Spiritual truths from the battlefield.
We’ve arrived at what some people call “the war chapters.” There are battles and conflicts throughout the Book of Mormon, of course, but this is the section where Mormon devotes basically his full attention to the subject.
Readers may wonder: Why devote so much space to the details of these wars? It may not seem as obviously spiritually uplifting as (for example) the chapters that come right before it, where Alma teaches his sons the gospel.
So... why do you think Mormon included this?
Maybe it’s because these events can also have symbolic meaning.
- For example, reading about how the Nephites prepared their physical armor in Alma 43 might inspire you to build your spiritual armor.
- Or learning about how Lehonti was poisoned little by little in Alma 47 might remind you of the way Satan tries to spiritually destroy us.
Look for parallels like this throughout the war chapters. You might be surprised at how spiritually uplifting they can be!
What Do You Notice?
What’s a story about a battle that you find spiritually symbolic? Add your thoughts to your journal.