Sign 44 - Vietnam War

Year:1959

Alma 51 through Alma 63 describes the continuous war between the Nephites and the forces of righteousness and the Lamanites and the forces of evil. This covers a period of time from 67 BC (1959) through 53 BC (1973).

Alma 51:11-12

11 …. Amalickiah had gathered together a wonderfully great army, insomuch that he feared not to come down to the land of Zarahemla.

12 Yea, even Amalickiah did himself come down, at the head of the Lamanites. And it was in the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges….

War resumes in 67 BC (1959) between the Nephites and the Lamanites when Amalickiah prepares to attack the Nephite territory of Zarahemla.

Alma 51:23, 26

23 And it came to pass that the Nephites were not sufficiently strong in the city of Moroni; therefore Amalickiah did drive them, slaying many. And it came to pass that Amalickiah took possession of the city, yea, possession of all their fortifications.

26 And thus he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by the seashore.

The Lamanites capture many cities of the Nephites. In 1959 the Vietnam War began between North Vietnam, a communist country and South Vietnam who was opposed to communism.

Alma 52:19

19 And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth year, Moroni and Teancum and many of the chief captains held a council of war….

The leaders of the Nephites held a council of war in 64 BC (1961).

This is the year the United States entered the Vietnam War.

Alma 59:13

13 And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government, because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country.

In 62 BC (1964) Moroni expresses anger with the government because of their lack of support for the war. During the Vietnam War the military leaders were unhappy with the government leaders because of their lack of support. Instead of letting the military leaders run the war, it was being run by politicians out of Washington DC.

Because of the lack of support by the government for the war, Moroni wrote a letter to Pahoran, the chief judge of the Nephites expressing his concern.

Alma 60:1-10

1 … I direct mine epistle to Pahoran, in the city of Zarahemla, who is the chief judge and the governor over the land, and also to all those who have been chosen by this people to govern and manage the affairs of this war.

2 For behold, I have somewhat to say unto them by the way of condemnation; for behold, ye yourselves know that ye have been appointed to gather together men, and arm them with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war of every kind, and send forth against the Lamanites, in whatsoever parts they should come into our land.

3 And now behold, I say unto you that …(our) men, have suffered exceedingly great sufferings; yea, even hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and all manner of afflictions of every kind.

4 But behold, were this all we had suffered we would not murmur nor complain.

5 But behold, great has been the slaughter among our people; yea, thousands have fallen by the sword, while it might have otherwise been if ye had rendered unto our armies sufficient strength and succor for them. Yea, great has been your neglect towards us.

6 And now behold, we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state.

7 Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands of your brethren—

8 Yea, even they who have looked up to you for protection, yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have succored them, yea, ye might have sent armies unto them, to have strengthened them, and have saved thousands of them from falling by the sword.

9 But behold, this is not all—ye have withheld your provisions from them, insomuch that many have fought and bled out their lives because of their great desires which they had for the welfare of this people; yea, and this they have done when they were about to perish with hunger, because of your

exceedingly great neglect towards them.

10 And now…ye ought to have stirred yourselves more diligently for the welfare and the freedom of this people; but behold, ye have neglected them insomuch that the blood of thousands shall come upon your heads for vengeance; yea, for known unto God were all their cries, and all their sufferings—

Pahoran responded by letter to the concerns of Moroni.

Alma 61:2-4

2 I, Pahoran, who am the chief governor of this land, do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army. Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great afflictions, yea, it grieves my soul.

3 But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions, yea, insomuch that they have risen up in rebellion against me, and also those of my people who are freemen, yea, and those who have risen up are exceedingly numerous.

4 And it is those who have sought to take away the judgment-seat from me that have been the cause of this great iniquity; for they have used great flattery, and they have led away the hearts of many people, which will be the cause of sore affliction among us; they have withheld our provisions, and have daunted our freemen that they have not come unto you.

The anti-war movement during the Vietnam War was a great divisive force which eventually caused the withdrawal of US troops in 1974 and the fall of Vietnam to the communists in 1975. There were numerous independent interests who were opposed to the war and fought vigorously against it. 

in 1957 the National Committee for a Sane Nuclear Policy (SANE) was formed. They were a traditional liberal activist group opposed to the development and use of nuclear weapons. The Student Peace Union (SPU) began in 1959 to be organized on college campuses throughout the US. They wanted to restructure the entire US society to bring “peace to the land” instead of “war”. In 1960 the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) was formed by college students opposed to the war. In 1964 the Free Speech Movement (FSM) was begun at the University of California at Berkeley. The young college students at many campuses began march-ins against many army bases and Government offices.

In 1965 25,000 students marched in protest at the capital in Washington. After this protest numerous protest groups were organized such as the Underground Press Syndicate and the Fort Hood 3 in 1966 and the Liberation News Service in 1967. Between 1965 and 1968 many civil rights leaders became active in opposing the Vietnam War. Beginning in 1968 widespread opposition began appearing in the government administration. A second protest march in Washington in 1969 drew 500,000 participants. The opposition began to grow until January 1973, when President Nixon announced the end of the US participation in the Vietnam War. Within a year all US troops were withdrawn and a year later South Vietnam fell to the communist rule of North Vietnam.