While Latter-day Saints love the Book of Mormon, some portions of it can feel intimidating. The most notable example is probably the so-called “Isaiah Chapters” in 2 Nephi 11–24, but an equally daunting block is found in Alma 43–63, or colloquially, “the war chapters.”
With dozens of characters, complicated politics, and extended, strategic military campaigns, it can be hard to follow the war chapters at all, let alone to find converting spiritual insights in them.1 But understanding what Mormon is trying to teach us can change that, unlocking covenant power from God—power prepared to help us navigate the challenges we face in daily life.
I recently conducted an in-depth study of these chapters, and the key theme surprised me: every story is about making and keeping covenants.
The war chapters mention covenants more than any other part of the Book of Mormon. Comprising less than 10 percent of the Book of Mormon text, they contain 40 percent of the explicit mentions of the covenants, oaths, and promises individuals make with God.2
When read through this covenant lens, the war chapters explode with spiritual power. Again and again, choices to keep or recommit to covenants change the course of Nephite history. I believe Mormon is trying to teach us that even—and especially—when life is overwhelmingly full of busyness or challenges, the best thing we can do is keep our covenants. The outcomes of our personal wars hinge on stepping toward, not away from, Jesus Christ.
Remarkably, the same is true even when we have not been keeping our covenants but then resolve to do so again. In that moment of resolve, the Savior can step in and turn the tide of our lives—no matter how fierce the opposing force. This should give us hope both personally and for those we love whose covenants may currently be neglected.
A Book of Mormon War Completely Changed by Covenants
The lengthy war spanning Alma 51–62 is just one of many, many examples of this covenant focus. Mormon tells us that this intense, decade-long conflict is because of a group of people who break a covenant. And the eventual resolution is because of people who do keep their covenants.
Six years before the war began, a man named Amalakiah sought to be king. After his unsuccessful efforts, those who had supported him covenanted instead to support the cause of freedom (Alma 46:35). However, when Amalakiah returns to initiate another war, rather than support the cause of freedom, his past supporters take up the name “king-men” and rebel (Alma 51:7, 13).
It is while Captain Moroni is “breaking down … [these] contentions” that the Lamanites invade (Alma 51:22–26). He directly attributes the Lamanites’ successful invasion to the covenant-breaking rebellion of the king men: “Had they been true to the cause of our freedom … we would have dispersed our enemies … according to the fulfilling of [God’s] word” (Alma 60:16). As a result, the Nephites become embroiled in 10 years of conflict and desolation.
So what eventually ends this major conflict? Two groups of people who do keep their covenants.
On one war front, the sons of Helaman turn things around through their covenant faithfulness. In a letter to Moroni, Helaman directly ties every miraculous victory to specific aspects of his sons’ covenant-keeping.3
On the other war front, it is Chief Judge Pahoran’s covenant faithfulness that changes the course of the war. Referencing his covenant commitments, Pahoran seeks Moroni’s aid, and by uniting their forces, they quell a rebellion, expel the Lamanite armies, and bring peace to the land.4
Covenants are Key to Winning the Wars in Our Lives
As for the Nephites, covenant-keeping can change and bring peace to our lives. Although the busyness or stressfulness of life can feel like a legitimate reason to be lax about our covenant commitments, the war chapters teach that overcoming these challenges depends on keeping our covenant relationship with Jesus Christ at the center of our lives.
As President Nelson taught, we can “increase the Savior’s power in our lives when we … keep [our] covenants with precision,”5 and “making and keeping covenants actually makes life easier!”6
Mormon’s own explicit message from the war chapters is this same promise: “And thus we see how merciful and just are all the dealings of the Lord, to the fulfilling of all his words … And we see that these promises have been verified … those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times” (Alma 50:19–22, emphasis added).
Returning to Covenants Turns Lives Around
If we watch for it, the war chapters teach us that when the Lord’s covenant people turn back to Him, they are empowered and delivered every time. President Nelson has been emphasizing this truth: “Once you and I have made a covenant with God,” he taught, “our relationship with Him becomes much closer than before … We are bound together.”7 Whether faithful or erring, we will never be abandoned.
We all will have moments of covenant-breaking. For some people, time away from a covenant relationship with Christ stretches into years. As a parent or friend, it can tear at our hearts to see someone we love abandon their covenants. The war chapters give me hope that through covenant relationships with Jesus Christ, lives can be turned around and peace re-established—no matter how bleak things may look now.
Jesus is always true to His promises. He will not forsake us, He is in relentless pursuit of us, and He lived and died to draw us all unto Him. He fulfills all His words—even His words in the Book of Mormon war chapters.
Learn more about covenants in the links below.
▶ 5 insights to fill you with hope as you encourage others on the covenant path
▶ The simple thing my mom did that showed me the power of temple garments
▶ Wondering how to help loved ones see the wonder and majesty of the gospel? Start here
▶ 30+ meaningful baptism gift ideas for kids
Notes
1. If you don’t naturally turn to the war chapters for converting, Christ-centered insights, you are in good company; even in general conference, the war chapters are quoted or cited only a quarter as frequently as other chapters in the Book of Mormon.
2. In my research, I identified 219 instances of explicit narrative covenant-making (i.e., moments where the story mentions a “covenant,” “oath,” or “promise” made by a character, group, or the Lord). Just over half of these instances (118) are about the covenants and promises of the Lord. The rest (101) are about individual covenants. The war chapters contain 42 explicit references to covenants, 40 of which are about individuals.
3. The sons make four covenants in Alma 53:17, and Helaman ties each of four major victories to those covenant promises. For example, when an innumerable Lamanite army attacks the city of Cumeni, the sons of Helaman are tested in their resolve to “fight in all cases” (Alma 53:17), but Helaman records that “as the remainder of our army were about to give way… [they] were firm and undaunted. … And now behold it was these my sons… to whom we owe this great victory” (Alma 57:19–22).
4. When he became chief judge, Pahoran swore to “keep the … freedom of the people,” “maintain the cause of God,” and “bring the wicked to justice” (Alma 50:39). In his letter to Captain Moroni, he expressed his determination to “preserve the rights” of his people, to retain “the cause of our Redeemer,” and to “resist wickedness even unto bloodshed” (Alma 61:9–14)—an exact parallel of the covenants in his oath 11 chapters earlier.
5. President Russell M. Nelson, “Drawing the Power of Jesus Christ into Our Lives,” April 2017.
6. President Nelson, “Overcome the World and Find Rest,” October 2022.
