Unsung Heroes

 

It’s not an uncommon thing to ask children, and even adults, who they count as heroes. In church, the heroes are usually individuals from the scriptures, perhaps David because of the battle with Goliath, or Gideon for his ultimate valor following initial hesitancy, or Paul for his determination, zeal and courage. For Latter-day Saints, heroes are as likely to be individuals from The Book of Mormon - Nephi for his unrelenting faith, Captain Moroni for his integrity, strength and valiance, Ammon for his sword skills and stalwart example. But I would like to point out a few other people that are not as frequently considered. 

By way of background and introduction, there is in The Book of Mormon a narrative (see Mosiah 27) of a group of friends who were children of the leadership of the Nephite nation - one of two main groups of people whose history is recorded in that truly remarkable book. The leader of the Nephite church was a man named Alma. He had a son whose name was also Alma. This younger Alma was a friend of the sons of the Nephite king, Mosiah. Their names were Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni. From the record, it appears that they were a group of rowdy and rebellious men who not only disregarded the church teachings themselves, but went about trying to actually destroy the church and to persuade others to disregard it, too. They disregarded the leadership of King Mosiah in many ways. In the midst of their rebellion, the group experienced an angelic visit to rebuke them and give them a chance to repent which resulted in a remarkable conversion for them all. You might call it an ultimate "come to Jesus moment." After this, they worked diligently to try to repair the damage that they had inflicted on the community including seeking to do everything possible to bring others to Christ. For Ammon, Aaron, Omner and Himni, this included putting together a mission to visit and preach to the Lamanites - the other main group of people discussed in most of The Book of Mormon. This mission was a dangerous endeavor due to a long history of hatred and conflict between the Nephites and Lamanites cause by erroneous traditions, misrepresented history, etc. The mission Ammon and his brothers went on ultimately lasted some 14 years. (See Alma chapters 17 - 27)

The story of Ammon’s remarkable success is the first that is covered in the narrative of their mission. Ammon was a skilled warrior but showed a love for people, a willingness to serve, and wisdom, determination, and faith rarely seen in the world. Due to the exciting story describing Ammon's experiences, he is a favorite among youth and adults alike. Less discussed, less highlighted, though, are the others. They too are discussed in a portion of the mission account, but what they experienced can perhaps be looked at as less successful. Their lot was to fall among a more hard hearted people than Ammon. They were stoned, mocked, cast out of cities and thrown into prison where they were treated harshly before being released at the command of the Lamanite king through Ammon's intervention. They then had the opportunity to teach the Lamanite king, sparking a general command that the religious persecution they had previously experienced should be stopped. 

I have rarely, if ever heard someone speak of Aaron and his fellows as their personal heroes and I think that may be an oversight on our part. Consider what they did. Hated and persecuted, they still went forward. Mocked and stoned and yet they persisted. Run out of cities and on to the next one. Their exercise of faith in God was necessarily different than their brother Ammon, but it is no less profound and inspiring. After all of the trials, after all of the suffering, after all of the persecution, they were the ones to speak to the king of the Lamanites and open the way for nation-wide decrees to allow them free access to preach to the people at large.

The narrative is remarkable. We don't see perfection in the people - either the missionaries nor those that hear them. We don't see sermons of overwhelming power that caused all hearts to turn. We don't even see an entire nation converted after the king's decrees are announced. What we see are humans, often hated, sometimes abused and mistreated, holding on to the things they knew to be true. Loving the very people who mishandled them enough to stick to it and try to proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were patient in affliction. They were determined even if from time to time they needed encouragement to keep going. They were dedicated disciples. They are an inspiration and an example to us when the world beats us down; when the people we care about, love and with whom we hope to share shut the door in our face, undervalue what we are trying to give them, or force us to turn away. The more I read the story and contemplate their mission experience, the more Aaron, Omner and Himni grow in my esteem and take a place among my scriptural heroes.

Another set of unsung heroes from the Book of Mormon is found later in the Book of Alma. The Lamanites who had been converted to the Lord needed a place of safety from those who were angry at their conversion. The Nephites provided land for them where they began to raise families and live a peaceful life. In the meantime, the Lamanite leaders were stirring their people up to anger against the Nephite nation which lead to a long period of war between the two. The converted Lamanites had taken an oath to God to not ever again raise their weapons against anyone, yet as they watched their adopted nation (the Nephites) having to defend themselves from their former people, the Lamanites, they felt a desire to help. The only way to do that, without breaking their oath, was to let their young sons - who had not taken that oath - join in the fight. The account of the efforts of this group of young men is among the most inspiring of the war chapters in the Book of Mormon. Miraculous preservation of their lives in spite of injuries, great faith filling their souls because of the teachings of their mothers, brilliant military strategies to help regain lost ground all fill these chapters. 

But there are some hidden heroes here, too. In Alma 56:27 there is this unremarkable verse, something generally overlooked and just an background piece of the narrative: "And now it came to pass in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons." What a quiet praise to give. They couldn't fight themselves, perhaps for several reasons, but they could do something. They could help in a small way. They could provide provisions, supplies for their cherished sons. They could send them or perhaps carry them down personally. The background efforts, the logistics, the provisions are indispensable to any effort. But those who carry them out are typically unheralded, overlooked, even forgotten. Yet, those who know and understand, those who are wise and consider, are grateful for them and recognize their critical importance to the efforts.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, these make up the majority. Only a few can be stars, candles on the cake, front-line warriors. For each of these - and they would do well to consider it - they could not accomplish what they do without the multitude of others who lay the foundation, provide the means for the efforts, and quietly (and sometimes not so quietly) rejoice in simply being on the team. 

To the rank and file, the logicians, the everyday people going about their business handling business as usually and the putting out the fires that arise so the stars can shine, I give my gratitude, my recognition and my praise. But more importantly, vastly more importantly, our Heaven Father recognizes your efforts, your faith, your consistency, your perseverance, your goodness. He sees in secret. He marks the sparrows fall. He clothes the lilies of the field and counts the hairs of your head. Bravo! Press On! Continue the course! Then, eventually, you will be able to proclaim, as Paul: "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing" (2 Tim 4:7-8).