Chapter 58
Helaman, Gid, and
Teomner take the city of Manti by a stratagem—The Lamanites withdraw—The sons
of the people of Ammon are preserved as they stand fast in defense of their
liberty and faith. About 63–62 B.C.
1 AND behold, now it came to pass that our
next object was to obtain the city of Manti; but behold, there was no
way that we could lead them out of the city by our small bands. For behold, they remembered that which we had
hitherto done; therefore we could not decoy them away from their strongholds. 2
And they were so much more numerous than was our army that we durst not
go forth and attack them in their strongholds. 3 Yea, and it
became expedient that we should employ our men to the maintaining those parts
of the land which we had regained of our possessions; therefore it
became expedient that we should wait, that we might receive more strength from
the land of Zarahemla and also a new supply of provisions.
Alma 58:1-3 (Emphasis mine)
The next objective of the army was to take the city of
Manti. They faced many challenges.
“Then the next object was Manti, which was the big
objective. What could they do? None of their tricks worked. Alma 58:1: “… they
remembered that which we had hitherto done [so we couldn't pull any fast ones
like that]; therefore we could not decoy them away from their strongholds.’ So
now they settle down to a long wait. They say the war should be over by now.
What's wrong? Now this long and painful wait starts, and it's the biggest trial
of all. They waited for provisions from Zarahemla, but they were just a little
trickle. They weren't getting any at all. The Lamanites were receiving great
strength from day to day on their part. This is beginning to look bad. What
about ending this war? The Lamanites began sallying forth against them, taking
courage and giving them a bad time.”[1]
4 And it came to pass that I thus did send an
embassy to the governor of our land, to acquaint him concerning the affairs of
our people. And it came to pass that we
did wait to receive provisions and strength from the land of Zarahemla.
5
But behold, this did profit us but little; for the
Lamanites were also receiving great strength from day to day, and also many
provisions; and thus were our circumstances at this period of time. 6
And the
Lamanites were sallying forth against us from time to time, resolving
by stratagem to destroy us; nevertheless we could not come to battle with them,
because of their retreats and their strongholds. 7 And it came
to pass that we did wait in these difficult circumstances for the space of many
months, even until we were about to perish for the want of food.
Alma 58:4-7 (Emphasis mine)
We now have a stalemate.
The Nephite army is getting provisions, but very little. The Lamanites, on the other hand, were “receiving
great strength from day to day, and also many provisions.”
The Lamanites started using the Nephite tactics that worked
so well. They would “[sally] forth
against us from time to time.”
Helaman(2)’s army couldn’t fight back.
So, they waited “for the space of many months, even until we were about
to perish for the want of food.”
8 But it came to pass that we did receive food, which was
guarded to us by an army of two thousand men to our assistance; and this is all
the assistance which we did receive, to defend ourselves and our
country from falling into the hands of our enemies, yea, to contend with an
enemy which was innumerable. 9 And now the
cause of these our embarrassments, or the cause why they did not send more
strength unto us, we knew not; therefore we were grieved and also
filled with fear, lest by any means the judgments of God should come upon our
land, to our overthrow and utter destruction. 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 came to
pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us;
yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto
us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in
him.
Alma 58:8-11 (Emphasis mine)
Food finally arrived, along with two thousand men. But this wasn’t enough. Why, Helaman(2) writes, did they “not send
more strength unto us”? They didn’t
know. We will see that this is the
beginning for a fascinating confrontation between Moroni(1) and the government
in Zarahemla.
What could be done?
The only thing left to do was to “pour out our souls in prayer to God.” They asked that He might strengthen them,
deliver them out of their hands of their enemies, and to give them strength to
hold their cities.
He spoke peace to their souls and He visited them “with assurances
that he would deliver” them. He “grant[ed
them] great faith and did cause that we should hope for our deliverance in him.”
[1] Lecture
72: Alma 57-61, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed May 14, 2012.
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