The worst of times can bring out the best in us. That seems to be Mormon’s message as he highlights the remarkable faith and courage of Captain Moroni, Teancum, and the sons of Helaman during the seven-year war between the Nephites and the Lamanites. This week, we are studying the following events:
- Helaman recruits 2,000 young warriors, known as “the sons of Helaman,” “the armies of Helaman,” or the “stripling warriors” (Alma 53).
- Moroni attempts to negotiate for the exchange of prisoners, then finds a way to rescue the Nephite prisoners without bloodshed (Alma 54-55).
- Helaman describes the miraculous success of his young warriors in a letter to Captain Moroni (Alma 56-58).
- Moroni and Pahoran exchange letters about the reasons for the lack of support from the government (Alma 59-61).
- The final battle, including the death of Teancum (Alma 62).
- Epilogue: What happened just after the war (Alma 63).
Lessons from the Sons of Helaman
- We earn trust by being serious and sensible: They Were Men Who Were True at All Times – Alma 53:20-21
- Young people can accomplish miracles as they trust in the faith of their parents: What Can We Learn from the Women in the Book of Mormon?
- Commit to a course of action and hold steady: How Can We Overcome Our Doubts?
- It’s important for a leader to have good judgement: We Were Not Sufficiently Strong – Alma 56:39-40
- Respect the agency of those you lead: What Say Ye, My Sons? – Alma 56:43-44
- Focus your thoughts on your highest priorities: They Did Think More… – Alma 56:47
- Be vigilant; don’t throw your freedom away: What Does It Mean to “Stand Fast in the Liberty Wherewith God Hath Made Us Free?”
- Trust the promises of God, even before you see them being fulfilled: The Lord Our God Did Visit Us with Assurances – Alma 58:10-11
- Unity creates power: With Exactness – Alma 57:21
- Be honest, but speak in hopeful and constructive terms: Is It Wrong to Complain?
Lessons from the Rescue of the Nephite Prisoners
- Hypocrisy is unsustainable: I Am a Bold Lamanite – Alma 54:23-24
- The way you define your mission will affect the way you fulfill it, including how you treat other people along the way: He Did Not Delight in Murder or Bloodshed – Alma 55:18-19
Lessons from Moroni and Pahoran
- Deal promptly with the root causes of an issue: What Does It Mean to Cleanse the Inward Vessel?
- Don’t avoid difficult conversations, even if they are messy: Was Captain Moroni Right to Chastise Pahoran so Harshly?
- Leaders have an extra responsibility to be diligent, because their negligence affects other people: Ye Ought to Have Stirred Yourselves More Diligently – Alma 60:8-10
- Words of truth, courageously spoken, can inspire courage in others: I Was Somewhat Worried Concerning What We Should Do – Alma 61:19-20
- Keep things in perspective, set aside your ego, and maintain your composure: I Am Not Angry – Alma 61:9
Lessons from the End of the War
- Adversity can strengthen us—depending on how we respond: “They Did Humble Themselves” – Mosiah 21:13-14
- Be courageous, but not reckless: What Can We Learn from Teancum’s Assassinations of Two Lamanite Kings?
- Some tasks can’t be effectively delegated, because the leader needs firsthand knowledge: Moroni Went Forth – Alma 62:20-21
- Don’t hold back from pursuing new opportunities: They Took Their Course Northward – Alma 63:5-9
Blog Posts: August 11-16
“They Never Would Shed Blood More” – Alma 53:11
The Lamanites who were converted by the preaching of Ammon and his brothers had previously been “a hardened people,” quick to engage in violence (Alma 17:14). After their conversion, as a symbol of their changed hearts, they buried their weapons “deep in the earth” (Alma 24:17). And this they did, it being in their view…
“You Have Censured Me, But It Mattereth Not.” – Alma 61:9
When Captain Moroni learned that reinforcements had not been sent to Helaman, he immediately wrote to Pahoran, the chief judge, requesting assistance. Shortly after, the city Nephihah fell to the enemy because reinforcements had not been sent there either. Moroni became gravely concerned about the state of the war and the lack of support from…
“They Were Beloved” – Alma 53:2
What kind of relationships did Captain Moroni have with the people closest to him? We don’t know much about his family, except that his son Moronihah succeeded him as commander of the Nephite armies (Alma 62:43). But we do see him interacting with other military leaders, particularly Lehi and Teancum. The following passage gives us…
Statutes, Judgments, and Commandments
What are the “statutes,” the “judgments,” and the “commandments” of the Lord? Why are those words so often combined? For example, in Helaman’s letter to Captain Moroni, he praises the two thousand stripling soldiers in these words: They have received many wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free;…
Assurances, Peace, Faith, and Hope – Alma 58:10-11
After requesting much-needed provisions and reinforcements from the government, and after waiting many months for a response, Helaman’s armies finally received an embarrassingly small shipment of food, delivered by a small number of additional troops. Helaman began to worry that he wouldn’t even be able to retain control of the cities they had reclaimed (Alma 58:4-9).…
“We Do Not Doubt Our Mothers Knew It” – Alma 56:48
Just before their first battle, Helaman asks his 2,000 young soldiers if they will take a risk and attack the Lamanite army which has been pursuing them. These young warriors (whom he called his “sons”) respond with great faith: Our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let…
I’ve always thought the story of the sons of Helaman was excellent commentary on the nature of and how to deal with addiction.
Are you talking about their fathers? I wrote a blog post this week about why it was important for their parents not to fight. Richard G. Scott taught that, because of their history with violence, they needed to be extra careful about the unique temptations associated with their prior misconduct: https://bookofmormonstudynotes.blog/2020/08/11/they-never-would-shed-blood-more-alma-5311/#more-20094
Thanks for the comment.
Yes and no. It really doesn’t make any sense for the Sons of Helaman to choose a prophet with no real military background to lead them to battle. But their parents were addicted to violence and the shedding of blood (bloodthirstiness). Are addictions inherited? Are they learned? Jury’s still out, seems to be both. Either way the Stripling Warriors were treading on dangerous ground, they’re susceptible to both. And so they asked the prophet to be their leader in war, not necessarily to ensure military victory, but rather to protect them from the pitfalls of their parents’ mistakes.
Seems to have worked out for them.
Follow the prophet. Don’t go astray.