My reading of the end Chapters of the Book of Alma in the Book of Mormon.
In 1 Nephi 19:23 Nephi tells us that he read the books of Moses and of Isaiah to his people and that he did “ liken all scriptures unto us, that it might be for our profit and learning.” I think this is good advice, but it is sometimes harder to “liken the scriptures” to ourselves than at other times, and sometimes we just forget to try. We can be so intent on just “getting through another chapter” that we don’t even try to “liken”. When I say “we” perhaps I just mean “me”. Perhaps I am the only one who reads and doesn’t “liken” and just tries to get through another chapter? The chapters towards the end of Alma can be particularly difficult. All this war and bloodshed is not something that we can easily “liken”. Most of us are not fighting for possession of our homes and cities. Most of us are not in armies doing this away from our homes. I think most of us are very familiar with the story of Helaman and the 2000 stripling warriors, young men who were sent in to battle...