Happy Are We! Happy Are We!

I came across something strange in my personal scripture study:

But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges.
Alma 50: 23

So, at first, I thought Okay, they were happy. That's great. But then I thought about their circumstances; "...in the days of Moroni..." And that's Captain Moroni. The Nephites were at war. "But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi..." Something doesn't add up. How could they have been so happy while they were at war?

Granted, this war wasn't as bad for them as their previous wars had been, thanks to the armor and strongholds Moroni had made for them, they were actually doing okay. Not as many injuries and deaths as usual. But still, they were still plenty of injuries and way too much death by my standards. And yet, they were happy. Did they like being injured and killed and/or being at war?

Maybe I'm misreading that "happier" part. There's a footnote for it. Let me check it out.

Okay, it gives references to two other times the Nephites were happy, (I suppose I could dig deeper and find out why they were happy all those times, but) a third reference gives us this:

And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.
Mosiah 2: 41

Come to think of it, the verse just before "There never was a happier time" mentions that "those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times," so it seems that the Nephites were being righteous, and thus blessed and delivered, and that's why they were happy.

But still, they were at war.

In life, we have a great variety of challenges, from spiritual battles to struggles against the natural afflictions of mortality. We face near-constant hardship and opposition in many forms, and often, those challenges can cause emotional injuries and even spiritual death. How can we be happy in circumstances such as these? By being righteous.

When we are righteous, were are blessed with the companionship of the Holy Spirit, who is also appropriately called The Comforter. He can comfort us in our afflictions and let us know that we are not alone, that God is watching over us and that He loves us and is with us.

Sometimes, afflictions are necessary for spiritual and personal growth. "Our Heavenly Father, who gives us so much to delight in, also knows that we learn and grow and become stronger as we face and survive the trials through which we must pass" (President Thomas S. Monson, "I Will Not Fail Thee, nor Forsake Thee"). It is essential that we face hardships and struggles, but that doesn't mean we need to be miserable. Just like the Nephites, we can put our faith in the Lord and His promises to get us through the trials life has in store for us.

We are at war. We face many varieties of foes and opponents, and they seem to outnumber us by a great number, but we are not alone. As long as we are righteous (or at least are trying to be), God will be with us to help us fight through our challenges and emerge victorious. As long as we are on God's side, He'll be on our side, and with God on our side, we cannot fail. And for that reason, we may rejoice.