In the Book of Mormon we read the Lamanites were fighting with such fierceness and anger that the Nephites began to shrink and flee from them. But Moroni inspired them with thoughts of their lands, liberty,and freedom from bondage. The Nephies then turned upon the Lamanites and cried unto the Lord for help. This was a turning point in the battle and the Lamanites began to flee before them, to the waters of the river Sidon, even though there ere twice as many Lamanites as there were Nephites. The Nephites were able to surround the Lamanites on both sides of the river. This caused the Lamanites to far, and when Moroni saw this he commanded that his men should stop shedding their blood. Alma 43:48-54 "And it came to pass that when the men of Moroni saw the fierceness and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to shrink and flee from them. And Moroni, perceiving their intent, sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts—yea, the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom from bondage. And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they cried with one voice unto the Lord their God, for their liberty and their freedom from bondage. And they began to stand against the Lamanites with power; and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them; and they fled even to the waters of Sidon. Now, the Lamanites were more numerous, yea, by more than double the number of the Nephites; nevertheless, they were driven insomuch that they were gathered together in one body in the valley, upon the bank by the river Sidon. Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about, yea, even on both sides of the river, for behold, on the east were the men of Lehi. Therefore when Zerahemnah saw the men of Lehi on the east of the river Sidon, and the armies of Moroni on the west of the river Sidon, that they were encircled about by the Nephites, they were struck with terror. Now Moroni, when he saw their terror, commanded his men that they should stop shedding their blood."
In the New Testament we read about the stoning of Stephen, who testified right to the end of his life. He told the people who were able to kill him that they were following the example of their wicked fathers who likewise persecuted and murdered the prophets who prophesied of the coming of Christ, who they likewise killed.
They received the Law but did not keep it. When the council members heard these words they were enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. They shrieked and covered their ears so they wouldn't have to listen to him. Then they charged at him and battered him with stones. As he was dying, Stephen saw God the Father with Jesus standing beside Him, and he prayed that the Lord would not hold this sin against those who were killing him. Acts 7:51-60 "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
A verse with a thought booklet tells Judah not to be dismayed or afraid because of the greatness of the multitude who was ready to fight against them. The battle was not theirs, but the Lord's. If the Lord is on our side, it doesn't matter who is on the other side or how numerous they are. The Lord will prevail and we have nothing to fear. Have you ever noticed how the full moon seems to be much larger when it's near the horizon than when it's higher in the sky overhead? The actual size of the moon doesn't change, but our perspective changes. When the moon is on the horizon we compare it to nearer objects such as mountains, trees, or buildings. It looks large in comparison. But when it's over our heads, there is nothing next to it to compare it to and it looks smaller. Likewise, when we worry about future problems that might arise they loom large to us. We think, "How am I going to handle this?" Instead, we should be asking, "How will God help me handle whatever comes next?" When we compare our problems to our own puny ability to manage them on our own, they look huge. But viewed from the perspective of God's role in our life, our problems shrink down to a manageable size. 2 Chronicles 20:15 "And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."
In the New Testament we read about the stoning of Stephen, who testified right to the end of his life. He told the people who were able to kill him that they were following the example of their wicked fathers who likewise persecuted and murdered the prophets who prophesied of the coming of Christ, who they likewise killed.
They received the Law but did not keep it. When the council members heard these words they were enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. They shrieked and covered their ears so they wouldn't have to listen to him. Then they charged at him and battered him with stones. As he was dying, Stephen saw God the Father with Jesus standing beside Him, and he prayed that the Lord would not hold this sin against those who were killing him. Acts 7:51-60 "Ye stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, ye do always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do ye. Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which shewed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers: Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it. When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up steadfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God, And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God. Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep."
A verse with a thought booklet tells Judah not to be dismayed or afraid because of the greatness of the multitude who was ready to fight against them. The battle was not theirs, but the Lord's. If the Lord is on our side, it doesn't matter who is on the other side or how numerous they are. The Lord will prevail and we have nothing to fear. Have you ever noticed how the full moon seems to be much larger when it's near the horizon than when it's higher in the sky overhead? The actual size of the moon doesn't change, but our perspective changes. When the moon is on the horizon we compare it to nearer objects such as mountains, trees, or buildings. It looks large in comparison. But when it's over our heads, there is nothing next to it to compare it to and it looks smaller. Likewise, when we worry about future problems that might arise they loom large to us. We think, "How am I going to handle this?" Instead, we should be asking, "How will God help me handle whatever comes next?" When we compare our problems to our own puny ability to manage them on our own, they look huge. But viewed from the perspective of God's role in our life, our problems shrink down to a manageable size. 2 Chronicles 20:15 "And he said, Hearken ye, all Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God's."
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