Learning from War - Lessons from Cap. Moroni

Alma 46: 30
Moroni knew that if he didn't stop Amalickiah, he would bring war to them.  This is very simmilar to how Nephi was commanded to "stop" (kill) Laban. (1 Nephi 4:10-13) Nephi could have just taken the plates while Laban lay drunk and ran, but the Lord knew Laban would cause trouble for His people if he awoke. So, to avoid battle in the wilderness, and more from there on out, Laban had to be killed. Yay for scripture connections!

Alma 48
Moroni provides a very good example of how we should fight our battles in life.  In contrast with Amalickiah, he shows us that we should obtain power through God rather than the world (Alma 48:7).
Also throughout these war chapters, we are reminded not to be on offense, but rather defense.  In other words, we are taught to not intentionally offend others, but to only fight when we are defending ourselves.  This has numerous applications to our lives today. :)

Alma 48:15 - "yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war...)
Sometimes, instead of fighting, God tells us to not get involved at all but to run away.  When He knows it's better for us to stay away, as is the case with bad influences, inappropriate movies/media, etc., out best way to fight is to "flee".

Alma 49
The enemy was "astonished exceedingly" at the strength of the defenses Moroni prepared (in a city that was usually vulnerable). So, what does the enemy do?  Go to the next weakest place.  The devil uses this same strategy - he attacks our weakest spots, and if he finds it too strong and gets scared, he goes to a weaker one.  In the words if one of my high school seminary teachers, Brother Little, "What a punk."

Alma 51: 22-23 "Behold, it came to pass that while Moroni was thus breaking down the wars and contentions among his own people... the Nephites were not sufficiently strong in the city of Moroni, therefore Amalickiah did drive them, slaying many..."
It is when we are at war with ourselves that the devil sees the biggest opportunity to attack - when we are already unstable. Again, what a punk.  However, when we know this, we are better prepared to defend ourselves against him. :