Alma 56:47- 48; 57:21-27
Background: abt. 76-63 BC
The sons of Mosiah taught and converted the father of King Lamoni who then taught the gospel to his people. All of the Lamanties in the cities of Ishmael, Middoni, Nephi, Shilom, Shemlon. Lemuel, and Shimnilom accepted the gospel and repented of their sins. In fact, they covenanted to never again shed blood. They called themselves the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi. Not long after they made this covenant the Amalekites and other Lamanites make preparations to attack them. When the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi saw this they decided to bury their weapons of war so that would not be tempted to break the covenant they had made to God. When the Amalekites attacked, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi laid down and refused to fight, and 1,005 of them were slain. Many of the Lamanites were touched by this and refused to continue fighting; more than 1,000 Lamanites also made a covenant never to fight again.
In Alma 27 the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi get attacked again and this time fled to the land of Zarahemla. The Nephites gave them the Land of Jershon and vowed to protect them. They were then called the people of Ammon. Eleven years later the Nephites were under attack from the Lamanites and the people of Ammon wanted to help, but didn’t want to break the covenant they had made to God. Their sons, who had not taken the vow, volunteered to fight instead. Under the command of the prophet Helaman, 2060 of them, referred to as the stripling warriors, went into battle. They were young, inexperienced, and fought in several dangerous battles. Miraculously not one of the stripling warriors died in battle. The prophet attributed this miracle to the faith, teachings, and examples of their mothers.
Facts about them:
- They were Lamanites who accepted the gospel when taught by the sons of Mosiah;
- After repenting of their sins they made a covenant to God that they would never again shed blood. They were afraid that if they did they would never be forgiven by God again;
- They didn’t bury their weapons, only set them aside, until they saw for certain they were going to be attacked. It was only when the Lamanites were upon them that they buried the weapons and accepted death rather than break their covenant;
- They were mothers;
- Their sons would have witnessed a great deal of bloodshed and death at a very young age;
- They were refugees;
- 11 years after they settled in Jershon they sent their young sons into battle against the Lamanites, led by a prophet of God;
- They had no fear of death because they understood the power of the atonement of Jesus Christ;
- They had strong faith and they taught it to their sons.
Speculations about them:
- Some of them were probably widows who had lost their husbands in the attacks by the Amalekites (Alma 27:25026);
- Maybe some of the sons would have lost their mothers during the Lamanite attacks;
- They wouldn’t have had much contact with their sons while they were at war. The only thing they could have done for them was to pray that God would protect them;
- The stripling warriors were kept safe, not only because of their faith, but also because of the prayers of their mothers.
They did not fear death because they had a perfect understanding of the atonement
Alma 27:28 explains the foundation of these women’s faith. It explains why they could watch thousands of their brothers and sisters be ruthlessly slaughtered, why they were able to leave their homeland, why they were willing to die rather than break their covenants, and why they were willing to send their young sons into battle. It says:
“And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did look upon death with an degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it.”
This is what these mothers knew, and this is what they taught their sons. They knew that because of the atonement of Jesus Christ death had no power. They had no fear of physical death because Jesus would conquer it, and therefore it had “no sting”. They knew that the only thing to fear, and what would bring death, was sin and the breaking of covenants. They knew that if they honored their covenants and followed the Lord Jesus Christ, man could do nothing to them. They understood that mortal life was just a short part of their eternal existence. They had their eyes on an eternal , not an earthly, reward.
What Power a Mother’s Teaching, Elaine Smith, 1999
Their sons did not fear death because their mothers did not fear death. Their mothers had taught hem, by their own example of being willing to die rather than break covenants, the power of the atonement. These sons went forth with a perfect understanding that physical death is temporary, and that if the were faithful and observed ” to perform every word with exactness” they would live again. They did not doubt that God was with them. What a beautiful heritage these mothers were able to pass on to their sons! This is a heritage that EVERY faithful woman of God should strive to give to her children. I really like this talk about motherhoodby Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. In it he says:
“Yours is the grand tradition of Eve, the mother of all the human family, the one who understood that she and Adam had to fall in order that “men [and women] might be” and that there would be joy. Yours is the grand tradition of Sarah and Rebekah and Rachel, without whom there could not have been those magnificent patriarchal promises to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob which bless us all. Yours in the grand tradition of Lois and Eunice and the mothers of the 2,000 stripling warriors. Yours is the grand tradition of Mary, chosen and foreordained from before this world was, to conceive, carry, and bear the Son of God Himself. We thank all of you, including our own mothers, and tell you there is nothing more important in the world that participating so directly in the work of God, in bringing to pass the morality and earthly life of His daughters and sons, so that immortality and eternal life can come in those celestial realms on high.”
