The Book of Alma concludes with a bang as we read of wars of multiple fronts and severe internal turmoil and dissent. We can learn a great deal from the behavior of Moroni, Helaman, and their armies. And of course we can’t forget the 2000 stripling warriors and their mothers! There are several embedded letters in these accounts, from which we can draw many lessons. Look for an underappreciated gem in Pahoran’s response to Moroni, which provides a powerful model of interpersonal communication, trust, and conflict resolution.
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Look forward to an engaging discussion with Danielle, Jared, Amanda and Jason.
After you listen to the lesson and class discussion, please post your comments and questions here on the blog and continue the conversation!
You can access my Lesson Notes here.
Read an important and plausible interpretation of the Stripling Warriors story by a member of the military here. http://rationalfaiths.com/war/
Thanks to Jared Mooney of Dirty Water Sound & Music and James Estrada of Oak Street Audio for their postproduction work with an amazing turnaround.
Engaging Gospel Doctrine 
1) What was Ammoron’s fraud? It seems Ammoron’s justification for war was in part revenge for Teancum’s black ops murder of Ammoron’s brother, and partly due to perceived wrongs to the Lamanites reaching as far back as the earliest days in the new world, when Nephi’s people and Laman’s people separated. Ammoron’s solution: make the Nephites submit to rightful rule by Lamanites so that Nephites wouldn’t keep coming to them and causing so much destruction. Thoughts?
2) Captain Moroni seems full of threats and bloody oaths–is this righteous indignation or stepping over the line when he promises to bring the fight into Lamanite lands, killing women and children? Later he threatens the same thing to Pahoran (then makes good on his promise against Pachus and his enablers). I think would be afraid of a person like Moroni if he lived in our day and age. I have a feeling that we as a society would probably lock him up for treason or terrorism. Thoughts?
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A comment on how this lesson went in my ward: The end of the discussion was about how amazing the mothers of the stripling warriors are. This was followed by comments on how much work stay-at-home mothers do, followed by the importance of stay-at-home mothers. As a solo mom, this was totally rubbing me the wrong way and I spoke up. These women had lost 1,005 men. Many of them were likely single mothers at some point, and possibly still single mothers when their sons went to war. And yet, they and their families flourished. They raised children who were healthy and strong, in spirit and body. If anything, this story is an incredible testament to solo moms who fulfill the role of both breadwinner and homemaker.
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I’m going to use this comment in my lesson tomorrow when I teach this. I really like that.
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