Trenches by BYU Vocal Point and BYU Cougerette Dancers
Alma 56-57 share the account of the 2000 Stripling Warriors, Helaman's Warriors, who were taught by their mothers and knew that those teachings were true. They were the sons that didn't lay down their weapons as their fathers before them had done, but had faith and went in to battle under Helaman. Not a single boy was lost!
In Alma 56, Helaman reports to Captain Moroni in a letter about the battles being fought. He shares about his 2000 "Little Sons", the young Stripling Warriors and their bravery. In Alma 56:44-48 Helaman asks the young warriors this question and this is their reply. It reads,
"44 Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?
45 And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.
46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it."
56 ...behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war.
In Alma Chapter 57, King Ammoron told Helaman that if he gave his prisoners of war back, he would give the city of Antiparah to Helaman. Helaman was like, "no way dude! Exchanges only, or we will get Antiparah by force. The King refused the exchange.
Helaman's army took Antiparah and had received thousands of soldiers and provisions so they were doing well. They slept on their swords and fought off attempts to kill them many times, successfully.
I want to remind those reading who are not familiar with "The Book of Mormon", that the Nephites are fighting the Lamanites for land and freedom of religion, but the 2000 Stripling Warriors were young Lamanites who were fighting with the Nephites. They wanted to stand alongside and fight with the men that protected their families that converted to The Chuch of God.
In Alma 57:26-27, Helaman relays to Moroni about those 2000 young sons of Helaman,
"26 And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.
27 Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.
Helaman told Moroni that the Prisoners of War that the Nephites were marching with turned on them to kill them so the Nephites killed them. The Nephites eventually were able to get to Cumeni to help fortify it from the Lamanites and their lives were preserved.
Likening Chapter 56-57 Unto Me
#1 I am reminded that in hardships we are never alone and can call upon God to deliver us
#2 Being in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is a blessing and gift. We live in a Country that allows us Freedom of Worship in our faith.
#3 We need to teach our children and Grand Children to know, love, and serve God so that throughout their lives they can rely on His promises.
#4 Life is not without difficulty but we need not walk it alone. We have our family, Ward Families, Stakes, and Neighbors to walk through life with us. I want to always be an example to others of hope, love, service, and goodness.
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