What we can learn from them:
- Even though women may not appear to be in the forefront of stories, what they do and how they teach their children have far reaching affects on politics, history, and society;
- Women can bring to pass miracles when they understand the atonement and follow, with exactness, the principles of the gospel;
- God hears the prayers of mothers and answers them in miraculous ways;
- When we have a clear understanding of the atonement we do not have to fear death;
- Even children who are traumatized by bloodshed and war can be taught forgiveness, love and peace through the teachings of Jesus Christ.
- What type of faith would it take to refuse to fight and instead watch those around you die? Could you do it?
- How are you teaching your children (or children around you) about the power of the atonement?
- If you have made sacred covenants to God, are you willing to die for them rather than break them?
- Can you think of times your mother prayed for you and how your life was influenced because of it?
- How can we help children who have been traumatized by war learn peace?
- Do you practice what you preach?
Author: Heather Farrell
I am a scripture loving, book writing, baby snuggling, garden growing, faith-centered disciple, wife, mother, daughter, and sister. I believe words have the power to change the future and heal the past.
The Stripling Warriors
Read about this story in Alma 56–57
The Book of Mormon tells about some young men who had to go to battle to protect their people and their families. They are called the stripling warriors. The word “stripling” means “young.”
These young soldiers had never been in a battle before. But they had a good captain to lead them. And they remembered what their mothers had taught them.
Their mothers had taught them to trust God. So the young men asked God to help them. They obeyed their captain. Then they fought bravely.
They won the battle! Some of them were hurt. But all of them lived. It was a miracle!
I can listen to the good things my parents and leaders teach. God will help me stand up for what is right.
1 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges, on the second day in the first month, aMoroni received an bepistle from Helaman, stating the affairs of the people in cthat quarter of the land.
2 And these are the words which he wrote, saying: My dearly beloved brother, Moroni, as well in the Lord as in the tribulations of our warfare; behold, my beloved brother, I have somewhat to tell you concerning our warfare in this part of the land.
3 Behold, atwo thousand of the sons of those men whom Ammon brought down out of the land of Nephi—now ye have known that these were descendants of Laman, who was the eldest son of our father Lehi;
4 Now I need not rehearse unto you concerning their traditions or their unbelief, for thou knowest concerning all these things—
5 Therefore it sufficeth me that I tell you that two thousand of these young men have taken their weapons of war, and would that I should be their leader; and we have come forth to defend our country.
6 And now ye also know concerning the acovenant which their fathers made, that they would not take up their weapons of war against their brethren to shed blood.
7 But in the twenty and sixth year, when they saw our afflictions and our tribulations for them, they were about to abreak the covenant which they had made and take up their weapons of war in our defence.
8 But I would not suffer them that they should break this acovenant which they had made, supposing that God would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of the fulfilling the boath which they had taken.
9 But behold, here is one thing in which we may have great joy. For behold, in the twenty and sixth year, I, Helaman, did march at the head of these atwo thousand young men to the city of bJudea, to assist Antipus, whom ye had appointed a leader over the people of that part of the land.
10 And I did join my two thousand asons, (for they are worthy to be called sons) to the army of Antipus, in which strength Antipus did rejoice exceedingly; for behold, his army had been reduced by the Lamanites because their forces had slain a vast number of our men, for which cause we have to mourn.
11 Nevertheless, we may console ourselves in this point, that they have died in the cause of their country and of their God, yea, and they are ahappy.
12 And the Lamanites had also retained many prisoners, all of whom are chief acaptains, for none other have they spared alive. And we suppose that they are now at this time in the land of Nephi; it is so if they are not slain.
13 And now these are the cities of which the Lamanites have obtained possession by the shedding of the blood of so many of our valiant men:
14 The land of aManti, or the city of Manti, and the city of Zeezrom, and the city of bCumeni, and the city of Antiparah.
15 And these are the cities which they possessed when I arrived at the city of Judea; and I found Antipus and his men toiling with their might to fortify the city.
16 Yea, and they were depressed in body as well as in spirit, for they had fought valiantly by day and toiled by night to maintain their cities; and thus they had suffered great afflictions of every kind.
17 And now they were determined to conquer in this place or die; therefore you may well suppose that this little force which I brought with me, yea, those asons of mine, gave them great hopes and much joy.
