This has been a frightening and anxious week, watching what is going on in Ukraine. There's an unreality to it, even while there's an immediate surge of anger and heartache. How, I think, can I possibly go about my day, making dinner and walking the dog and cleaning out my dryer lint trap while the whole world is screaming? The Ukrainians are a strong and faithful people, but how can this possibly end well for them?
Every day as part of my worship, I seek solace by reading a chapter of the Book of Mormon, and today's was so timely! In Alma 43 it describes a war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, and when I got to this part I got a shivering sense of déjà-vu:
..."Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites...that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs. For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage.
"And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and their houses, and their wives, and their children, that they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies; and also that they might preserve their rights and privileges, yea, and also their liberty, that they might worship God according to their desires."
It goes on to describe the battle and says that the Lamanites fought "like dragons," and "never had the Lamanites been known to fight with such exceedingly great strength and courage." But "the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all..."
The Nephites won.
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