Cultural: There is an undercurrent in the Book of Mormon that is so completely assumed that an essential question is never asked. Whenever we hear of war, it is almost certain that the Lamanites will get involved in it. Even here, where the initiators of the conflict are Nephites, we get Lamanites involved. Why is the conflict always with the Lamanites, and why are the Lamanites so easily stirred to war?
The first of the questions has a very subtle answer that goes back to one of the earliest definitions we have of “Lamanite:”
Jacob 1:13-14
13 Now the people which were not Lamanites were Nephites; nevertheless, they were called Nephites, Jacobites, Josephites, Zoramites, Lamanites, Lemuelites, and Ishmaelites.
14 But I, Jacob, shall not hereafter distinguish them by these names, but I shall call them Lamanites that seek to destroy the people of Nephi, and those who are friendly to Nephi I shall call Nephites, or the people of Nephi, according to the reigns of the kings.
Lamanite is a convenient political collector that means those in opposition to the Nephites, which is more clearly defined as “us.” Regardless of the kin makeup of the various political alliances, the Nephite/Lamanite labels are consistently used in just the manner that Jacob described; allies are Nephites, enemies are Lamanites. The reason that Lamanites are always involved in military conflicts is therefore by definition. Wars occur against enemies, and enemies are Lamanite.
The second question is why the Lamanites are so easily stirred to battle. We have, for instance, a people who are ready to go to war, and the elicit the assistance of Lamanites in a neighboring wilderness. Why are they so eager to assist and participate in a battle where they have no political interest? The answer here lies in the cult of war previously described. The Mesoamerican culture was built upon concepts that exalted warfare to a religious rite, and glory in battle was an important aspect of life. In addition, the redistribution of the tribute lines made restructuring alliances attractive. If this Zoramite/Lamanite alliance were able to break the people of Jershons alliance and tribute lines to Zarahemla, then the tribute could be redirected to Antionum and to the Lamanites. Thus there were both religious and economic reasons for participation in warfare. The Lamanites are stirred to war because they were culturally predisposed to war, and benefited from it in both religious and economic ways.