Alma 58
Zarahemla Sends Insufficient Support
Alma 58:1–3
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.
The Nephites desired to recover all their lost territory, and Manti was a particularly important fortified site for it controlled one the major passes that allowed travel between Lamanite lands in the south and the Nephite lands north of the strip of wilderness. Unfortunately, they were unable to fulfill their desire. The Lamanites had greater numbers and Manti was a fortified location.
The Lamanites were quick to learn that a feint might attempt them to split up their forces and might lead to a defeat. They refused to fall for it. A historical question to be asked is how they learned of the previous attempt, and the answer is that it would be highly unusual for every single Lamanite to have been killed. Some must have escaped, or perhaps even deserted. That allowed someone with the understanding of what had happened to make their way back to the Lamanite lines and let them know that they should beware of that particular ruse.
Alma 58:4–7
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.
The area around Manti was a connection between Lamanite and Nephite lands, and that meant that when the Lamanites controlled it, they could easily augment both their numbers and their provisions from the Lamanite homeland. The Nephites should have had that same advantage, but some circumstance that Helaman1 did not know at the time was keeping his army from the same advantage. Thus, even though he was in a siege-like position, it was not an effective siege because they could not cut off the city from supplies.
On the other hand, the Nephites were suffering from the kinds of problems a sieged city might have undergone, because they were not receiving reinforcements and supplies. In verse 7 we learn that the situation was becoming dire.
Alma 58:8–10
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.
Verse 7 had indicated that Helaman1’s forces were in dire need of food. They finally received that food, and an additional two thousand men. This number, now merged with the two thousand stripling soldiers, suggests that there had been another exiting Nephite military unit that consisted of two thousand men. It is also possible that, because it was a military unit, that its military designation did not really indicate the unit’s personnel count. As an example, in the Roman army, a centurion commanded a century, which was considered to be one hundred soldiers, but could be less, and perhaps at times, more.
Although the food was essential and the two thousand men were useful, the number of extra soldiers could not counter the significantly larger number of Lamanite forces opposing them. Therefore, they prayed for what amounted to a miracle.
Helaman’s Army Takes Manti
Alma 58:11–15
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.
12 And we did take courage with our small force which we had received, and were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty.
13 And thus we did go forth with all our might against the Lamanites, who were in the city of Manti; and we did pitch our tents by the wilderness side, which was near to the city.
14 And it came to pass that on the morrow, that when the Lamanites saw that we were in the borders by the wilderness which was near the city, that they sent out their spies round about us that they might discover the number and the strength of our army.
15 And it came to pass that when they saw that we were not strong, according to our numbers, and fearing that we should cut them off from their support except they should come out to battle against us and kill us, and also supposing that they could easily destroy us with their numerous hosts, therefore they began to make preparations to come out against us to battle.
The Nephites had essentially prayed for a miracle. What they got was Yahweh’s assurance that he would deliver them. There are certainly times in our lives when we need a miracle, and if we listen, we may get assurances that all will be well. Nevertheless, we still need to go, and do. The Nephites could not sit back and wait for a miracle. They took action and took that action with the understanding that their God would preserve them. Yahweh gave them courage, not an immediate solution.
What the Nephites did was move around the city to create a real siege. They blockaded the pass with their troops so that the Lamanites in Manti would no longer receive supplies. That made a more difficult position for the troops in Manti. Therefore, they decided to go against the Nephites in order to remove the threat.
Alma 58:16–18
16 And when we saw that they were making preparations to come out against us, behold, I caused that Gid, with a small number of men, should secrete himself in the wilderness, and also that Teomner and a small number of men should secrete themselves also in the wilderness.
17 Now Gid and his men were on the right and the others on the left; and when they had thus secreted themselves, behold, I remained, with the remainder of my army, in that same place where we had first pitched our tents against the time that the Lamanites should come out to battle.
18 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come out with their numerous army against us. And when they had come and were about to fall upon us with the sword, I caused that my men, those who were with me, should retreat into the wilderness.
Helaman1 used a variant of the tactic of luring the Lamanites away from their fortified city. In this case, it was supposed that it was most of Helaman1’s army that contended with the Lamanites, and when the engagement began, Helaman1 had his men retreat as though fleeing from the greater numbers of Lamanites. In the heat of the battle, the Lamanites would have seen themselves as winning the battle, and therefore pursued the Nephites to finish them.
That pursuit led them past the secreted forces of Gid and Teomner, and thus the Lamanites inadvertently allowed Nephite soldiers to be at their rear.
Alma 58:19–22
19 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did follow after us with great speed, for they were exceedingly desirous to overtake us that they might slay us; therefore they did follow us into the wilderness; and we did pass by in the midst of Gid and Teomner, insomuch that they were not discovered by the Lamanites.
20 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had passed by, or when the army had passed by, Gid and Teomner did rise up from their secret places, and did cut off the spies of the Lamanites that they should not return to the city.
21 And it came to pass that when they had cut them off, they ran to the city and fell upon the guards who were left to guard the city, insomuch that they did destroy them and did take possession of the city.
22 Now this was done because the Lamanites did suffer their whole army, save a few guards only, to be led away into the wilderness.
The value of the city of Manti’s defensive position is underscored by the daring move the Nephite army makes. They are significantly outnumbered, and they were fleeing from what was an overwhelming army. The whole purpose was to draw that army out of the defended position so that Gid and Teomner could capture the city. This they did.
