The weapons used by the warriors (v. 16) are listed periodically throughout the Book of Mormon, and are always basically the same (i.e. Jarom 1:8; Alma 2:12, 14), but the most important weapon was “the strength of the Lord” (Mosiah 9:17). The law of war given “unto mine ancients” and revealed anew in 1833, commanded the saints not go to battle “save I the Lord commanded them” (D&C 98:33), and if commanded promised to justify their going to battle, “[a]nd I the Lord would fight their battles, and their children’s battles” (D&C 98:36–37). The Lamanites suffered almost eleven times more fatalities than the Nephites. Concerning the Nephite deaths in general, Helaman later said of his slain warriors: “Nevertheless, we may console ourselves in this point, that they have died in the cause of their country and of their God, yea, and they are happy” (Alma 56:11).
Concerning the Lamanite fatalities of a later year, Mormon recorded: “Now, they were sorry to take up arms against the Lamanites, because they did not delight in the shedding of blood; yea, and this was not all—they were sorry to be the means of sending so many of their brethren out of this world into an eternal world, unprepared to meet their God” (Alma 48:23). The battle of Zeniff and his people with the Lamanites is an example of the law of war. The Lord was certainly on the Nephites side in this battle.