A major first concern for every nation is civil defense. Should they build up their defenses against possible future attacks during times of peace? Captain Moroni followed the Boy Scout motto of “be prepared.” In the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges, the war against the Lamanites ended. Moroni began “the commencement of the twentieth year” (v. 1) by physically building defensive structures for every city. The defensive measures were not simple, but involved multiple lines of protection. They were well thought out and beyond the expectations of the time.
Were Moroni’s actions a pattern for Christian nations to follow? Some may cite the “ First Presidency statement on Basing of MX Missile” in Utah and Nevada given on 5 May 1981 as refutation of Moroni’s action. However, the First Presidency’s concern was against the arms race of nations “building of vast arsenals of nuclear weaponry,” with the capacity “to destroy in large measure our civilization.” There is a difference, in this writer’s opinion, in preparing to defend and in preparing to destroy.