As with their Old World counterpart, this New World remnant of the house of Israel seek and find deliverance from the oppression of their enemies at the hands of the Lord of Hosts, rather than with the sword and the arm of flesh (see Mosiah 23:23; Mosiah 24:21). And such deliverance comes only when they have turned their hearts in trust toward him who has promised to preserve them and fight their battles (see D&C 98:32-38). The plea of the Nephites was the plea of David:
“Plead my cause, O Lord, with them that strive with me; fight against them that fight against me. Take hold of shield and buckler, and stand up for mine help. Draw out also the spear, and stop the way against them that persecute me; say unto my soul, I am thy salvation.”
Further, the temporal deliverance of the Lord’s people is but a type, an illustration, of the Holy One’s role in delivering his chosen from the fiery darts of the evil one. Only in and through Christ are they redeemed from the oppressions of him who sought man’s bondage from the beginning. The Psalmist’s plea thus continued:
“Let them be confounded and put to shame that seek after my soul: let them be turned back and brought to confusion that devise my hurt.” (Psalms 35:1-4.)