Alma 56:47-57

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. ⁴⁸ And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it. ⁴⁹ And it came to pass that I did return with my two thousand against these Lamanites who had pursued us.  And now behold, the armies of Antipus had overtaken them, and a terrible battle had commenced.

Alma 56:47 – 49 (Emphasis mine)

Helaman(2)’s warriors had great faith.  They knew they would be protected by God.  How did they know this?  “They had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them … We do not doubt our mothers knew it.”

The army returned and began battle with the Lamanite army.  This was a good thing because “Antipus had overtaken them, and a terrible battle had commenced.”

Hugh Nibley sums up the situation.  “Helaman knew the Lamanite numbers were still overwhelmingly superior to the combined Nephite forces, and suspected that this might even be a trap for him, but he was willing to risk it (Alma 56:43). Unleashed, the 2,000 waded in with such terrific elan that the whole Lamanite army turned to meet them (Alma 56:52); but like the young Israelis in 1948, these kids introduced a new dimension into the war: they were inspired; their strange spirit, devoid of hatred and utterly free of fear or hesitation (Alma 56:46—47) began to frighten the seasoned Lamanite troopers, who had never seen anything like it (Alma 56:56).”[1]

⁵⁰ The army of Antipus being weary, because of their long march in so short a space of time, were about to fall into the hands of the Lamanites; and had I not returned with my two thousand they would have obtained their purpose. ⁵¹ For Antipus had fallen by the sword, and many of his leaders, because of their weariness, which was occasioned by the speed of their march—therefore the men of Antipus, being confused because of the fall of their leaders, began to give way before the Lamanites. ⁵² And it came to pass that the Lamanites took courage, and began to pursue them; and thus were the Lamanites pursuing them with great vigor when Helaman came upon their rear with his two thousand, and began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that the whole army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helaman. ⁵³ Now when the people of Antipus saw that the Lamanites had turned them about, they gathered together their men and came again upon the rear of the Lamanites.

Alma 56:50 – 53 (Emphasis mine)

Things were not going well.  Antipus’s army was weary from the march and “were about to fall into the hands of the Lamanites.”  Helaman(2) and his warriors arrived when the Lamanites believed victory was at hand.

Antipus and “many of his leaders” had fallen by the sword.  The Nephites were confused because so many leaders had fallen. 

Beginning with verse 52, the narrative changes from first person (Helaman(2)’s epistle) to the third person.  Mormon is now abridging Helaman(2)’s epistle. 

He tells us the Lamanites were vigorously pursuing the Nephites when Helaman(2)’s army “came upon their rear … and began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that the whole army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helaman.”

Antipus’s army, seeing the Lamanites had begun to battle Helaman(2)’s warriors, got organized and began to attack the rear of the Lamanite army once again.

⁵⁴ And now it came to pass that we, the people of Nephi, the people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did surround the Lamanites, and did slay them; yea, insomuch that they were compelled to deliver up their weapons of war and also themselves as prisoners of war. ⁵⁵ And now it came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain. ⁵⁶ But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war.

⁵⁷ And as we had no place for our prisoners, that we could guard them to keep them from the armies of the Lamanites, therefore we sent them to the land of Zarahemla, and a part of those men who were not slain of Antipus, with them; and the remainder I took and joined them to my stripling Ammonites, and took our march back to the city of Judea.

Alma 56:54 – 57 (Emphasis mine)

Mormon returns to quoting directly from Helaman(2)’s epistle.

The surviving members of Antipus’s army, along with Helaman(2)’s warriors, were able to surround the Lamanites and began to slay them.  The tide of the battle changed and the Nephites began winning the battle. 

The Lamanites surrendered and became prisoners of war.  There were so many that they could not guard them.  A part of Antipus’s army marched them to the land of Zarahemla.  The remaining members of Antipus’s army joined Helaman(2)’s.

While this was going on, Helaman(2) “numbered those young men who had fought with [him], fearing lest there were many of them slain.”  Not one warrior had died.  They were protected by the power of the Lord. 

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[1] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 9, 2012.