"In Memory Of ..."

Captain Moroni
by Arnold Friberg

Memorial Day weekend seems to be the perfect time to talk about one of my favorite Book of Mormon characters.  Captain Moroni!  Captain Moroni was a righteous man who led the armies of the Nephites during a war with the Lamanites that lasted several years.  We are told in the book of Alma that "...if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men." (Alma 48:17)

In the book of Alma we are told the Nephite people's motivations for fighting.  These included "...their lands, and their houses, and their wives, and their children...their rights and their privileges, yea, and also their liberty, that they might worship God according to their desires." (Alma 43:9)  On Memorial Day we are thankful for all of those who have died protecting those things for us, and we are also thankful for those who lived their lives building up our cities and towns, raising good families, and fighting to create and keep the liberty and freedom of worship that we enjoy.

"In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children..."  (Title of Liberty -- Alma 46:12)