Ether 6:7

And it came to pass that when they were buried in the deep there was no water that could hurt them, their vessels being tight like unto a dish, and also they were tight like unto the ark of Noah; therefore when they were encompassed about by many waters they did cry unto the Lord, and he did bring them forth again upon the top of the waters.

The Jaredites we're impervious to the waves and winds in their dish-like barges because they were prepared. When things got serious, they called on the Lord, who always brought them out of the emergency and the danger. Without the winds and waves, they wouldn't have progressed to the promised land. They would have been becalmed in the midst of the ocean. The ride might have been smoother, but they would have starved before they reached their destination. Being prepared and relying on God, we can weather the storms of life that make progress to the end of our mortal voyage.

Ether 2:17

And they were built after a manner that they were exceedingly tight, even that they would hold water like unto a dish; and the bottom thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the sides thereof were tight like unto a dish; and the ends thereof were peaked; and the top thereof was tight like unto a dish; and the length thereof was the length of a tree; and the door thereof, when it was shut, was tight like unto a dish.

The repetition of "dish" emphasizes how tight and seaworthy the vessels were and the expert preparation that had gone into them. No way was the brother of Jared going to let even a drop of water enter his barges. If we are trying to keep out the storms of Satan and protect ourselves and our families on the voyage through mortality, we need to become expert craftsmen who can make our defenses tight like into a dish in every aspect. It does little good to lock and seal the door of the seams are leaky.

3 Nephi 17:2

I perceive that ye are weak, that ye cannot understand all my words which I am commanded of the Father to speak unto you at this time.

God will not give us more knowledge than we can handle. Because he knows us perfectly, he knows how much knowledge we are ready for and gives only that which will enrich us without overwhelming us. He is aware of our capacity and does not exceed it. If we want to know more, we must prepare ourselves and increase our capacity. We must sharpen our desires and make room for more by exercising faith and obedience to that which we already have. God wants us to know all things. He has promised to reveal all mysteries. He waits only for us to be ready to receive all he has to offer.

Helaman 13:5

And he said unto them: Behold, I, Samuel, a Lamanite, do speak the words of the Lord which he doth put into my heart; and behold he hath put it into my heart to say unto this people that the sword of justice hangeth over this people; and four hundred years pass not away save the sword of justice falleth upon this people.

This is not exactly a prophecy of imminent destruction. Four hundred years is a long time. Unbelievers in Samuel's day scoffed at such a prophecy because it was impossible to substantiate. Yet the patience of history proved him right. The prophecies of the Second Coming do not include a specific time frame, nevertheless, we are told that the day fast approaches. It may seem to us to be as remote as Samuel's prophecy. But the prophesied day of destruction came for the Nephites, and the Second Coming will arrive one day for us or our posterity. We do not have the luxury of a fixed timetable, so we dare not procrastinate our preparation

Alma 56:29

And the Lamanites, thus seeing our forces increase daily, and provisions arrive for our support, they began to be fearful, and began to sally forth, if it were possible to put an end to our receiving provisions and strength.

We make Satan nervous when he sees us preparing to defend ourselves against his temptations. The more we prepare, the more unsettled he becomes and the bolder he becomes in trying to get our attention and distract us from our preparations. Just when we think we are finally starting to make progress, everything seems to go wrong. It is a great sign that we are going in the right direction when the opposition increases.  Satan is never a gracious loser.

Alma 50:1

And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites.

We cannot let down our guard or think that we have ever beaten Satan as long as we live on this earth. He never gives up on us, and so we cannot give up. Even when Christ commanded Satan to depart from him after the temptations in the wilderness, the scripture says that Satan departed only for a while. We must always be vigilant and prepared.

Alma 49:4

But behold, how great was their disappointment; for behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance.

In another war metaphor, the ridges of earth we dig up to shield ourselves from the stones and arrows of temptation vary depending based on our need. We barricade ourselves against impure thoughts by filling our minds with good things. We put up fences of humility to protect us from pride. We cut the supply line of pornography. We build walls of daily service to ward off selfishness. We prepare resorts of prayer to keep the communication line open with headquarters. We stockpile scriptures to ensure we have sustenance to withstand a siege. We make sure we have a good supply of the living water of revelation. If we are prepared, we need not fear.

Alma 49:2

And behold, the city had been rebuilt, and Moroni had stationed an army by the borders of the city, and they had cast up dirt round about to shield them from the arrows and the stones of the Lamanites; for behold, they fought with stones and with arrows.

The "war chapters" of Alma are rich with metaphors. In this case Moroni used wisdom in strengthening the weakest cities. We should likewise recognize our weaknesses and try to strengthen ourselves in these areas. Satan certainly knows our weaknesses, and he will strike us first in our most vulnerable spots. If he succeeds once, he will keep picking at that scab. He may win a battle, but if we are wise and seek God's strength to shore up our weaknesses, Satan will not win the war. Properly prepared and defended, we can turn away his attacks and disappoint him.

Alma 48:20

And thus they went forth, and the people did humble themselves because of their words, insomuch that they were highly favored of the Lord, and thus they were free from wars and contentions among themselves, yea, even for the space of four years.

Note that it was during this time of peace that Moroni prepared for war. The times of peace in our lives are not the time to slack off. They are opportunities to gather strength and prepare. Peace in this life does not last forever. Only peace in the next life is enduring. This life is a time of testing, and another test is always around the corner.

Alma 48:7

Now it came to pass that while Amalickiah had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Moroni, on the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful unto the Lord their God.

Whether we see the adversary or not, we can be certain he is preparing to trap us and defeat us. We must thus be ever preparing our resorts in which we can find safety when the inevitable attack comes. If we wait to see the whites of the enemy's eyes before we start to load our muskets, we'll be overrun before we ever get to fire a shot.