If Antipus and his men were depressed in spirit and body, why were they determined to conquer in this place or die?

Thomas R. Valletta

Dr. Hugh Nibley noted that verse 16 illustrates a point made by the classic Prussian war theorist, Karl von Clausewitz: “Notice that Clausewitz says spirit is not the same as morale. Their [spirits were] low, but they were determined to go on fighting. This little force gave them great hopes. Their morale was high. Their spirits were low. They were exhausted, but they weren’t going to give up. That’s the difference between morale and spirit here” (Teachings of the Book of Mormon, 3:175).

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References