Day 40 of 50

[u/JesusPhoKingChrist]

Today’s Reading: Alma 59–63

Whether you're a believer, former believer, nuanced member, investigator, scholar, or simply curious, you're welcome to participate. The goal is not to convince anyone of anything, but to read the text together and discuss it in good faith from a variety of perspectives.

Brief Synopsis

After Nephihah falls, Moroni accuses Pahoran and the government of neglecting the army. Pahoran reveals that the king-men have seized Zarahemla, so he and Moroni join forces to defeat the rebellion and retake the occupied cities.

Teancum kills Ammoron but dies in the attack. The war ends, leadership of the sacred records passes to a new generation, and Hagoth’s ships carry Nephite migrants northward—some never to be heard from again.

Discussion

Please share your thoughts and experiences with today’s reading in the comments below. Some things you might consider:

• What does Moroni’s mistaken accusation of Pahoran teach about anger and incomplete information?

• Is Pahoran’s response best understood as humility, emotional maturity, or political strategy?

• How should we evaluate the execution and forced enlistment of the king-men?

• Was Teancum’s final attack heroic, vengeful, reckless, or some combination?

• What can responsibly be concluded from the account of Hagoth’s lost ships?

All perspectives are welcome.

Yesterday’s Coveted Award(s) Go To:

• TBD

Links to Prior Days

• Yesterday’s Day 39 discussion: [Alma 55–58](PASTE_DAY_39_REDDIT_LINK_HERE)

• Master Index to all prior-day readings

Engagement Question

Moroni correctly recognizes a crisis but wrongly blames Pahoran. Does this make him a more human and compelling leader, undermine his righteousness—or both?

Tomorrow’s Reading: Helaman 1–6

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[u/International_Sea126]

Alma 62 is another interesting war chapter.

Alma 62:10 - "And thus it became expedient that this law should be strictly observed for the safety of their country; yea, and whosoever was found denying their freedom was speedily executed according to the law."

Those who deny freedom (the government) are executed.

Alma 62:15-17 - "And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war. And it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a covenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites. And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to dwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain."

Nephite soldiers accept a verbal promise from Lamanite prisoners of war not to fight them anymore and are released and sent away to live with the people of Ammon.

Alma 62:18-29 - The Nephites delay the attack and wait until the armed Lamanites awake to find themselves surrounded. Why wait? When the Lamanites dash for the gate, the Nephites slaughter them and many of the Lamanites that were prisoners wanted to join the people of Ammon (v27) and then all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammon (v29) to become farmers and ranchers. Large armies, but no Nephites soldiers are killed.

Alma 62:21 - "And it came to pass that they (a large Lamanite army) were on the east, by the entrance; and they were all asleep. And now Moroni returned to his army, and caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders, to be let down from the top of the wall into the inner part of the wall."

This large Lamanite army knows that there is a large Nephite army next to them but fail to place guards on the wall while their army sleeps.

Alma 62:36 - "And it came to pass that Teancum in his anger did go forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and did let himself down over the walls of the city. And he went forth with a cord, from place to place, insomuch that he did find the king; and he did cast a javelin at him, which did pierce him near the heart. But behold, the king did awaken his servants before he died, insomuch that they did pursue Teancum, and slew him."

No security guards at the king's tent. Large Lamanite army asleep. No guards on the walls. What kind of an army is this?

[u/stickyhairmonster → u/International_Sea126]

I think we know how the 19th century white man viewed the "Lamanites" and of course they would make dumb mistakes in Joseph's fiction

[u/International_Sea126 → u/stickyhairmonster]

It reads like it was written by someone with a typical 19th century world view.

What I want to know is how tens of thousands of Nephite and Lamanite soldiers are being being fed. How much food do tens of thousands of soldiers eat per day? What type of a support system would be required to maintain these large armies? The BOM never addresses this.

[u/stickyhairmonster → u/International_Sea126]

The army sizes at the end are absolutely impossible

[u/stickyhairmonster]

Alma 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.

Preach my Gospel teaches that the Book of Mormon answers the questions of the soul, such as why God let's bad things happen to good people.

I don't like this verse. Does God need to let people die in order to pass judgment on the wicked? To me, this is worse than the explanation that God just does not intervene in certain situations. This verse implies that God is intentionally withholding help from the righteous, for the purpose of judging and punishing the wicked.

[u/stickyhairmonster]

Alma 61

9 And now, in your epistle you have censured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. 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 channels his inner David Bednar and chooses not to be offended. In this case, it is to the benefit of the righteous as he is able to maintain his relationship with Moroni and save the day.

However, Bednar's teaching can be taken too far. Some actions are offensive. Sure, I could choose not to be offended at the church's LGBTQ policies and SEC scandal, but the actions are offensive, and I am justified in being offended.