Helaman's Letter to Moroni Continues

“Then I received a letter from the Lamanite king, Ammoron, stating that if I would give up our prisoners of war, he would give up the city of Antiparah. I sent a reply to the king, saying that we were strong enough to take Antiparah by force, so we would only give up our prisoners in exchange for theirs. After Ammoron rejected my letter, being unwilling to exchange prisoners, we prepared to attack Antiparah. But before we had the chance to attack, the Lamanites abandoned Antiparah and ran away to other cities they had taken, hoping to fortify them. By now 64 BC had come to an end.

“In the beginning of 63 BC, we received 6,000 additional soldiers and supplies from Zarahemla. Sixty additional sons of the Ammonites also came to join their brethren, my little band of 2,000. Now we were a strong and well-supplied force, and we wanted to wage a battle with the Lamanite army holding the city of Cumeni.

“One night, prior to the time the Lamanites were to receive a supply of provisions, part of our strong force surrounded the city. We camped around the city for many nights, posting guards and sleeping on our swords. Many nights, the Lamanites attacked us, but their attacks were in vain.

“When those bringing the provisions finally arrived, we intercepted them with their provisions. In spite of having their provisions cut off, the Lamanites were determined to maintain the city. We sent the Lamanites that we had intercepted as prisoners to the land of Zarahemla, and their provisions to Judea. After a few days, the Lamanites in the city of Cumeni began to lose hope, so they gave up the city and surrendered to us. At that time, we had so many prisoners that even with our large force it was all we could do to control them, and we had to kill many of them. They would break out in great numbers, fighting with stones, clubs, and whatever they could find. We had to kill nearly 2,000 of them after they had surrendered as prisoners of war. It became necessary to kill them or guard them, sword in hand, down to the land of Zarahemla. Even though we had intercepted the Lamanites’ provisions, we barely had enough food for our own people. Under these critical circumstances, we had to decide what to do with so many prisoners of war.

“We were determined to get the prisoners to the land of Zarahemla, so we selected part of our men to take the prisoners there.

“The next day our men returned to us without the prisoners. We did not have time to ask what had happened, for the Lamanites were upon us. The Lamanite king, Ammoron, had sent a new supply of provisions along with a numerous army. The men we had sent out with the prisoners had arrived just in time to save us.

“Before they had arrived, my little band of 2,060 had been fighting the Lamanites most desperately. My young men were firm in battle, giving death to all who opposed them. While the rest of our army were about to give in to the Lamanites, my 2,060 were firm and fearless. They obeyed every command with exactness. They were protected according to their faith, and I remembered the words that they said their mothers had taught them.

“It was my sons, and the part of our army that had returned, to whom we owe this great victory, for it was they who beat the Lamanites and drove them back to the city of Manti. We retained the city of Cumeni and were spared, although we suffered great losses.

“After the Lamanites fled, I immediately gave orders for my wounded men to be taken from among the dead and their wounds dressed. About 200 of my 2,060 had fainted for the loss of blood. But by the goodness of God, and to the great astonishment and joy of our whole army, not one of them had been killed! However, all of them had received many wounds.

“Their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, for over 1,000 Nephites had been killed. We credit this to God’s miraculous power, shown because of their great faith in what they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and that all who did not doubt would be saved by His marvelous power.

“Now this is the kind of faith these young men have. Their minds are firm and they put their trust in God continually.

“After we had taken care of our wounded men, and had buried our dead and the many dead Lamanites, we asked Gid what had happened to the prisoners that he and his men had been taking to Zarahemla. Gid was the chief captain over the band that had been appointed to guard them. He reported:

“ ‘As we started out toward the land of Zarahemla with our prisoners, our spies came running to us. They cried out, “The Lamanite army is marching toward Cumeni. They will fall upon them and destroy our people!” When our prisoners heard this, they took courage and rose up in rebellion against us. We tried to contain them, but they ran in a group against our swords. Most of them were killed, but the rest broke through and escaped. We could not catch them, so we quickly marched toward Cumeni, hoping to arrive in time to assist you, Helaman. Now we have been delivered from our enemies again, and blessed is the name of our God, for it is He that has delivered us!’

“When I, Helaman, heard this report, I was filled with great joy because of God’s goodness in preserving us, that we might not all perish. And I trust that the souls of those who have died have entered into His rest.”