Helaman's Letter to Moroni Continues

“Our next goal was to retake the city of Manti. We could not lure the Lamanites out of their strongholds again, for they remembered what we had done before. The Lamanites were so much more numerous than we were that we did not dare attack them. Instead, we had our men maintain the cities which we had retaken, and waited for more reinforcements and provisions from Zarahemla.

“I had sent an embassy to our chief judge and governor in Zarahemla, requesting more provisions and soldiers, and then waited to receive our provisions. If we had received provisions and more soldiers sooner, it would not have helped us much, for every day the Lamanites received many soldiers and provisions.

“On occasion, the Lamanites rushed out against us, and tried using their own strategies to destroy us. This was frustrating to us, for we could not attack them in their retreats and strongholds. We waited many months for our provisions and almost starved to death. But our food finally arrived, along with 2,000 men, and this is all the assistance we have received to defend ourselves and our country from an innumerable enemy.

“We did not know why more reinforcements were not sent, and we became sorrowful and afraid that God’s judgments would overthrow our land and completely destroy us. We poured out our souls in prayer to God, asking Him to deliver us from our enemies and give us the strength to hold our cities, lands and possessions for the support of our people.

“By speaking peace to our souls, the Lord our God assured us that He would deliver us. He gave us great faith in Him, through which we hoped for deliverance. We took courage with the small force we had received, and became determined to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, possessions, wives, children, and our cause of liberty.

“We marched in all our strength against the Lamanites who had taken the city of Manti. First we pitched our tents near the city on the wilderness side. The next day, when the Lamanites saw us near the city, they sent out spies to see how large our army was. When they discovered that our small army threatened to cut off their supplies, they prepared to come out, thinking they could easily kill us with their large army. “Knowing the Lamanites were preparing to come out of the city, I ordered Gid and Teomner each to take a small group of men and hide in the wilderness. Gid’s group hid on the right, and Teomner’s on the left. I stayed with the rest of my army in our camp and waited for the Lamanites to come out.

“When the numerous Lamanite army came out and were about to attack us with their swords, our men ran away into the wilderness. The Lamanites wanted very much to kill us, so they ran after us very quickly. We ran between the places where Gid and Teomner were hiding. After the Lamanites had passed by Gid and Teomner, they rose up from their hiding places and prevented the Lamanite spies from returning to the city. Then they ran to the city, killed the Lamanite guards, and took possession of it. Gid and Teomner were able to do this with only a few men because the Lamanites had allowed their entire army, except for a few guards, to be led away into the wilderness.

“Meanwhile, after traveling for a long time in the wilderness, we headed toward Zarahemla. When the Lamanites realized where we were headed, they became very afraid and began to return through the wilderness. By then it was dark, so the Lamanites set up camp for the night. Their chief captains thought that our whole army had been on the march and were tired, so they did not worry about the safety of Manti.

“That night, rather than sleep we went around the Lamanites and headed back to Manti by another route. In the morning, we arrived at the city ahead of the Lamanites. This was our strategy to take back Manti without much bloodshed.

“As the Lamanite army came near the city, they saw us prepared to meet them. They were very astonished, and so afraid that they ran away into the wilderness. All the Lamanites ran out of this part of the land, taking many women and children as prisoners. All the cities that had been taken by the Lamanites are now back in our possession. Our men, women, and children are returning to their homes, except for those who were taken prisoner and carried off by the Lamanites. Our armies are too small to maintain so many cities and possessions, but we trust in our God, who has given us victory over our cities and lands. And we do not know why the government does not send us more reinforcements.

“Moroni, for all we know, your army has been unsuccessful, and has needed the forces in your part of the land. If this is the case, we do not wish to complain. But if this is not the case, we feel there must have been some unrest in the government, for we know many more reinforcements could have been sent. It does not matter, for we trust in God to deliver us in spite of our small numbers.

“This year, 63 BC, is coming to an end, and we have regained our lands that the Lamanites have abandoned. And those sons of Ammon’s people, of whom I have so highly spoken, are now with me in the city of Manti. The Lord has supported them and has kept them from falling by the sword, for not even one soul has been killed. They have received many wounds, but they stand firm in that liberty with which God has made them free. They are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day. They continually keep His statutes, judgments, and commandments, and their faith is strong in the prophecies of that which is to come.

“Now my beloved brother, Moroni, may the Lord our God, who has redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually in His presence. May He favor this people so that you may have success in regaining what the Lamanites have taken from us. This is the end of my letter. I am Helaman, Alma’s son.”