Helaman’s army suffers for months with inadequate resources. When some reinforcements and supplies arrive from Zarahemla, they fall far short of the need. They pray and receive assurances that God will deliver them. They lure the Lamanite army out of the city of Manti and retake it without bloodshed.
Helaman closes his epistle by expressing concern that the government hasn’t provided more support, and by testifying that God has miraculously preserved the sons of the people of Ammon.
Chapter Outline
- Helaman’s army suffers for months with inadequate resources. They pray and receive assurances and hope from God (v. 1-11)
- They lure the Lamanite army out of Manti and take the city (v. 12-29)
- Helaman doesn’t understand why the government hasn’t sent more reinforcements and supplies, but “we do not desire to murmur” (v. 30-37)
- Summary: All cities retaken; none of the sons of the people of Ammon slain (v. 38-41)
My Takeaways
- Look for unexpected answers to your prayers.
- Focus on your highest priorities, and don’t get distracted.
- God’s laws are firmly established, are representative of His wisdom, and provide practical guidance for our decisions.
- We should be strict in following God’s commandments.
Featured Blog Posts
❖ Helaman’s army prays and receives assurances – Alma 58:1-11
Recognizing Unexpected Answers
Helaman’s people prayed for strength, support, and deliverance. They received peace, faith, and hope. Those spiritual gifts enabled them to improve their situation. We need to learn to recognize the unexpected answers to our prayers.
The Lord Our God Did Visit Us with Assurances – Alma 58:10-11
10 Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for the support of our people. 11 Yea, and it…
❖ The battle of Manti – Alma 58:12-29
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.
❖ Helaman worries about the lack of reinforcements – Alma 58:30-37
Alma 58:34-37 We Do Not Know the Cause
34 Now we do not know the cause that the government does not grant us more strength; neither do those men who came up unto us know why we have not received greater strength. 35 Behold, we do not know but what ye are unsuccessful, and ye have drawn away the forces into that quarter…
❖ Helaman’s summary – Alma 58:38-41
Strictness
God’s commandments are strict. Korihor thought this meant that we lack freedom. But God’s strictness is not an attempt to subvert our agency. It is a vote of confidence in us, a vision of what we can become, with His help.
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;…
They Stand Fast in That Liberty Wherewith God Has Made Them Free – Alma 58:39-40
39 And those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom I have so highly spoken, are with me in the city of Manti; and the Lord has supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even one soul has not been slain. 40 But behold, they have received many…
Old Testament Foundations
Joshua and the Book of Mormon
This week, I reviewed the book of Joshua, summarizing the content of each chapter and identifying related Book of Mormon passages. The book can be divided into four parts: The children of Israel prepare to enter the promised land (chapters 1-5) With divine intervention, they conquer various cities in the land of Canaan (chapters 6-12)…
“The Lord Bless Thee, and Keep Thee”
While the Israelites lived in the wilderness, God instructed Aaron and his sons to offer the following blessing on the people: The Lord bless thee, and keep thee: The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace. Numbers 6:24-26…
Is It Wrong to Complain?
Lehi’s journey to the American continent mirrors Moses’s earlier journey to the land of Israel in many ways. One of those similarities is the incessant murmuring by some people during the journey. The children of Israel complained about bitter water (Exodus 15:23-25), about a lack of food (Exodus 16:1-15), and about a lack of water…
New Testament Parallels
What Does It Mean to “Stand Fast in the Liberty Wherewith God Hath Made Us Free?”
For a period of time, Alma taught the gospel in secret, in a place called the waters of Mormon. He challenged the people to be baptized there. He organized them into a church there. They began to meet weekly to teach one another and to worship God. The group steadily grew until the king became…
Church History Connections
How Can I Recognize the Voice of the Lord?
In his first talk as president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Russell M. Nelson pleaded with us to “increase [our] spiritual capacity to receive revelation” (“Revelation for the Church, Revelation for our Lives,” General Conference, April 2018). Two years later, he said, “I renew my plea for you to do whatever it takes…
What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Holy Ghost?
Nephi promised that, if we will receive the Holy Ghost, “it will show unto [us] all things what [we] should do” (2 Nephi 32:5). The Lord told Joseph Smith that the Holy Ghost speaks to our mind and to our heart (D&C 8:2). But it can be hard to distinguish thoughts and feelings which come…
All Posts Referencing Alma 58
- Being More Careful (9/28/2025)
- How to Recognize the Holy Ghost (2/5/2025)
- Recognizing Unexpected Answers (8/18/2024)
- Decoys (8/17/2024)
- Strictness (7/17/2024)
- Strongholds (12/2/2022)
- Joshua and the Book of Mormon (5/26/2022)
- “The Lord Bless Thee, and Keep Thee” (5/10/2022)
- Poured Out (10/3/2021)
- How Can I Recognize the Voice of the Lord? (1/31/2021)
- Assurances, Peace, Faith, and Hope – Alma 58:10-11 (8/15/2020)
- Statutes, Judgments, and Commandments (8/14/2020)
- What Does It Mean to Cleanse the Inward Vessel? (12/20/2019)
- What Does It Mean to Pour Out Your Soul to God? (9/17/2019)
- What Does It Mean to “Stand Fast in the Liberty Wherewith God Hath Made Us Free?” (7/5/2019)
- Is It Wrong to Complain? (5/2/2019)
- What Does the Book of Mormon Teach About the Holy Ghost? (4/17/2019)
- They Stand Fast in That Liberty Wherewith God Has Made Them Free – Alma 58:39-40 (4/17/2018)
- The Lord Our God Did Visit Us with Assurances – Alma 58:10-11 (12/4/2017)
- He Did Speak Peace to Our Souls – Alma 58:10-11 (8/23/2015)
- Alma 58:34-37 We Do Not Know the Cause (11/21/2014)