18 And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Antipus had received a greater strength to his army, they were compelled by the orders of Ammoron to not come against the city of Judea, or against us, to battle.
19 And thus were we favored of the Lord; for had they come upon us in this our weakness they might have perhaps destroyed our little army; but thus were we preserved.
20 They were commanded by Ammoron to maintain those cities which they had taken. And thus ended the twenty and sixth year. And in the commencement of the twenty and seventh year we had prepared our city and ourselves for defence.
21 Now we were desirous that the Lamanites should come upon us; for we were not desirous to make an attack upon them in their strongholds.
22 And it came to pass that we kept spies out round about, to watch the movements of the Lamanites, that they might not pass us by night nor by day to make an attack upon our other cities which were on the northward.
23 For we knew in those cities they were not sufficiently strong to meet them; therefore we were desirous, if they should pass by us, to fall upon them in their rear, and thus bring them up in the rear at the same time they were met in the front. We supposed that we could overpower them; but behold, we were disappointed in this our desire.
24 They durst not pass by us with their whole army, neither durst they with a part, lest they should not be sufficiently strong and they should fall.
25 Neither durst they march down against the city of Zarahemla; neither durst they cross the head of Sidon, over to the city of Nephihah.
26 And thus, with their forces, they were determined to maintain those cities which they had taken.
27 And now it came to pass in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons.
28 And also there were sent two thousand men unto us from the land of Zarahemla. And thus we were prepared with ten thousand men, and provisions for them, and also for their wives and their children.
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.
30 Now when we saw that the Lamanites began to grow uneasy on this wise, we were desirous to bring a stratagem into effect upon them; therefore Antipus ordered that I should march forth with my little sons to a neighboring city, aas if we were carrying provisions to a neighboring city.
31 And we were to march near the city of Antiparah, as if we were going to the city beyond, in the borders by the seashore.
32 And it came to pass that we did march forth, as if with our provisions, to go to that city.
33 And it came to pass that Antipus did march forth with a part of his army, leaving the remainder to maintain the city. But he did not march forth until I had gone forth with my little army, and came near the city Antiparah.
34 And now, in the city Antiparah were stationed the strongest army of the Lamanites; yea, the most numerous.
35 And it came to pass that when they had been informed by their spies, they came forth with their army and marched against us.
36 And it came to pass that we did flee before them, northward. And thus we did lead away the most powerful army of the Lamanites;
37 Yea, even to a considerable distance, insomuch that when they saw the army of Antipus pursuing them, with their might, they did not turn to the right nor to the left, but pursued their march in a straight course after us; and, as we suppose, it was their intent to slay us before Antipus should overtake them, and this that they might not be surrounded by our people.
38 And now Antipus, beholding our danger, did speed the march of his army. But behold, it was night; therefore they did not overtake us, neither did Antipus overtake them; therefore we did camp for the night.
39 And it came to pass that before the dawn of the morning, behold, the Lamanites were pursuing us. Now we were not sufficiently strong to contend with them; yea, I would not suffer that my little sons should fall into their hands; therefore we did continue our march, and we took our march into the wilderness.
40 Now they durst not turn to the right nor to the left lest they should be surrounded; neither would I turn to the right nor to the left lest they should overtake me, and we could not stand against them, but be slain, and they would make their escape; and thus we did flee all that day into the wilderness, even until it was dark.
41 And it came to pass that again, when the light of the morning came we saw the Lamanites upon us, and we did flee before them.
42 But it came to pass that they did not pursue us far before they halted; and it was in the morning of the third day of the seventh month.
43 And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they might catch us in their snare;
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 aso greatbcourage, 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 anot 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 aliberty of their bfathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their cmothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their amothers, saying: We bdo not doubt our mothers knew it.
49 And it came to pass that I did return with my two thousand against these Lamanites who had pursued us. And now behold, the armies of Antipus had overtaken them, and a terrible battle had commenced.
50 The army of Antipus being weary, because of their long march in so short a space of time, were about to fall into the hands of the Lamanites; and had I not returned with my two thousand they would have obtained their purpose.
51 For Antipus had fallen by the sword, and many of his leaders, because of their weariness, which was occasioned by the speed of their march—therefore the men of Antipus, being confused because of the fall of their leaders, began to give way before the Lamanites.
52 And it came to pass that the Lamanites took courage, and began to pursue them; and thus were the Lamanites pursuing them with great vigor when aHelaman came upon their rear with his two thousand, and began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that the whole army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helaman.
