24 And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had
fled, I immediately gave orders that my men who had been wounded should be
taken from among the dead, and caused that their wounds should be dressed. 25
And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and
sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to
the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our
whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and
neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.
26 And now, their preservation was astonishing to our
whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our
brethren who were slain. And we do
justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith
in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just
God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his
marvelous power. 27 Now
this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their
minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually.
Alma 57:24-27 (Emphasis mine)
The battle ended. The
time had come to find the wounded among the dead and treat the wounded. Helaman(2) tells us that two-hundred of his
warriors had been seriously wounded, but “not one soul of them … did perish.” John L. Sorenson wrote, “Although they were
all wounded, none were ever killed, a remarkable blessing ascribed ‘to the
miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith’ (Alma 57:26; cf.
56:47).”[1]
We are told, “there was a thousand of our brethren who were
slain.” This is the miracle behind the story.
“What was astonishing was that though they were spared, many others of
their Nephite brethren were slain … The story told in this epistle is probably
the best example of its kind in the Book of Mormon. Though told in the midst of
war, it is distinctly religious in tone, breathing great trust and confidence
in God.”[2]
This is the message of the experiences of the 2,000
stripling warriors. There were preserved
by “the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which
they had been taught to believe … they do put their trust in God continually.
“Nephite military preparations were reluctant and
defensive—minimal—with God acting as their radar and warning-system. Since they
depended on God, the real prevention and cure of Lamanite trouble was
spiritual, the key to security being a state of mind: ‘Their minds are firm,
and they do put their trust in God continually’ (Alma 57:27). Such optimism was
justified by the promise of complete immunity to Lamanite infection as long as
the simple rules of health were observed.”[3]
28 And now it came to pass that after we had thus
taken care of our wounded men, and had buried our dead and also the dead of the
Lamanites, who were many, behold, we did inquire of Gid concerning the prisoners
whom they had started to go down to the land of Zarahemla with. 29
Now Gid was the chief captain over the band who was appointed to guard them
down to the land.
30 And now, these are the words which Gid said unto
me: Behold, we did start to go down to the land of Zarahemla with our
prisoners. And it came to pass that we
did meet the spies of our armies, who had been sent out to watch the camp of
the Lamanites. 31 And they cried unto
us, saying—Behold, the armies of the Lamanites are marching towards the city of
Cumeni; and behold, they will fall upon them, yea, and will destroy our people.
32 And it came to pass that our prisoners did hear their
cries, which caused them to take courage; and they did rise up in rebellion
against us. 33 And it came to pass because of their rebellion we
did cause that our swords should come upon them. And it came to pass that they did in a body
run upon our swords, in the which, the greater number of them were slain; and
the remainder of them broke through and fled from us. 34 And
behold, when they had fled and we could not overtake them, we took
our march with speed towards the city Cumeni; and behold, we did arrive in time
that we might assist our brethren in preserving the city.
35 And behold, we are again delivered out of the hands of
our enemies. And blessed is the name of
our God; for behold, it is he that has delivered us; yea, that has done
this great thing for us.
Alma 57:28-35 (Emphasis mine)
After battle, Gid (the chief captain responsible for
returning the prisoners to Zarahemla) was asked what happened to the
prisoners. Remember, his army returned
with no prisoners.
As they were marching towards Zarahemla, the met Nephite
spies. They warned them about the
Lamanites armies marching towards the city of Cumeni.
Hearing this, the prisoners rebelled and attempted to
escape. “[T]hey did in a body run upon
our swords, in the which the greater number of them were slain.” The remainder escaped. Gid’s army could not overtake them, so they
continued the march towards Cumeni, join the armies there, strengthening the
Nephite army.
“Another huge prisoner contingent was sent to Zarahemla,
this time under the supervision of the capable Gid. En route the Nephites got
news of a Lamanite army marching on Cumeni, the city the Nephites had just
taken by blockade. Their disturbance at the news became apparent to their
prisoners, who assumed that something was going badly for them and that they
were in trouble, ‘which caused them to take courage, and they did rise up in
rebellion against us,’ rushing in a body on the Nephite swords. Most of them
were slain, but the rest escaped (Alma 57:28—33). However, this was not an
unmixed evil, for Gid was now free to hasten to the aid of Cumeni, arriving
just in time (Alma 57:34).”[4]
36 Now it came to pass that when I, Helaman, had
heard these words of Gid, I was filled with exceeding joy because of
the goodness of God in preserving us, that we might not all perish;
yea, and I trust that the souls of them who have been slain have entered into the
rest of their God.
Alma 57:36 (Emphasis mine)
[1] Peoples
of the Book of Mormon, John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell
Institute, accessed May 13, 2012.
[2] Types
of Literature in the Book of Mormon: Epistles, Psalms, Lamentations, Sidney
B. Sperry, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 13, 2012.
[3] Prophecy
in the Book of Mormon: The Three Periods, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah:
Maxwell Institute, accessed May 13, 2012.
[4] A
Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh
Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed May 13, 2012.