The danger was that they could take the city, but that the larger number of Nephites who were being pursued might be lost. Apparently, that was deemed an appropriate exchange, again highlighting the value of Manti’s defensive position.
Alma 58:23–26
23 And it came to pass that Gid and Teomner by this means had obtained possession of their strongholds. And it came to pass that we took our course, after having traveled much in the wilderness towards the land of Zarahemla.
24 And when the Lamanites saw that they were marching towards the land of Zarahemla, they were exceedingly afraid, lest there was a plan laid to lead them on to destruction; therefore they began to retreat into the wilderness again, yea, even back by the same way which they had come.
25 And behold, it was night and they did pitch their tents, for the chief captains of the Lamanites had supposed that the Nephites were weary because of their march; and supposing that they had driven their whole army therefore they took no thought concerning the city of Manti.
26 Now it came to pass that when it was night, I caused that my men should not sleep, but that they should march forward by another way towards the land of Manti.
Helaman1 and his army were able to stay ahead of the pursuing Lamanites. Because the Nephites were heading into the land where they could easily be reinforced, the Lamanite army realized that their attempt had failed. Therefore, they turned to go back to Manti.
Manti was now in Nephite hands, and therefore they did not have a fortified position to return to. However, with their numbers, and the smaller force defending Manti, they might have been able to retake the city. Therefore, Helaman1 had his army force march around the Lamanite army and return to assist in the defense of Manti.
Alma 58:27–30
27 And because of this our march in the night-time, behold, on the morrow we were beyond the Lamanites, insomuch that we did arrive before them at the city of Manti.
28 And thus it came to pass, that by this stratagem we did take possession of the city of Manti without the shedding of blood.
29 And it came to pass that when the armies of the Lamanites did arrive near the city, and saw that we were prepared to meet them, they were astonished exceedingly and struck with great fear, insomuch that they did flee into the wilderness.
30 Yea, and it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites did flee out of all this quarter of the land. But behold, they have carried with them many women and children out of the land.
Even though Helaman1’s forces had been tired from fleeing before the Lamanites, and then from marching through the night, they achieved their goal of arriving first to Manti. They then added themselves to the defense of the city. Even though tired, the Lamanites would not have known who they were, only that there was now a large army defending Manti. Thus, the Lamanites fled into the wilderness, apparently returning to Lamanite lands.
When Helaman1 says that they took possession of the city of Manti “without the shedding of blood,” he was being more figurative that realistic. Gid and Teomner certainly killed some Lamanites when they took the depleted forces that remained. Perhaps they did not suffer casualties, but that was unlikely.
There was a conflict between the Lamanites and the Nephites before the Nephites fled, and it is possible that more blood was shed. The figurative use of the idea was to note that it was a stratagem that allowed them to take the city without the massive loss of life it would have taken had they not been able to draw out the Lamanite army.
Nephites Retake All Their Western Lands
Alma 58:31–33
31 And those cities which had been taken by the Lamanites, all of them are at this period of time in our possession; and our fathers and our women and our children are returning to their homes, all save it be those who have been taken prisoners and carried off by the Lamanites.
32 But behold, our armies are small to maintain so great a number of cities and so great possessions.
33 But behold, we trust in our God who has given us victory over those lands, insomuch that we have obtained those cities and those lands, which were our own.
Helaman1 is starting the closing statements of his letter to Moroni. This was all one chapter in the 1830 edition which began in our chapter 56. It has been a long letter.
Helaman1 reports that they have been successful at driving the Lamanites out of the Nephite lands on the west and south, but they still have problems. Their “armies are small to maintain so great a number of cities and so great possessions.” They have been victorious and achieved the goal of sending the Lamanite army out of their western lands, but the victory is tenuous. Without reinforcements, they might not be able to hold on to the lands that they have regained.
Alma 58:34–38
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 of the land; if so, we do not desire to murmur.
36 And if it is not so, behold, we fear that there is some faction in the government, that they do not send more men to our assistance; for we know that they are more numerous than that which they have sent.
37 But, behold, it mattereth not—we trust God will deliver us, notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, yea, and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies.
38 Behold, this is the twenty and ninth year, in the latter end, and we are in the possession of our lands; and the Lamanites have fled to the land of Nephi.
Helaman1 does not know why they have not received reinforcements. He clearly assumes that there are sufficient men available to reinforce them, but he does not understand why the government doesn’t send them. Helaman1 fears “that there is some faction in the government, that they do not send more men to our assistance.” He will be proven correct.
Even though Helaman1 no longer has much faith in the government, yet ye maintains faith in God. God had delivered them and will yet deliver them.
Typically, the noting of the year ends the story, but here it is an end to the basic report, but Helaman1 has one more thing to add in the next verses.
Alma 58:39–41
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 wounds; nevertheless they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.
41 And now, my beloved brother, Moroni, may the Lord our God, who has redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually in his presence; yea, and may he favor this people, even that ye may have success in obtaining the possession of all that which the Lamanites have taken from us, which was for our support. And now, behold, I close mine epistle. I am Helaman, the son of Alma.
Helaman1 ends with the closing of the story with which he began. The two thousand stripling soldiers (augmented by sixty more), have continued to be valiant, and have continued to be delivered, “insomuch that even one soul has not been slain.” They continue to embody the positive promise of the land. They have been righteous. They have been protected from death.