53 Now when the people of Antipus saw that the Lamanites had turned them about, they gathered together their men and came again upon the rear of the Lamanites.
54 And now it came to pass that we, the people of Nephi, the people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did surround the Lamanites, and did slay them; yea, insomuch that they were compelled to deliver up their weapons of war and also themselves as prisoners of war.
55 And now it came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain.
56 But behold, to my great joy, there had anot one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the bstrength 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.
57 And as we had no place for our prisoners, that we could guard them to keep them from the armies of the Lamanites, therefore we sent them to the land of Zarahemla, and a part of those men who were not slain of Antipus, with them; and the remainder I took and joined them to my stripling aAmmonites, and took our march back to the city of Judea.
Two thousand stripling warriors
The two thousand stripling warriors, also known as The Army of Helaman, are an army of young men in the Book of Mormon, first mentioned in the Book of Alma. They are portrayed as extremely valiant and loyal warriors; in the text, all are wounded in battle and yet survive.
Book of Mormon
Main article: Anti-Nephi-Lehies
The story of the stripling warriors presents a juxtaposition of pacifism and militarism among believers. Four of the sons of Mosiah, including Ammon, were converted miraculously from rebellious youth into believers. Ammon and his brothers embark on a mission to the land of Nephi, and his converts there lay down their lives during attacks by their brethren, which leads to additional conversions. They refuse to take arms due to their conversion. The missionaries and Lamanite converts migrate to Nephite lands, where they are protected by the Nephite military.
Formation of the unit
The Ammonites (or Anti-Nephi-Lehies) were Lamanites who were converted to Christianity by Ammon, the son of Mosiah. Ammon served a fourteen-year mission among the Lamanites and converted thousands. These people were ferocious and bloodthirsty, and had murdered and plundered not only the Nephites but their own people. Once converted to the gospel of Jesus Christ they buried their weapons of war and covenanted "that they never would use weapons again for the shedding of man’s blood" and "rather than shed the blood of their brethren they would give up their own lives". The remaining unconverted Lamanites began to murder them. When Ammon saw this he moved the Ammonites to a Nephite territory called Jershon so they could be protected by the Nephite army.
When the people of Ammon saw how the Nephite army suffered in defending them, they considered breaking their oath to lay down their weapons and defend themselves; Helaman persuaded them not to break their oath. Two thousand of their sons (who had been too young at the time to have made the covenant) volunteered to fight for the defense of the Nephites and the Ammonites. The young men asked Helaman, the son of Alma the Younger and a leader of the church among the Nephites, to be their commander. The young stripling warriors fought alongside the Nephite army and were one of the Nephites' most effective military units. Though every soldier was wounded at one time or another, there were no fatalities among the warriors. Helaman attributed this to the upbringing provided by their mothers and the great faith they exhibited.
The original 2,000 "sons of Helaman" were later joined by sixty more, making a total of 2,060.
Scriptures stripling warriors
The book of Alma offers mothers powerful motivation to make certain their children know their deepest beliefs. “Yea, they [the 2000 stripling warriors] had been taught by their mothers that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.” (Alma 56: 47-48)
The Battleground of the Last Days
Only a few of our sons face actual combat right now, but they all are engaged in a fierce battle with Satan for their eternal lives. Are we, as the mothers of Israel teaching them that if they do not doubt, God will deliver them from the powers of evil? What faithful woman of Christ would not rejoice to have her children say “we do not doubt our mothers knew it?” Are we sure our children know that we know? Elder Jeffrey R. Holland said, “No child in this Church should be left with uncertainty about his or her parents’ devotion to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Restoration of His Church, and the reality of living prophets and apostles. . . Live the gospel as conspicuously as you can. Keep the covenants your children know you have made . . . And bear your testimony! Don’t just assume your children will somehow get the drift of your beliefs on their own.” (“A Prayer for the Children,” Ensign, May, 2003, 85-87)
Are We Creating a Spiritual Legacy?
I know my own mother knew those things. She not only “talked the talk,” she “walked the walk.” She lived with me the last years of her life, and many times had me call the Elders when her lung condition caused her great pain. Blessings sustained her, and I saw her approach death with peace and joy because of her faith. I desire greatly to pass on this legacy of faith to my “stripling warriors.”
