Site:SS lessons/BOM lesson 32

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Alma 53:1-5

The Book of Mormon > Alma > Chapter 53

Previous (Alma 52:36-40)

Next (Alma 53:6-10)

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Verse 1

Why does Mormon include this incident about prisoner exchange in his account? Is there a lesson of importance here for modern readers, or is this just part of a story?

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Verse 2

Its pretty easy to see Moroni as being happy to exchange prisoners, but why would he "rejoice exceedingly"? Is there something more going on here?
Why would they exchange prisoners that would just become more enemy soldiers to fight?

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Verse 3

Why would the Lamanites take women and children as prisoners, but the Nephites only took men?

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Verse 5

If Moroni wants to exchange prisoners, why would he write an epistle that can only make Ammoron mad?

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Verse 6

Why would Moroni bother preaching to Ammoron?
Why would Moroni tell Ammoron, a Nephite defector, to withdraw to "your own lands, or the land of your possessions" which he and his brother had taken over from the Lamanites? Why doesn't Moroni condemn his having taken the Lamanite lands as well?

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Verse 7

Why would Moroni indicate that Ammoron could escape hell by repenting, if he really was a murderer?

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Lexical notes

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Verse 6

Land of Nephi. As we can see from this verse the land of Nephi is more than simply the name of the geographic area that the Lamanites possessed. The name the Nephites use for the land the Lamanites live in reminds them of their dispute with the Lamanites over land. As Moroni saw it, and likely other Nephites as well, that land rightfully belonged to them. Consistent with this interpretation, the name "land of Nephi" is not used in the Book of Mormon after the coming of Christ, when the Nephites and Lamanites live as one people.

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Verse 3

If Moroni is clearly angry (vs. 1) and promises to "seek death among [the Lamanites]" why does he then try to take back the prisoners without shedding blood?

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Verse 4

Is it just a coincidence that the Lamanite that Moroni finds is called Laman?

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Verse 5

Is it just a coincidence that the former servant of the king would have been named Laman, since this was the traditional name of Lamanite kings?

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Verse 2

Moroni tells us that he won't exchange prisoners unless Ammoron withdraws his purpose "as I have stated in my epistle." If we read Moroni's epistle closely we see that he never explicitly makes Ammoron withdrawing his purpose conditional on exchanging prisoners. We might assume then that when Moroni says he won't exchange prisoners unless Ammoron withdraws his purpose "as I have stated in my epistle" what Moroni means my "as I have stated" is that Ammoron needs to withdraw as he stated--not that it is conditional exchange as he stated.

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Questions

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Verse 6

Who are the men that go with Laman? Are they Moroni's men or Laman's men? If they were cultural or ethnic Nephites, wouldn't they have aroused suspicion on this mission?

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Verse 8

Does Laman go alone to the meet with the guards?

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Verse 10

Apparently, Lamanites used alcohol to help them get through battle. Can we see similarities in how some modern soldiers use alcohol, drugs, and steroids to help them in battle?

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Verse 13

Why were the Lamanites apparently so easily tricked into becoming drunk on Nephite wine? How does this episode compare with Alma 55:30?

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Click the edit link above and to the right to add exegesis Throughout the war chapters, there are many instances in which the Nephites trick the Lamanites,whether it be in taking over cities or freeing prisoners.

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Verse 19

What does this verse tell us about the Moroni's character?
Why would Moroni be concerned about "bring[ing] upon him injustice" if he were to kill the Lamanites in their drunkeness?

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Verse 21

How far is a pace? Is this a literal term of measurement, or a figure of speech?

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Why were the People of Ammon willing to break their covenant with the Lord?
Why would the People of Ammon allow their sons to defend their country by taking up their weapons of war (vs. 5), rather than teach their children to make the same covenants against raising arms that they had made?
Why is Helaman willing to lead the two thousand sons of the People of Ammon, while he would "not suffer" the People of Ammon to take up arms?

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Verse 12

How would the Lamanites have known who were the chief captains? Were the captains perhaps dressed differently?

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Exegesis

Note that in verse six Helaman tells us that sixty of the sons of the Ammonites joined the 2000 stripling warriors. Though we more often talk about the 2000 stripling warriors, the service these sixty young men gave was no less appreciated. Their faith was the same, and they were equally protected. These 60 young men provide a great example to us to always remember that it is not too late to begin to "fight" for the Lord. Like these 60, we may not get the same attention as the 2000 stripling warriors, but if we fight valiantly, the Lord will still watch over us and bless us equally.

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Click the edit link above and to the right to add exegesis In verse 21, I believe we learn the reason that the stripling warriors were spared. They put their trust in God and they followed the orders of Heleman with exactness. Helaman was a just and faithful man and God led him. The warriors could see this, so they knew that if they followed him, then they would be spared. They all had great faith.

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