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by Kendal T. Anderson (Author)
Ever wondered why the Book of Mormon authors included so many chapters on warfare? Was it because Mormon was a "military man", or was he attempting to instill in his readers an underlying theme? Moses spoke face to face with God on Mount Sinai, and upon his return to the obstinate Israelites one of the primary things he re-affirmed as a commanded from God is the age-old injunction that thou shalt not kill. This venerable commandment is still in effect, yet modern warfare has all but eviscerated it. For the most part, we would all concur that when one individual murders another that it is wrong, yet when a nation does it collectively in the name of 'national security' there are many who wrongly treat it as noble. This book explores the war chapters within the Book of Mormon and puts into perspective the principles pertaining to warfare that Mormon has recorded in plain sight. Although he took command of an army at the tender age of sixteen, Mormon was no warmonger. In fact, he resigned from his position and sat on the sidelines as his people took up arms in vengeance against the Lamanites. Perhaps in our day, he would've been branded as a traitor and executed for treason, but he knew something that many of us miss when we read his record. He knew that God has His own rules of engagement, and going in search of foreign monsters to destroy with the intent to preempt them or avenge the blood of loved ones is not permissible. This book shatters the myths that surround the romanticism of war, confounds the war hawks who beat its rhythmic drums, and lays down God's law as outlined in the Doctrine and Covenants and the Book of Mormon. Finally, this book endeavors to expound on the war chapters for the intent that they were given: as a warning to avoid the mistakes of the past by refraining from aggressive warfare and limiting ourselves to defense only. This means never taking the battle to another nation, never initiating violence, and always standing in defense of our lives, liberty, families, lands, and religion. This ancient record inspired from On High, warns us against being doomed to the fate of at least two civilizations (the Nephites and Jaredites) that were swept off the face of this land because they would not abstain from aggressive warfare. Mormon's message is both sobering and ominous to the American Imperium: stop your preemptive wars, your harmful foreign entanglements, your remote drone bombings, your indefinite detention and torturing, your secret assassinations, and your aggressive attempts to police the world or you may face the same fate as those who came before and were swept away because of such transgressions.
