The Nephites were of the house of Israel. Therefore, they were entitled to all the blessings which the Lord had pronounced upon the Israelites. One of these promises was that the Israelites would have military success in times of righteousness, When thou goest out to battle against thine enemies, and seest horses, and chariots, and a people more than thou, be not afraid of them: for the Lord thy God is with thee, which brought thee up out of the land of Egypt…let not your hearts faint, fear not, and do not tremble, neither be ye terrified because of them; For the Lord your God is he that goeth with you, to fight for you against your enemies, to save you (Deut 20:1-4).
King David spent much of his life fighting against his personal and political enemies. His psalm accurately captures what the Nephites must have felt like when they fell to the earth to supplicate for help,
’The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.
I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies.
The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid…
In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried unto my God: he heard my voice out of his temple
…He delivered me from my strong enemy, and from them which hated me: for they were too strong for me.’ (Ps 18:1-6,17)
The principle which applies to us is that whenever our personal challenges appear as overwhelming and frightening as an army dyed in blood with a great and terrible appearance, we should remember to trust in the Lord. We are also members of the house of Israel and are entitled to the same protection as the Israelites and Nephites were. Therefore, our greatest personal challenges and fears should be faced prayerfully and received in the strength of the Lord.