First set thine own house in order

Today I read Alma 51, where Moroni deals with the kingmen for the first time, Amalickiah comes to war against the Nephites again, and Teancum slays Amalickiah. This chapter always reminds me of the instruction the Savior gave to first set thine own house in order.

Moroni was a man who truly understood this principle. He knew that in the past part of the reason his people had lost to the Lamanites was because they were not unified. They did not have their people united against the Lamanites. So Moroni first and foremost decided to get his own affairs in order before tackling the larger challenge that the Lamanites presented.

As I read this morning I couldn't help but think, how often are we like the Nephites? How often do we ignore the issues in our own lives that cripple us spiritually but we've got plenty of advice to share with those that might be going through something similar or going through something we know nothing about. THIS is exactly what the Savior was cautioning against when He taught that we needed to first get our own house in order.

I also have always found it interesting that for all intents and purposes, Teancum committed murder in this chapter. Now, I think the situation is much like that Nephi faced, where it is better that one man should perish than an entire nation suffer, however, unlike Nephi we are not told that Teancum was prompted by the Spirit to do this. However, given the remorse Moroni and Lehi feel when Teancum dies, I think it is safe to say that Teancum was definitely a man of the Spirit because a man like Captain Moroni would not be friends with a murderer.

It is also interesting to me to note that no matter how difficult things get for the Nephites, Moroni never declares marshal law. He always goes through the government when it comes to matters that concern the people as a whole outside the scope of the war. When the kingmen would not help, he petitioned the government to give him the power to compel them to service or be put to death. I often wonder what went through his mind when Pahoran would get requests like this from Moroni? I mean, if he's anything like me, he probably felt that Moroni already had such power since, even though not directly, it still fell under the jurisdiction of the war. But Moroni was a man who loved liberty and very much would do things by the book.

And again that is why he is one of the ultimate examples in the Book of Mormon. He is a man who loves order, a man who, even though he has great passion, has perfect temperance. He was in complete control of his passions. He knew that Pahoran would not fault him for taking the steps he did, but he still wanted to do things in their proper order. Truly Mormon was right that if all men could be like that, then the powers of hell would be shaken forever! May we all grow to be more like Moroni, Lehi and Teancum. Until tomorrow.