Alma 56

In the thirtieth year, Moroni received a letter from Helaman, telling about the people in his part of the land. These are the words that Helaman wrote: My dearly beloved brother, Moroni, the two thousand young men that I lead have taken up weapons of war and asked me to be their leader.

In the twenty-sixth year, I marched with these two thousand young men to the city of Judea. I joined my two thousand sons (for they are worthy to be called sons) with the army of Antipus. Many of his soldiers were killed.

When we arrived, I found Antipus and his men working with all their might to protect the city. They were sad in body and in spirit. They fought bravely every day and worked every night to build their forts. They will protect this place or die.

We kept spies out to watch the Lamanite armies. In the second month of this year, many supplies were sent to us from the fathers of my two thousand.

Two thousand more men arrived from the land of Zarahemla. We were prepared with ten thousand men and supplies for them and their wives and children. We hoped the Lamanites would attack us in our stronghold, but they would not come.

We made a plan. I would march my little sons to a nearby city, as if we were carrying supplies. After we marched from the city, Antipus would follow behind with a part of his army.

My little army came near the city Antiparah, home of the strongest Lamanite army. When their spies told their leader that our little army was near, they marched out with their great army.

We ran away from them to the north. In this way, we led the most powerful army of the Lamanites away from their city.

Then the army of Antipus came upon them from behind. But instead of turning to fight, the Lamanites saw that my little army was small. They thought they could kill us and then escape from Antipus.

I would not allow my little sons to fall into their hands, so we marched quickly to the wilderness. The Lamanites did not dare to stop. I did not dare turn my little sons to the right or to the left for fear that the Lamanites would overtake us and kill us. So all the armies were marching as fast as they could go all day, even until dark.

When the light of morning came, we saw the Lamanites were nearly to us. We ran away from them. They did not chase us far and they halted. We thought Antipus had caught them.

I said to my men: We do not know why they have stopped. It might be a trick to catch us. What do you say, my sons, will you go against them in battle?

Never have I seen so great courage. They said to me: Father, God is with us. He will not allow us to fall. We would not kill if they would let us alone. But let us go, so they do not overpower the army of Antipus.

These little sons, for I call them my sons, never had fought before, yet they did not fear death. They cared more for the liberty of their fathers than they did for their own lives. Their mothers had taught them that if they did not doubt, God would save them. They said: We do not doubt our mothers.

So I marched with my two thousand against the Lamanite warriors. The armies of Antipus had overtaken them and a terrible battle had begun. But the army of Antipus was tired. They were about to fall into the hands of the Lamanites. If I had not returned with my two thousand, they would have defeated the Nephites. Antipus and many of his leaders were already killed.

The men of Antipus began to run away. The Lamanites were chasing them when I came from behind with my two thousand. These young men began to kill the Lamanites with such great slaughter that the whole army of the Lamanites stopped and turned around.

When the army of Antipus saw that the Lamanites had turned around, they turned also and came back with courage. The armies of Antipus and my two thousand surrounded the Lamanites and we defeated them.

Our brethren fought with God’s strength. Never did anyone fight with such power. Their power was so great, they frightened many Lamanite soldiers into surrendering.

When we finished counting and burying the dead, I found to my great joy that not one of my two thousand young stripling warriors was killed.