Day 46 - Alma 52-54

Spiritual Thought:
Three or four years ago a T-shirt circulated in the church. The shirt had a drawing of young Book of Mormon warriors and this caption: “STRIPLING WARRIORS WERE MOMMAS’ BOYS.” They certainly were! The fathers are not mentioned in these verses. One wonders why? 

"Someone might ask, 'Hey, where were their fathers all this time?'  Good question.  Alma 56:27 gives us the answer.  Helaman reports, "There was brought unto us many provision from the fathers of those my two thousand sons."  Fathers bringing provisions reminds us of the father's primary role as a provider." (Righteous Warriors - page 111 - John Bytheway).   The Family: a Proclamation to the World says that Fathers are to Provide, Preside and Protect and Mother's are to Nurture. 

Righteous Warriorettes:"To be a righteous woman during the winding-up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman’s strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help, to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society’s basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife." (Teaching of Spencer W. Kimball, p. 327)

Focus Scripture Table to study: (double click to make larger - or email me for original)

For Kids:
Click here to watch video of Helaman and the 2000 Stripling Warriors

Food for Thought:  Spiritual Lessons from the War Chapter (Bytheway)

Alma 52 – Don’t leave your Strongholds

1. Don’t leave your stronghold –
2. Small temptations may lure you into bigger temptations.
   a.  Famous last words, “I’ll be right back”.
3. God doesn’t trick us into being righteous, but Satan uses Decoys.
4. When you’re tempted, realize that someone may be trying to stratagem you!  Satan works more by distraction than confrontation!

Chapter 53 -  Knowing What Is True, Being True to What you Know

1. When you know the Church is true, be true to the church - Don’t be a “just kidding” Mormon!
2. Being spiritual means knowing and doing.

Chapter 54- Fear God More Than Armies

1. Fear God more than man.
2. Meekness is not weakness.

BOMING Picture:  Helaman with the 2000 Stripling Warriors

President Ezra Taft Benson said: "You have been born at this time for a sacred and glorious purpose. It is not by chance that you have been reserved to come to earth in this last dispensation of the fulness of times. Your birth at this particular time was foreordained in the eternities. You are to be the royal army of the Lord in the last days. In the spiritual battles you are waging, I see you as today’s sons of Helaman. Remember well the Book of Mormon account of Helaman’s two thousand stripling warriors". (Ensign, May 1986, 43.)