I have lived long enough to know that God’s power is marvelous, and that only His power can preserve us on the spiritual battleground of these Last Days. My greatest desire is to have my children spiritually preserved by that power. What a relatively unimportant thing physical death is compared to spiritual death. Separating ourselves from God is the only true tragedy. When Elizabeth Smart was missing, thousands rallied, greatly concerned for her well-being. We need to rally in like manner in support of all our children whose spiritual lives are in just as real jeopardy. The adversary knows what bright and wonderful spirits they are and is out to thwart them. When there seems to be little else we can do, our hearts can be drawn out in prayer continually for their spiritual welfare.
Feeling intensely the importance of the choices of young adult sons, I wrote in my journal some time ago: “I feel to invoke the blessings of heaven on my sons–to call out every possible spiritual source of help. They are at the crossroad, their decisions are so crucial; I know the adversary will do all in his power to turn them from the spiritual blessings that are their birthright. I read their patriarchal blessings recently. These are choice and valiant spirits and worth all the effort Satan can make to waylay them from the right path. Surely the Lord knows exactly what is happening and will send every spiritual source of help that can strengthen them. Their spirits are so precious, their decisions so crucial right now–choice of wife, choice of path, choice of life patterns. Their whole life will be so much affected. Their unborn children so impacted. Can these unborn children intervene in their behalf? Can they influence them for righteousness and right choices? Only the Lord knows what my sons need, what can reach them, what influences will safeguard their souls, keep them on the path to their eternal inheritances. How I pray that they will be protected from the evils in the world, that the people and situations will come into their lives that will encourage them in the things of God. I would give my very life for any one of them to keep them safely moving ahead true to the best that is in them, listening to the Spirit, following it, becoming the men of God they have the potential to become. But in reality, I know that the most important thing I can do for them is to live by the Spirit myself and be a living witness of the truth.”
The Example of the Stripling Warriors
Alma 57:21 tells us more about the stripling warriors, “Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every work of command with exactness; yea and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.” Verse 27 continues, “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.”
Many principles are taught in these short verse—faith, trust in the Lord, obedience, exactness in keeping commandments, how the Lord honors faith, how a mother’s right teachings can influence the life course of a child. Having on the “whole armor of God,” these stripling warriors fought valiantly for their people. And what was their fate? Alma 57:25 says: “Nevertheless, according to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.”
The Savior Will Bind Up All Wounds
Living in this wicked world, fighting daily battles, “wounds” are inevitable. Our children must learn by their mistakes–not by having us protect them from making any. The stripling warrior’s mothers prepared their sons to go off and do battle with great faith. They did not try to protect them by keeping them from going. But the words and prayers of their mothers sustained them. Physically, all our children’s lives may not be spared in this dangerous world we live in. However, their spiritual lives are our primary concern. Unhealed spiritual wounds can keep our warriors from playing their rightful roles in the army of the Lord. They can faint from loss of blood–spiritual blood. They can lose the Spirit when spiritually wounded. However, the glorious gift of the Atonement is Healing–no matter how grievous the spiritual wounds. The Savior will bind up our stripling warrior’s wounds–and ours as well.
“And we do justly ascribe it [their protection] 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.”
Our children will be spiritually protected by their faith in the Lord and their faith can be increased by our faithfulness, consistent loving communication, and example. The children of the promise shall not perish spiritually!
I Pray That the Children Know
Elder Holland concluded, “Nephi-like, might we ask ourselves what our children know? From us? Personally? Do our children know that we love the scriptures? Do they see us reading them and marking them and clinging to them in daily life? Have our children ever unexpectedly opened a closed door and found us on our knees in prayer? Have them heard us not only pray with them but also pray for them out of nothing more than sheer parental love? .
. . Do those children know that we love God with all our heart and that we long to see the face–and fall at the feet–of His Only Begotten Son? I pray that they know this.” ( Holland, “A Prayer for the Children,” Ensign, May, 2003, p. 85-87)
I know God lives. I know Jesus is His Only Begotten Son who gave us the priceless gift of the Atonement. I know that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was restored to the earth by a prophet I revere, even Joseph Smith, and that the Church has been led by living prophets and apostles ever since. I know the Savior’s love and mighty power can preserve us spiritually through every Last Day adversity. I pray that my children know that I know.
And I pray that your children know that you know.
In the name of Jesus Christ,
During the first two movements, he caused slight pain. Then he slid into me, hitting the entrance to the uterus, delivering great pleasure. He fucked with experience and great respect. After a few minutes, I realized that what I had not received for the last fifteen years was now going to cover me in its own wave.
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I don't know what I would have decided in the end, but at that moment the doorbell rang. It was obviously the bellboy with my order. Fast. By my estimation, less than ten minutes had passed.