Alma 2

(September 14, 2014)

                Alma and his army, in this chapter, found themselves in a horrible tactical position.  They were met when they were fording the River Sidon, which put them at a significant disadvantage.  But they were ultimately able to prevail and achieve victory, because they looked to the Lord for their salvation rather than trusting the arm of flesh.

                Tactical advantage is good to have, and in a conflict it is better to have the advantage than the disadvantage.  But all the temporal benefits or detriments in the world are not dispositive.  If we isolate ourselves from the Lord, we can be in a perfect position and still lose (spiritually it is inevitable, and it can also happen temporally).  Likewise, we can be in the worst possible position and still win if we turn fully to the Lord and call on Him for aid (spiritually, again, it is inevitable and it can likewise happen temporally).