A New Year: Planning Like Moroni

Over the Christmas holiday I had a busy time. All my children, their spouses and children descended on my home. It was a wonderful and glorious reunion. The fun and noise never ended. As I was thinking of more spiritual things I was reading today in Alma. I love the war chapters. I think we can learn much about personal and family security from Moroni.

I’d like to review for you Alma 48:11-16 and see how it relates to us today. Let’s go a verse at a time.

11 And Moroni was a strong and a mighty man; he was a man of a perfect understanding; yea, a man that did not delight in bloodshed; a man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country, and his brethren from bondage and slavery;

Most of us joy in liberty and freedom. We should not “delight in bloodshed” but regret having to defend ourselves with lethal force.

12 Yea, a man whose heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God, for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon his people; a man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of his people.
We should always be grateful to our Heavenly Father for the freedom and liberty we have. We should do our best to be involved in peacefully keeping our country free. We should work within the law to keep our gun rights as much as possible. In my opinion joining the NRA is the least we can do.

13 Yea, and he was a man who was firm in the faith of Christ, and he had sworn with an oath to defend his people, his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the loss of his blood.
Those of us who have taken an oath to defend our country should abide by that oath whether you are serving active duty, reserve, or civilian. We should remain firm in our faith because the safety we enjoy from no war or crime in our lives comes from our Heavenly Father.

14 Now the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary; yea, and they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and never to raise the sword except it were against an enemy, except it were to preserve their lives.
Next time a pacifist tells you it isn’t necessary to defend yourself, tell them the Nephites were taught that they should. Never start it but you can finish it.

15 And this was their faith, that by so doing God would prosper them in the land, or in other words, if they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God that he would prosper them in the land; yea, warn them to flee, or to prepare for war, according to their danger;

If you live worthy of the Spirit you will know what to do to defend yourself or your family. God will help you after all you can do.

16 And also, that God would make it known unto them whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing, the Lord would deliver them; and this was the faith of Moroni, and his heart did glory in it; not in the shedding of blood but in doing good, in preserving his people, yea, in keeping the commandments of God, yea, and resisting iniquity.
This last verse summarizes all the rest. God may not miraculously fight your battles, but by following the Spirit in your family security plan, in essence God is delivering you and your family.

This time of year we usually think about goals and plans. If you do not have a preparation plan for your family, commit to doing that now. I would encourage the following plans:

Security plan
Food and water plan
Light/Heat/Cooking plan
Communications plan
Bug out plan
Medical/First Aid plan
Training plan

When we make these plans start out simple with small goals. As we become better prepared and better trained, our plans will grow.

Let us be as Moroni of old. Delight in doing good.

Semper Paratus
Check 6
Burn