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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 1
leaving 12,532 dead. The Nephite loss was about half of that number (75). Alma's soldiers pursued
the enemy as far as the valley of Gideon, where they camped for the night. Alma sent out four
scouts to learn the whereabouts and plans of Amlici (77).
LAMANITES JOIN IN THE BATTLE, VER. 79-101
Alma 1:79 And it came to pass that on the morrow they returned into the camp of the Nephites, in great
haste, being greatly astonished, and struck with much fear, saying,
The scouts reported that the Lamanite army had joined the Amlicites and "are upon our brethren in
that land." The Nephites were fleeing toward the land of Zarahemla with their flocks, their wives,
and. their children (81).
The Nephites then started for the city of Zarahemla, but were intercepted by the enemy as they
were crossing the river Sidon. The combined armies of the Lamanites and Amlicites were
described by the historian as "being as numerous almost, as it were, as the sands of the sea” (84}.
But the Nephites "prayed mightily" and "the Lord did hear their cries, and did strengthen them."
1:87 And it came to pass that Alma fought with Amlici with the sword, face to face; and they
contended mightily, one with another.-
High Priest Alma had God on his side. It has been said that "one plus God is a majority." Even
during this hand-to- hand struggle with a powerful and dangerous adversary, Alma called on God,
"0 Lord, have mercy and spare my life, that I may be an instrument in thy hands, to save and
protect this people" (88).
It seems apropos here to ask why a believer in Christ should expect God to help him kill another
of his children. This poses a difficult problem, and has disturbed Christian thinking over the
centuries. Without attempting to go into all the intricacies of the various aspects of the Christian
attitude on Pacific’s versus war, let us note that the consciousness that one's cause is just, and that
God has promised his help to those who trust in him as they contend against the powers of evil,
has psychological as well as physical advantage. Thus Alma "was strengthened, insomuch that he
slew Amlici" and put the Lamanite king and his army to flight (89-91).
Alma 1:99 Now many women and children had been slain with the sword, and also many of their flocks
and their herds;
Men speak of modern warfare as savagery because of its wanton destruction of noncombatants,
and particularly of women and children. This quotation indicates that such warfare is not as
modern as many are led to think. Nor is the "scorched earth" policy peculiar to the twentieth
century, for we read: "And also many of their fields of grain were destroyed, for they were trodden
down by the hosts of men" (100).
THE RED MARK AND THE CURSE OF DARKNESS, VER. 102-130
Alma 1:102 And the Amlicites were distinguished from the Nephites; for they had marked themselves
with red in their foreheads, after the manner of the Lamanites; nevertheless they had not shorn their
heads like unto the Lamanites.