The epic duel at the end of Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith between Anakin and Obi-Wan Kenobi gives us a line that feels almost universal. As Obi-Wan positions himself on the elevated black sand shore, looking down at Anakin stranded on a platform above the river of lava, he says, “It’s over, Anakin! I have the high ground!”
It is more than cinematic drama. It is a statement about advantage, perspective, and survival. Obi-Wan knows that from above he sees clearly, stands securely, and holds the decisive position. That higher ground leads to his victory, and the rest is history.
Sometimes I wonder if Obi-Wan knew the story of Lehonti and Amalickiah in the Book of Mormon. 😉
Amalickiah’s Calculated Strategy
Amalickiah had a plan: gain control of the Lamanites, build a larger army, and return to fight Moroni.
He went to the Lamanite king, who commanded his people to join him. Some refused and retreated to a hill called Onidah under the leadership of a Lamanite officer named Lehonti.
Amalickiah takes his army to the base of the hill and sends a message up to Lehonti telling him to come down immediately. Lehonti refuses.
He sends a second message. Lehonti will not come down.
He sends a third message. Lehonti still refuses.
Lehonti has the high ground. He knows better than to come down.
So Amalickiah adjusted. He went up the mount himself, nearing Lehonti’s camp, and sent a fourth message asking Lehonti to come down with his guards. This time Lehonti reasoned that he did not need to go all the way down; he could meet him partway. And he did.
The Deceptive Offer
Amalickiah did not attack. He built trust. He offered Lehonti something appealing: command of the entire Lamanite army the king had given him. All Lehonti needed to do was make Amalickiah second in command.
It seemed like an advantage. Instead of half an army, Lehonti would control the whole force.
But Amalickiah understood Lamanite custom: if the chief leader was killed, the second leader would take his place. After Lehonti assumed command, Amalickiah had him poisoned “by degrees” until he died. Amalickiah then became the leader.
Poisoned by Degrees
The fall was gradual. Lehonti held the high ground until Amalickiah came just close enough to gain his trust. Then came the flattery, the offer, and finally the slow poison.
This is how Satan works.
When the danger is obvious, we say no. So he comes closer. Not enough to alarm us. Just enough that we think we can step down a little.
Then flattery. Then appeal to our desires.
That is what makes it so evil. It is calculated. It is patient. The devil does not always drag us down in one dramatic fall. Often he simply invites us to step down a little from the high ground, until little by little, we no longer stand there at all.
Even Christ Was Tempted to Come Down
Satan even tried this tactic on Jesus. After tempting Christ twice (first with appetite and second with pride), he challenged Him a third time with power:
“And again, Jesus was in the Spirit, and it taketh him up into an exceeding high mountain, and showeth him all the kingdoms of the world and the glory of them.
“And the devil came unto him again, and said, All these things will I give unto thee, if thou wilt fall down and worship me.
“Then saith Jesus unto him, Get thee hence, Satan: for it is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
“Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him.”1
Christ positioned Himself on the high ground and remained there, sending Satan away.
The Temple: Our High Ground
The high ground gives us strategic advantage.
Temples are often built on high ground or at strategic vantage points in communities and nations.2 The temple is high ground for me. It is there that I feel closer to God. It is there that I find greater power to resist temptation.
Robert D. Hales taught:
“The temple is the highest ground we can achieve in mortality. For us today, the temple is our mountaintop—it is the Lord’s chosen house for sacred teachings, eternal covenants and ordinances, and personal communication with the Lord. It is where we covenant with the Lord, and when we make those covenants, it’s as though we are in His presence.”3
And Russell M. Nelson promised this:
“As we keep our temple covenants, we gain greater access to the Lord’s strengthening power. In the temple, we receive protection from the buffetings of the world. We experience the pure love of Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father in great abundance! We feel peace and spiritual reassurance, in contrast to the turbulence of the world.”4
Hold the High Ground
The high ground is where I want to be. “The high ground is where the light is. It’s where we see the first light of morning and the last light in the evening. It is the safe ground.”5 Hold the high ground–it is a position of advantage, perspective, and survival.
Grounded and Reaching High
- Main idea: Like Lehonti, we face persistent invitations to compromise our spiritual position. Satan works patiently to get us to step down “just a little” from our high ground.
- Practical takeaway: The temple represents our spiritual high ground where we make and keep covenants that provide protection, power, and access to God’s strengthening influence.
- One question to ponder: Where in my life am I being invited to “come down just a little” from the high ground I’ve established?
Lead image “High Ground” by Phase Runner at phaserunner.artstation.com
- see Joseph Smith–Matthew 4:8-9 and Matthew 4:10-11. The Joseph Smith Translation of the Bible is important here because it clarifies that the Spirit that took Jesus to the “exceedingly high mountain” not the devil.
- see “The elevated view in the temple“, Deseret News, June 1, 2014.
- Robert D. Hales, “Seek and Attain the Spiritual High Ground in Life“, CES Fireside, March 2009.
- Russell M. Nelson, “The Lord Jesus Christ Will Come Again“, General Conference, October 2024.
- Robert D. Hales, “Christian Courage: The Price of Discipleship“, General Conference, October 2008.
- Shout out to my 2020-2021 Seminary class who had a running joke about the high round.
Discover more from Razing the Rameumptom
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.