Chapter 53
The Lamanite prisoners
are used to fortify the city Bountiful—Dissensions among the Nephites give rise
to Lamanite victories—Helaman takes command of the two thousand stripling sons
of the people of Ammon. About 64–63 B.C.
Having returned with the Lamanite prisoners, they were put
to work. They were required to bury the
dead, both Lamanite and Nephite.
Moroni went to Mulek with Lehi. Lehi was given command of the city. Mormon tells us Lehi had been with Moroni
during most of the battle. Lehi “was a
man like unto Moroni” (Alma 53:2). This
was quite a compliment from one military leader (Mormon) to another
(Lehi). Describing Moroni, Mormon wrote,
“Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever
would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been
shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the
children of men” (Alma 48:17).
After the Lamanites finished burying the dead, they were
marched back to Bountiful. There
Teancum, following Moroni’s orders, had the prisoners fortify the land and city
of Bountiful. He had them build “a breastwork of timbers[1]”
(Alma 53:4) around the inner bank of the ditches. They eventually circled the entire city of
Bountiful with a strong wall.
Bountiful was secured and strong. Lamanite prisoners were held here under guard. Mormon tells us the reason prisoners were
used for labor.[2] It was easy to guard them when they were
working. This freed up troops and
strengthened the Moroni’s army. Moroni had
obtained Mulek. It was a great victory
taking and holding this city.[3] Mulek was also a stronghold for retaining
prisoners.
For the remainder of the year, Moroni no longer attempted to
battle the Lamanites. Nevertheless, he
continued to prepare his army for war, continued to fortify cities against the
Lamanites and delivering their women and children from famine and affliction
while providing food for his armies.
It was during this time dissensions amongst the Nephites occurred. The Lamanites armies were on the west sea and
in the south. Moroni’s absence was
responsible for these dissensions as the Lamanites had obtained possession of a
number of cities. This was caused by the
iniquity of the people, placing them in dangerous conditions.
Mormon breaks into the narrative to remind us about the Ammonites.
For their protection, they had been brought to the land of Zarahemla where the
Nephites provided military protection for them.
The Ammonites had taken an oath they would never again take up arms and
shed blood. They were willing to die
rather than violate their oath. “Now when the people saw that they were coming
against them they went out to meet them, and prostrated themselves before them
to the earth, and began to call on the name of the Lord; and thus they were in
this attitude when the Lamanites began to fall upon them, and began to slay
them with the sword” (Alma 24:21).
Seeing the effects of the Lamanites wars, the Ammonites
wanted to take up arms and defend their country.[4] “Obviously, had the Ammonites never made such
a covenant in the first place, they would gladly have taken up arms and Helaman
would gladly have embraced their military contribution. It was only this
covenant, not an attitude of pacifism, that prevented the Ammonites from
entering the war.”[5]
They were willing to break their oath against using weapons. It was here where Helaman and his brethren
intervened. He knew “[i]f a man vow a vow
unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break
his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth” (Numbers
30:2).
He feared they would lose their souls if they broke their
oaths. But, there was another option.
“Their wise priesthood leader, Helaman, knew that breaking a
covenant with the Lord is never justified. He offered an inspired alternative.
He reminded them that their sons had never been guilty of the same sins and
therefore had not needed to make the same covenant. Though the sons were very
young, they were physically strong and, more important, they were virtuous and
pure. The sons were fortified by the faith of their mothers. Under the
direction of their prophet-leader, these young men took their fathers’ place in
defense of their families and homes.”[6]
The Ammonites had taken the oath; their sons had not. The sons were brought together, and those who
were able to take up arms agreed to fight. They willing entered into a covenant
to fight for the liberty of Nephites (which they considered themselves to
be). They were willing to do all they could,
even giving their lives to prevent their people from being brought into
bondage.
There were two thousand young men who entered into the
covenant and they asked Helaman to be their leader.
These were courageous and loyal young men. They were true in all things. They had been taught to keep the commandments
of God.
Helaman accepted command of his “two thousand stripling
soldiers” (Alma 53:22).
[1] “And
upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers,
yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities. And
he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets
built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.” (Alma 50:2-3).
[2]
This wasn’t the only instance of prisoners being used as laborers. “And it came to pass that he did cause the
Lamanites, whom he had taken prisoners, that they should commence a labor in
strengthening the fortifications round about the city Gid” (Alma 55:25).
[3] “And
thus he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of Nephihah, and
the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner, and the
city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the east borders by
the seashore” (Alma 51:26) & “Therefore he caused that Teancum should take
a small number of men and march down near the seashore; and Moroni and his
army, by night, marched in the wilderness, on the west of the city Mulek; and
thus, on the morrow, when the guards of the Lamanites had discovered Teancum,
they ran and told it unto Jacob, their leader” (Alma 52:22).
[4]
Remember, they feared if they continued to fight, they would return to their
previous ways. “Behold, I say unto you, Nay, let us retain our swords that they
be not stained with the blood of our brethren; for perhaps, if we should stain
our swords again they can no more be washed bright through the blood of the Son
of our great God, which shall be shed for the atonement of our sins” (Alma 24:13).
[5] Were
the Ammonites Pacifists? Duane Boyce, Journal of the Book of Mormon and
Other Restoration, Scripture 18/1 (2009): 43.
[6] Personal
Strength through the Atonement of Jesus Christ, Elder Richard G. Scott,
October 2013 General Conference.
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