Alma 47-48

I thought it would be fun to write about what I am currently reading. So anyone who reads this, feel free to follow along!
This morning I read in Alma 47 and 48. Great great chapters! As a little summary, Helaman is writing the history of the wars between the Nephites (the followers of God) and the Lamanites (the not followers of God). Moroni, at age 25, was just chosen to be captain over the Nephite armies. Amalickiah wants to be the King over the Lamanites.
So in chapter 47, Amalickiah, the little sneak, plays his cards well and ends up tricking others to do what he wants so that he eventually will end up as King. Now, Amalickiah is a pretty smart man. He knows that if the chief leader was killed, they would appoint the second leader to be the new chief leader. So naturally, Amalickiah first has to get himself to the position of second leader. At this time, Lehonti is the second leader. In verse 10 Amalickiah desires for Lehonti to come down from mount Antipas. Now, Lehonti is not stupid, so he obviously doesn't go down. In verse 11 Amalickiah asks a second and third time for Lehonti to come down. And to both requests Lehonti denies him. Amalickiah, not willing to give in, goes halfway up the mount and, a fourth time, invites Lehonti and his men to meet him there. Amalickiah had just the words to say when Lehonti met him halfway down the mount. Naturally Lehonti was impressed and accepted Amalickiah's invitation. And what is the outcome? Check out verse 18-19. Amalickiah got exactly what he wanted.
We can't give in to the adversary. We can't meet on middle ground. If we already stand on higher ground, don't let yourself lose your view by walking down the mount a bit. It is those few steps that seem innocent that come back to hurt us in the end. Every time we are taking a step down our own mounts, we are asking for danger to lurk up behind us. Hold the ground you already have! Don't let it slip away.
And as for chapter 48, it is one of my absolute favorites. The Lord loves us so much, you know it?
Verse 7, "While Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power and fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God." What a good man. This chapter is filled with how awesome Moroni is. He strengthened the land (9), was strong and mighty, a man of perfect understanding, did not delight in bloodshed, soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery (11), heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people, labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people (12), was firm in the faith of Christ, sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, his country, and his religion (13), his heart gloried in his faith, in doing good, in preserving his people, in keeping the commandments, in resisting iniquity (14). And do you want to know what the Lord has to say about Moroni? "Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men" (17). Man oh man!! This is what I mean when I say that the Lord loves us so much. He has told us EXACTLY what we need to do to not have hell and the devil have no power over us, and to actually shake before us. Boy are we lucky.
And the next best part of the chapter is in verse 23. The Lamanites decide to go to war against the Nephites. Bad idea on their part. Right in the middle of the verse the Nephites say, "they were sorry to be the means of sending so many of their brethren out of this world into an eternal world, unprepared to meet their God". We know that this is the true Gospel and the way back. We should do all we can to help others accept that and live according to that so that we don't have to feel bad or be hurt after a death of a loved one. So that we can let them go knowing that they were prepared to meet their God.
I know that this is Christ's true church. I know He loves me and I know He loves each of you. The way has been set, the path is straight. Are we willing to follow?
Until next time (Alma 49-50!
Sister Spackman