I recently joined a Facebook group that focuses on defending Joseph Smith against many lies that many teach against him to make themselves look better, some just unknowingly repeating what they have been told. I have been doing just that for a while now, but it is helpful to gather with others to gain strength from each other. One to know that you are not alone and others are going through the same things is helpful. Another reason is learn from each other about various things such as other resources and how to deal with the stress and frustration with putting yourself out there. Among other reasons to gather together for strength.

I have always wondered about Alma 60 and why it was there. Don’t get me wrong I believed it was important, I just did not know how. But timing really helped me recently gain an insight regarding Alma 60. Another member was talking about her recent experiences of defending Joseph Smith against lies that are out there among her. Many of us jumped in to help her out, which helped her out. That evening I opened up my Book of Mormon The Earliest Text edition, my favorite version especially for studying, to a random location, and it was Alma 60. Which I am very grateful for. The timing was perfect for me to gain insights about the chapter.

In Alma 59 Moroni talks of the plans he has for protecting God’s people. Many verses mention this I’ll show one verse.

Alma 59:5 And it came to pass that while Moroni was thus making preparations to go against the Lamanites to battle …

Moroni was a very caring man and cared for his people and wanted to protect them physically and spiritually. He thought about and did much to serve his follow brothers and sisters in this capacity.

Alma 59:11 And now, when Moroni saw that the city of Nephihah was lost he was exceedingly sorrowful, and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the people, whether they should not fall into the hands of their brethren.

Moroni in Alma 60 writes a letter to governor of the land, and it is not flattering one at that. In fact he blatantly shows his disappointment with the lack of support he feels he has been receiving. Here are a few examples.

Alma 60:2 For behold, I have somewhat to say unto them by the way of condemnation …

Alma 60:5 … Yea, great has been your neglect towards us.

Alma 60:9 … ye have withheld your provisions from them … because of your exceedingly great neglect towards them.

Alma 60:10 … ye have neglected them …

Alma 60:11 … ye have supposed in vain.

Alma 60:14 And now behold, I say unto you, I fear exceedingly that the judgments of God will come upon this people, because of their exceeding slothfulness, yea, even the slothfulness of our government, and their exceedingly great neglect towards their brethren, yea, towards those who have been slain.

Alma 60:15 For were it not for the wickedness which first commenced at our head …

Alma 60:16 Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves; …

Alma 60:18 … For we know not but what ye yourselves are seeking for authority. We know not but what ye are also traitors to your country.

Alma 60:19 Or is it that ye have neglected us …

Alma 60:22 Yea, will ye sit in idleness …

Alma 60:23 Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless …

Alma 60:24 And now, except ye do repent of that which ye have done …

Alma 60:28 … it is because of your iniquity that we have suffered so much loss.

Alma 60:30 … and smite you with the sword …

Alma 60:31 For behold, the Lord will not suffer that ye shall live and wax strong in your iniquities to destroy his righteous people.

Alma 60:33 Ye know that ye do transgress the laws of God …

I know many who put forth effort to share inconvenient truths can sympathize with Moroni regarding much frustration over what they see happening. Moroni listed many frustrations in these and other verses over the lack of help he feels he was getting and what was happening to his follow brothers and sisters because of it.

Luckily Parhoron was a man of God and forgiving one at that. Pahoran replies to Moroni in a gentle manner, which is incredible considering all the accusations Moroni made of Parhoron in his letter. Pahoran also goes on and lets Moroni know that he has not forgotten him, and that he is glad for the successes he has had. And that he, Pahoran, has also been working towards winning the war also, by working on other issues.

Here are some verses all those who have fought a good fight for the Kingdom of Heaven can relate with.

Alma 60:3 And now behold, I say unto you that myself, and also my men, and also Helaman and his men, have suffered exceedingly great sufferings; yea, even hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and all manner of afflictions of every kind.

Alma 60:9 … because of their great desires which they had for the welfare of this people …

It is interesting to me that if you look at the symbolism that Moroni uses regarding Pahoran and how things are worded they could be applied to God. Here are a few examples.

Alma 60:1 And it came to pass that he {prayed} again to the governor of the land, who {is God}, and these are the words which he {prayed}, saying: Behold, I direct mine {prayer} to {God}, in the {Kingdom of Heaven}, who is the chief judge and the governor over the land, {hoping that he will direct} all those who {He, God, has chosen} to govern and manage the affairs of this {spiritual} war.

Alma 60:7 … sit upon your thrones …

Alma 60:11 .. sit upon your thrones …

With the reminder of the feelings of frustration while sharing inconvenient truths with people and then reading Alma 59-61 I saw how we can apply these scriptures to our lives right now. By substituting ourselves for Moroni and God for Pahoran. We have these grand plans to bring people to the truth of God. But sadly things don’t go how we want them to and we get frustrated. We talk with God about these frustrations and ask why don’t people believe us, we want to help them return to You. And although some of the things we may say are not the nicest, God response gently and reminds us He has not forgotten us nor our cause. He also has been working towards winning this war against the evil one.

I submit one reason chapters Alma 59-61 are included in the Book of Mormon is to remind all those who are putting forth a good fight for the cause of truth that God has not forgotten us nor the cause we are fighting for. God is also fighting the fight with us. For His work is not done.

Let us remember God is working with us.

As we go forth fighting for truth let us remember to be kind to others and not cause strife among others who believe in God, for when we do we weaken our power and thus strength Satan’s grips upon us.

Alma 60:16 Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves; yea, were it not for these king-men, who caused so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, at the time we were contending among ourselves, if we had united our strength as we hitherto have done; yea, had it not been for the desire of power and authority which those king-men had over us; had they been true to the cause of our freedom, and united with us, and gone forth against our enemies, instead of taking up their swords against us, which was the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, if we had gone forth against them in the strength of the Lord, we should have dispersed our enemies, for it would have been done, according to the fulfilling of his word.