At youth conference we had an activity where we buried swords to represent a commitment to give something up (or to do something good...one girl mentioned committing to marry in the temple; one leader committed to serve a couple mission with her husband where ever they would be called to serve). We buried those swords and commitments deep in the earth on the stake center property.
These swords had been made in advance and had been decorated in a class and many of them were pretty amazing. I think it was difficult for some of the youth to part with theirs after constructing them and carrying them around for three days at youth conference. And it really got me thinking about how incredible the physical sacrifice of their weapons was for the Anti-Nephi-Lehis. These swords had possibly been in their families for generations. They were likely very valuable in a monetary sense. And they had probably saved their lives and the lives of their families and friends many times.
It was really interesting to ponder the question: What did their swords mean to them? before pondering the question "What did their swords and the bury of them represent for them?" It added greater appreciation to the sacrifice inherent in the covenant they made never to fight again.
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