Thoughts from Alma 43 - Satan's efforts, those who leave the church, ingenuity/innovation being critical for a leader, how to follow the prophet

We learn a lot from Alma 43. Here's several quick thoughts:

I'm fascinated that Satan doesn't have his people wear armor. In the history of the earth prior to the fighting in Alma 43, there's other fighting groups who used armor, so it's not like he didn't know the idea. So there's a few reasons why he wouldn't inspire those he liked/helped to use armor so that they could kill the good people:

a) his mechanism for distilling information is poor (quite possible); maybe he doesn't have enough influence on people or can't use his followers (unseen) to tempt/guide others that much
b) maybe there's too much downside to causing innovation; for instance, the television has created a way for people to get access to a lot of filth, but it's also the way that prophets are seen throughout the world and lets people across the earth learn the word of God in ways I never could have imagined just 40 years ago. Guatemalan villages have real-time access to conference; that's amazing. Talk about shrinking the vineyard (it's expansiveness is a problem mentioned in Jacob 5).
c) he just doesn't care about those who follow him; he just focuses on getting as many people to follow him as quickly as possible and doesn't think much about the long-term because either a) he can't see it (not prophetic) or b) he doesn't think about anything in the long-term because long-term thinking is usually about love/concern (which he doesn't) so therefore doesn't think through the right way to hurt more people over the long term

Other quick thoughts:
Concerning Moroni being the chief captain: Moroni was elevated at 25 to head of the armies; probably because he was so wise! He got the armies to use armor; he was super smart about how to follow the prophet. Being wise probably got him noticed more than anything else. He approached things differently. Perhaps he used the scriptures as guidelines or other records as guidelines for what he did; perhaps (thinking of the above thoughts), Satan doesn't use/have those tools because they're too dangerous. He thinks better for people to know nothing than to be able to read and perhaps be able to learn from the scriptures. Not sure....

Here's some verses:

 16 Now, the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had been^aappointed to be the ^bchief captain over the Nephites—now the chief captain took the command of all the armies of the Nephites—and his name was Moroni;

 17 And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their wars. And he was only twenty and five years old when he was appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites.

 18 And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of Jershon, and his people were armed with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of ^aweapons of war.

 19 And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had ^aprepared his people with ^bbreastplatesand with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing—

Concerning following the prophet - he sent spies (his own efforts), knew Alma was prophetic and tried to get Alma to give counsel (which Alma did), and when Moroni got counsel, he still left armies in the former place just in case the Lamanites returned. He covered his bases and didn't presume that the prophet had given him more information than he had (i.e., the prophet said they're going here; let's abandon all other general war principles and send all our people over there; the prophet didn't say they wouldn't turn around, he just said where they were likely headed).

Here's some verses:

 23 But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp; and Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should ^ainquire of the Lord ^bwhither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites.

 24 And it came to pass that the ^aword of the Lord came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers of Moroni, that the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness, that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the message unto Moroni.

 25 Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti.

Concerning those who left the church - they were considerably less reasonable and more angry to former church members/Nephites than the Lamanites. I know a few people who have left the church recently, and I hope they don't turn into the negative forces that the Amalekites and Zoramites were. I believe that they might be based on what I've seen. A warning to church members, certainly...

 6 And now, as the ^aAmalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief ^bcaptains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and ^cZoramites.

 7 Now this he did that he might preserve their ^ahatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs.

 8 For behold, his ^adesigns were to ^bstir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into ^cbondage.