Helaman writes to update Moroni on events at the western front of the war: He and Antipus, who leads the Nephite army, lure the Lamanites out of the city of Antiparah by having Helaman march past with his 2,000 stripling warriors. Antipus then attacks the Lamanites from the rear. Helaman’s warriors fight valiantly, and miraculously, none of them is killed.
Chapter Outline
- Helaman’s army joins forces with the army of Antipus, giving them hope and joy (v. 1-18)
- The Lamanites remained in the cities they had taken (v. 19-26)
- The battle: Helaman’s army marched by the city. The Lamanite army followed them. Antipus followed the Lamanite army (v. 27-41)
- The Lamanites halt, and Helaman’s sons courageously attack. Not one is killed (v. 42-57)
My Takeaways
- Keeping our covenants can strengthen our faith.
- Respect the agency of those you lead by asking their opinion about important decisions.
- Some things are worth fighting for.
- Words of testimony, particularly from a mother, can have a powerful effect on the faith of their children. Effective parents share their testimonies with their children.
- We can overcome our doubts by anchoring ourselves to true principles.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Hope and joy when Helaman’s army arrives – Alma 56:1-18
Because of the Fulfilling the Oath – Alma 56:6-8
6 And now ye also know concerning the covenant 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 break the covenant which…
❖ The battle of Antiparah – Alma 56:27-41
Decoys
Multiple times, Nephite armies recaptured cities by luring Lamanite armies out where they were more vulnerable. We can learn from these stories. Don’t allow low-priority goals to distract you from your main mission. Stay focused on what matters most.
We Were Not Sufficiently Strong – Alma 56:39-40
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…
What Say Ye, My Sons? – Alma 56:43-44
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…
❖ Sons of Helaman miraculously preserved – Alma 56:42-57
“Defend It”
Helaman’s army recognized that some things are worth fighting for, even though their parents had made an oath of pacifism. Most of us rarely face physical threats, but we all have opportunities to defend the truth and the vulnerable.
They Did Think More… – Alma 56:47
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. (Alma 56:47) The people of Ammon had made…
“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…
How Can We Overcome Our Doubts?
To doubt something is to feel uncertain about it, to lack conviction. The word is also closely associated with fear. (See the definition of doubt in the Oxford Dictionary.) When new evidence calls an accepted fact into question, reasonable people will begin to doubt what they thought they knew before. This is wise, and is part…
“My Sons”
Helaman called the young men whom he led his “sons.” He prioritized building strong relationships with them. President Henry B. Eyring observed that students may learn more from the character of the teacher than from the content of the lessons.
Old Testament Foundations
Strongholds
The Hebrew word mauz (מָעוֹז) means a place of safety or protection. In the King James Version of the Bible, it is usually translated “strength,” sometimes “rock,” “fortress” or “fort,” and once, in the book of Nahum, it is translated “strong hold:” The Lord is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them…
New Testament Parallels
No Greater Joy
John says, “I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.” If our greatest joy comes from the spiritual growth of our children, then we should put our greatest efforts into strengthening, encouraging, and guiding them.
Church History Connections
“Especial Care”
On July 9, 1841, Joseph Smith visited Brigham Young at his home in Nauvoo—a log cabin his wife had built in his absence while raising and caring for their children alone. Brigham had returned a week earlier from a mission to England and had immediately gotten to work helping her with a job which was…
In Light and Truth
In May 1833, God taught Joseph Smith about several interrelated concepts: light, truth, spirit, and intelligence (Doctrine and Covenants 93:1-40). After explaining that everyone on earth has received the light of Christ (v. 2), that truth is knowledge of the way things really are (v. 24), that obedience to God’s commandments invites truth and light…
All Posts Referencing Alma 56
- “Defend It” (8/22/2024)
- “My Sons” (8/21/2024)
- Decoys (8/17/2024)
- No Greater Joy (12/3/2023)
- Strongholds (12/2/2022)
- Finding Favor (3/10/2022)
- “Especial Care” (11/2/2021)
- In Light and Truth (8/24/2021)
- “We Do Not Doubt Our Mothers Knew It” – Alma 56:48 (8/16/2020)
- What Can We Learn from the Women in the Book of Mormon? (11/11/2019)
- What Should I Do When I Have Doubts? (7/13/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About Being an Effective Parent? (5/15/2019)
- How Can We Overcome Our Doubts? (1/10/2019)
- We Were Not Sufficiently Strong – Alma 56:39-40 (4/16/2018)
- What Say Ye, My Sons? – Alma 56:43-44 (12/30/2017)
- They Did Think More… – Alma 56:47 (12/2/2017)
- “They Had Been Taught by Their Mothers” – Alma 56:47-48 (12/17/2016)
- If They Did Not Doubt – Alma 56:47-48 (9/21/2016)
- They Had Been Taught by Their Mothers – Alma 56:47-48 (5/9/2016)
- Because of the Fulfilling the Oath – Alma 56:6-8 (8/21/2015)