Burying Our Weapons of War | Alma 23-29 | Come Follow Me

The story of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies is an amazing story because it shows the true conversion and change that we all can go through in our lives. It doesn't matter what we've done in our past, it doesn't matter how we were brought up, or the mistakes we have made. What matters is the change of heart we have now and what we are doing in the present. 

One of my favorite verses in the Book of Mormon is Alma 24:19 which says:

19 And thus we see that, when these Lamanites were brought to believe and to know the truth, they were firm, and would suffer even unto death rather than commit sin; and thus we see that they buried their weapons of peace, or they buried the weapons of war, for peace.

I love that phrase "buried the weapons of war, for peace." If we use this as a metaphor for the many temptations and bad habits that we all have, you could say that as children of God we all have "weapons of war."

What are your weapons of war? Is it a drug and alcohol addiction? Is it a problem with pornography problem? Is it struggling with Church attendance? A hard time loving your fellow man? Daily prayer or scripture study? Are you having a difficult time forgiving someone? 

Whatever your "weapon of war" is, consider burying it as the Lamanites did for the sole purpose of peace. True conversion requires repentance, and the easiest way to remember the steps of repentance is the acronym ABCCD.

A - Accept Your Weapon of War

B - Be Sorry

C - Confess in prayer or to a Priesthood holder

C - Correct anything that needs to be corrected

D - Don't Do It Again

I'm sure that it was very difficult and hard for the Lamanites to choose to be as converted as they were. They had years of anger and resentment towards the Nephites and Gospel, and years of habits and beliefs that needed to ultimately change. Burying their weapons of war was a physical examples of the spiritual and internal change they had made within themselves. May you also decide to bury your weapons of war and have peace in your life.