Alma Chapter 58

Helaman continues his letter to Moroni.

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.

verse 3 Again, a stalemate had developed. Both the Nephites and the Lamanites were safely holed up behind the Moroni-designed fortifications, and the Lamanites were simply too numerous for the Nephites to consider an attack. The Nephites were badly in need of additional men and provisions.

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.

verse 4 Apparently the "embassy"-the person or persons that Helaman dispatched to communicate with Pahoran in the city of Zarahemla did not immediately report back to Helaman. Otherwise he would have learned that Pahoran had serious problems of his own in the capital which prevented him from sending aid to the forces of Helaman. We will learn of these problems in Alma 61.

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.

verse 6 "the Lamanites were sallying forth against us from time to time" This tactic of harassment was one which the Lamanites had learned from the Nephites. Hugh Nibley observed: "As in all long wars, the two opponents in their methods, armaments, tricks, and appearance come to be more and more alike, for an enemy may not be allowed safely to monopolize any technical advantage for long" (Collected Works of Hugh Nibley, volume 7, 321).

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.

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.

verse 9 "Embarrassments" are problems or difficulties. The failure of Pahoran to send sufficient reinforcements or supplies was deeply troubling to Helaman and his forces. They even began to grieve and despair.

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.

verse 11 "our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us" Helaman and his forces were somewhat comforted by the Lord, yet apparently some doubts lingered on. At least they took courage to the point of mounting an offensive against the Lamanite stronghold in the city of Manti.

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.

verse 12 "to conquer our enemies, and to maintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our liberty" The wording of this verse suggests that Helaman and his forces had reflected on the fundamental covenants they had entered into with the Lord-the so-called "promise/curse"-at the encouragement of Moroni. To review this concept see the introductory commentary for Alma 43 (see also Alma 46).

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.

verse 13 "by the wilderness side" One side of the city of Manti faced the wilderness. This was the wilderness separating the larger land of Nephi from the larger land of Zarahemla. It was therefore from this direction that the Lamanites' supplies from the land of Nephi arrived in the city of Manti. In order for Helaman's plan to work, he had to insolently (boldly-even in a haughty, disrespectful manner) deploy his relatively small number of forces in a highly visible location which produced a threat of cutting off the Lamanites' supply line.

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.

verse 14 The Lamanite spies were easily able to discover the small size and obvious vulnerability of the Nephite forces.

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.

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.

verse 16 To "secrete" is to hide or conceal in a secret place.

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.

verse 18 The third of the army, with which Helaman remained, had to beat a very hasty retreat indeed, since being caught by the large Lamanite force would have meant certain annihilation.

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.

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.

verse 23 "Gid and Teomner by this means had obtained possession of their strongholds" The Lamanite stongholds in Manti were captured by Gid and Teomner.

Apparently Helaman had begun his hasty retreat in a southward direction but eventually turned in a more northerly direction toward the city 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.

verse 25 "supposing that they had driven their whole army therefore they took no thought concerning the city of Manti" The Lamanite chief captains wrongly assumed they were pursuing the entire Nephite army. They did not consider that part of the army might have been left behind to capture 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.

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.

verse 29 Having been out-smarted, the defeated and discouraged Lamanites fled into the wilderness back to the land of Nephi taking with them many Nephite hostages-women and children.

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.

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.

verse 32 Obviously, though the Nephites again had possession of all of their lands, their hold on their lands was a bit tenuous because of the scant number of their occupation forces.

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.

verse 33 Helaman expresses his conviction that righteousness on the part of the Nephites will ensure God's protection over them.

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.

verse 34 "neither do those men who came up unto us know why we have not received greater strength" We will learn in Alma 61 of a major insurrection and rebellion against the government of Pahoran in Zarahemla mounted by the king-men. Pahoran was driven out of Zarahemla and forced to seek refuge in the land of Gideon. Why did the most recent reinforcements from Zarahemla not have more insight into these developments? Why were they not able to inform Helaman of the precarious political situation in Zarahemla? Apparently these difficulties were in an early state of development when these men left the capital, and they lacked insight into the situation beginning to unfold there.

Elder Neal A. Maxwell has perceived another interesting lesson from this verse. He wrote: "Even while in deep difficulties, those of deep faith are generously disposed, as was reflected in Helaman's report to Moroni from the battle front: 'Behold, we do not know but what ye are unsuccessful . . . if so, we do not desire to murmur. . . . 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' (Alma 58:35; Alma 58:37)" (A Wonderful Flood of Light, 66- 67).

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.

verse 35 Keep in mind that Helaman is writing to Moroni who is fighting in another quarter of the land. Helaman knows there are more men available in Zarahemla. Here he says to Moroni, "I am puzzled as to why I'm not receiving more men and supplies. Perhaps you are having so much trouble in your quarter that all of the men and supplies are going to you. If that is the case, then we certainly gladly accept that as a valid reason why we are receiving no help."

"we do not desire to murmur" Helaman offers an apology for being negative. Notice how Helaman, who is in the process of complaining to Moroni, is doing so in a meek and humble way so as not to show disrespect for the chief governor Pahoran or to offend his chief commander Moroni. President Harold B. Lee taught: "The men under you will never be loyal to you if they see that you are disloyal to those who preside over you" ("Loyalty," Address given to Seminary and Institute personnel at Brigham Young University July 8, 1966).

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.

verse 36 "there is some faction in the government" Perhaps Helaman is beginning to learn of the events in Zarahemla. He says to Moroni, "If you also are not receiving men and supplies, then something is obviously wrong in Zarahemla."

There are a number of instances in original manuscript of the Book of Mormon where Dr. Royal Skousen feels that Oliver made a mistake in transcribing Joseph Smith's dictation. If a word or a phrase was unknown to him, he substituted a more common word or phrase (but with varying degrees of success). In each of these cases, the substitution is found in the original manuscript and was later copied into the printer's manuscript. It was then either corrected by the typesetter or appeared in the 1830 edition of the Book of Mormon. This phrase offers such an example. In the original and printer's manuscripts, this phrase read "there is some fraction [part of the whole] in the government." The word fraction was corrected by the typesetter, and it therefore was changed to faction (a group within a larger organization producing strife or dissension) in the 1830 edition. Dr. Skousen feels that the reading in the present edition is the correct one.

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.

verse 37 Helaman expresses his faith, though one can almost feel the uncertainty and insecurity with which he is struggling.

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.

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 had 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.

verse 40 "they stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free" The oft-mentioned "promise/curse" of the Book of Mormon has also been referred to as the Nephite "freedom thesis." As long as the covenant people were obedient they would remain free and not find themselves in bondage to another people. The disobedient, of course, have no such promise (K. Douglas Bassett, "Nephi's Freedom Thesis and the Sons of Helaman," The Book of Mormon: Alma The Testimony of The Word, 291-303).

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.