3 Nephi 4

In the post for 3 Nephi 3 I said how I would be wishing for a man like captain Moroni to head my armies in the face of the Gadianton robbers and their intimidating, numerous armies. Well, in this chapter we see that captain Gidgidoni turned out to be every bit as much an inspired and brilliant military leader as his legendary counterpart of the previous generation. It had been less than 100 years since the days of Moroni so I am sure that he was known and remembered, talked about and revered as a legend. Gidgidoni would surely go down in Nephite history in a similar way because of his spiritual soundness and his military genius.

The Nephite armies taught me something, or rather reminded me of an important principle when they saw the terrible armies coming to attack them:

7 And it came to pass that they did come up to battle; and it was in the sixth month; and behold, great and terrible was the day that they did come up to battle; and they were girded about after the manner of robbers; and they had a lamb-skin about their loins, and they were dyed in blood, and their heads were shorn, and they had head-plates upon them; and great and terrible was the appearance of the armies of Giddianhi, because of their armor, and because of their being dyed in blood.
8 And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites, when they saw the appearance of the army of Giddianhi, had all fallen to the earth, and did lift their cries to the Lord their God, that he would spare them and deliver them out of the hands of their enemies.

When fear gripped these people, their immediate instinct was to fall to the ground and plead with God for strength, for help, for deliverance. All men have fears, but those who face their fears have courage as well. These men cried to God for strength and courage, for comfort, and for success that they might win the day.

When I am faced with my own fears, I know what I must do. I have the privilege of asking for and receiving strength from the Lord to face my fears. May I not be a coward, but courageous every time I fear.

God did answer the prayers of the Nephites. He did strengthen them. They did win the day. They did defeat their enemies. And when they did they praised Him and thanked Him for His help:

30 And they did rejoice and cry again with one voice, saying: May the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, protect this people in righteousness, so long as they shall call on the name of their God for protection.
31 And it came to pass that they did break forth, all as one, in singing, and praising their God for the great thing which he had done for them, in preserving them from falling into the hands of their enemies.
32 Yea, they did cry: Hosanna to the Most High God. And they did cry: Blessed be the name of the Lord God Almighty, the Most High God.
33 And their hearts were swollen with joy, unto the gushing out of many tears, because of the great goodness of God in delivering them out of the hands of their enemies; and they knew it was because of their repentance and their humility that they had been delivered from an everlasting destruction.

May I follow this pattern throughout my life of praying for strength in all of life's battles, and then returning thanks to God for answering my prayers.

 3 Nephi 4.