripling warriors and Mormon will eventually show us faith can not only move mountains, but win wars. And that God needs only a few righteous people (2000 “very young”, “little sons”) to defeat evil (Lamanite armies) Seems like God always lets a miracle build up—to prove his points emphatically.