In Alma Chapter 49, Amalickiah curses God and swears to drink the blood of Moroni. When the Lamonites headed to Ammonihah to kill the Nephites they assumed because they had gone there before, the city would be weakened and they would have an easier time overcoming the Nephites in battle. What they didn't anticipate was Captain Moroni. He built up dirt around the city to protect the people from the Lamanite's weapons and fortified the city.
The leaders of the Lamanite Army were pretty amazed at the preparation, and ability to protect themselves, that the Nephites displayed. They were expecting to be able to enslave, kill, and take over Nephite land. They were thwarted, so they headed for the land of Noah.
The Lamanites got to Noah and saw that Moroni had prepared that city as well. Infact, he had made all of the cities around them strong! The Nephites ended up killing all of the Chief Captains and 1,000 Lamanite fighters. Not a single Nephite was killed!
The Lamanites went back to Amalickiah, their Leader, in the land of Nephi (He was a Nephite by birth) to tell him of their great loss to the Nephite Armies and Captain Moroni. Amalickiah was steaming mad!
In Alma 49:27-28
27 Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his people.
28 And it came to pass, that on the other hand, the people of Nephi did thank the Lord their God, because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies.
Likening Chapter 49 Unto Me
Can I just begin by saying I LOVE the Prophets in The Book of Mormon. They were so obedient and righteous that they received inspiration, led people to spiritual safety, but also physical safety by following the promptings of the Lord. I know that The Book of Mormon was written for our time because we have Nehors, Amalichiahs, Korihors, and the like in our day. When you read these accounts you can absolutely identify them precisely!
I learned in this Chapter how important it is to follow our leaders council and guidance; how life saving it can be. Also, that God sees everyone and knows the desire of their hearts. Someone might be able to fool men, but God can not be fooled or mocked!
I might be on the losing end of wars and contentions as a consequence of sin and circumstances, but God protects his own. Even if killed, the Nephites didn't lose their eternal life, salvation, or Exaltation, and often they didn't lose their lives because they followed the Lord and their righteous and good leaders! I can learn from this example.
In Alma Chapter 50, Moroni continued to fortify cities and create new ones. The Nephites had times of wickedness which brought wars and death to their people, but when they were righteous and kept the commandments, they were protected and blessed.
Moroni continued to remind the people of God that if they obeyed and lived the laws of God they would be blessed, but if they were wicked they would suffer. The Nephites started fighting over city territory.
The on going theme of repentance, right living, and consequences of not doing what they should seems to have been a constant reminder. It will prove to be true for the Nephites, as it had already been, once again down the line. It also proves true for us today.
Likening Chapter 50 unto me
Basically in this chapter, I learned to repent continually, be obedient to the commandments with exactness, and that all choices we make have consequences.
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