Alma 53-63

Alma 53

Nephites had their prisoners digging in the dirt,

They found it was easier to guard them when they worked.

They built fortifications around Bountiful,

Then the prisoners were kept inside those very walls.

Now the Nephites had regained two strong locations

They devoted their time to war preparations.

Due to the intrigue that they’d had among themselves,

They were in the most dangerous circumstances.

Many Nephite cities had been taken by their foes

Soon the Ammonites considered breaking their oath.

They hated seeing the danger and afflictions

That their friends the Nephites were bearing for them.

Helaman convinced them that they shouldn’t take up arms,

Telling them that, if they did, their souls would come to harm.

So they sent two thousand of their courageous sons

To defend their country.  They followed Helaman. 

Since they were so young, we call them stripling soldiers.

They were all strong men who were truthful and sober.

Alma 54

Not long after the gath’ring of these warriors

Ammoron requested to exchange prisoners.

Moroni rejoiced.  This was just what he wanted

So he wrote him back, this is what his letter said,

“Ammoron, you and your brother are murderers.

“I could tell you more but you’d just reject my words.

“I will only exchange prisoners with you when

“Each of mine is worth a man, his wife and his children.

“If you do not, total warfare will be employed

“Until each and every one of you is destroyed.”

This was the angry letter Ammoron would send,

“You have killed my brother and I’ll have my revenge.”

“I will gladly grant your request so that I may

“Feed my own men while this eternal war is waged.

“I am Ammoron.  I am a bold Lamanite.

“We’re fighting this war to take back our stolen rights.”

Alma 55

This epistle made Captain Moroni angry.

“I will seek their death until they shall sue for peace.”

So, instead of exchanging prisoners with them

He came up with a plan and searched among his men.

He sent a former Lamanite to the city

Where many Nephites were held in captivity.

He approached the guards standing at the city gate

Claiming that from Nephite prisons they had just escaped.

“We have stolen some of their wine,” he told the guards.

Getting them intoxicated wasn’t very hard.

They were in a deep sleep.  Moroni and his men

Came and threw in weapons to the prisoners within.  

Then he and his men surrounded the Lamanites.

When they woke the next day, they didn’t try to fight.

Everything went according to Moroni’s plan:

The Nephite captives were free and could fight with his men.

Though the Lamanites tried similar strategies,

None of them succeeded—not one of their intrigues.

At the end of the twenty ninth year Moroni

Started to prepare to attack the Lamanites.

Alma 56

As the year began a letter was brought to him

Telling of the young men that were with Helaman.

Helaman was so proud of these two thousand men

Who fought so their fathers could keep their covenant.

“It has been four years,” wrote their leader, Helaman,

“Since I was chosen to lead my two thousand sons.

“First we went to Judea and joined Antipus

“He’d lost many men and rejoiced when he saw us.

“We worked to fortify this city without cease.

“And we hoped to win back four more Nephite cities.

“Antipus sent me and my army out.  Our size

“Lured the Lamanites who’d been informed by their spies.

“This was the strongest army of the Lamanites

“So, when they pursued us we had to take our flight.

“Antipus and his men followed them from behind

“So they could attack the Lamanites by surprise.

“But when they saw Antipus marching in in their rear

“They marched even faster, which filled me with great fear.

“I knew that we weren’t strong enough to fight with them

“So, for almost three days, my brave sons and I ran.

“Suddenly, they halted.  I feared it was a snare.

“‘Will ye go to battle?’ I asked them, ‘Do you dare?’

“Never, Moroni, had I seen courage like this

 “‘Father,’ they said, ‘Let us go forth.  God is with us.’

“Though they never had fought, not one of them feared “death.

“Their mothers had taught them God would deliver them.

“We came just in time to help Antipus’s men

“Once they caught the Lamanites a battle had “commenced.

“They were so weary from their long, speedy pursuit

“That many had died and their army was confused.

“The Lamanites were winning when we came on the “scene

“We hit them from the rear and slew them exceedingly.

“Soon the Lamanite army would give up the fight.

“When I numbered my men not one of them had died.

“They had fought with God’s strength.  It was miraculous.

“The Lamanite army had been frightened by us.”

Alma 57

Helaman’s epistle continued and it said,

“Ammoron offered me a city.  In its stead

“He wanted the prisoners we had just taken.

“I said, ‘No.  Let’s take our captives and exchange them.’

“He refused to listen.  We prepared to attack

“And scared the people off so we took the city back.

“Afterward, we wanted the city Cumeni

“So we laid siege to it and cut off their supplies.

“After many days they yielded the city up

“But by now our prisoners were quite numerous.

“I asked Gid to lead a group of men who would take

“Our captives to Zarahemla but many escaped.

“Gid and his men rushed back and they were just in “time

“To help us fight off a large group of Lamanites.

“My band of stripling warriors fought most desperately

“They were firm and brave and they obeyed exactly.

“Thanks to their great faith and the men who had returned,

“We retained the city Cumeni.  Soon, I learned

“Though 200 fainted from losing so much blood,

“Not one of my sons died!  It was miraculous.

Alma 58

“Next we tried to take back the city of Manti

“But our decoys failed no matter how hard we tried.

“We waited for months for supplies and for more men

“We had nearly starved when they sent us food again.

“Our numbers and provisions were inadequate

“When compared with our foe.  They appeared “numberless.

“Why we did not receive more strength we did not know.

“We were filled with fear that we’d soon be overthrown.

“So we prayed to God and He filled our souls with peace.

“This gave us courage to go face our enemies.

“We went forth with our might near the city Manti

“When they saw how small we were they prepared to fight.

“When the Lamanites came I had my men retreat.

“Our strategy worked!  They followed us with great speed.

“While we were pursued we ran past my hidden men

“Who ran to Manti and with ease took possession.

“We marched quickly.  Soon Zarahemla was in reach

“When the Lamanites saw this they chose to retreat.

“That night, while they rested, my army didn’t sleep.

“We marched through the night and passed them by the morning.

“We arrived at Manti before the Lamanites

“And that’s how we took the city without a fight.

“This has caused many of our enemies to flee,

“Kidnapping many and abandoning cities.

“While we’re grateful we possess these cities again

“If we hope to keep them we simply need more men.

“We do not know why we have not received more strength

“We won’t murmur—God will deliver us, at length.

“Not one soul of my stripling warriors has been slain.

“They’ve received many wounds but they are strong in faith.”

Alma 59

When Moroni read this his heart was filled with joy.

He shared it with his people so they could rejoice.

Right away he wrote a letter to Pahoran

Asking him to send men to strengthen Helaman.

When their foes took over the city Nephihah

Moroni was shocked and this feeling soon would gnaw.

He’d requested more men for Nephihah but they

Hadn’t come!  He felt the government was to blame.

Alma 60

So Moroni wrote a letter to Pahoran—

He was the chief judge and governor of the land.

“All of our armies suffer hunger, thirst, fatigue

“Because you have withheld the men and food we need.

“There has been great slaughter because of your neglect

“We desire to know why you have been so inept.

“Can you think you’ll sit on your thrones in a stupor

“While your men are fighting and suffering hunger?

“You will be condemned!  God has heard my soldiers’ “cries

“If you’re being slothful He’ll know you didn’t try.

“Or maybe you’re traitors seeking greater power.
“Meanwhile we’re losing more people every hour.

“If you don’t repent and send more supplies to us

“I will come to you and start an insurrection.

“I’ll recruit all those who love freedom and, what’s more,

“I will find you and I will smite you with the sword.

“I’m not seeking power.  I want to pull it down

“Freedom and God’s glory are where true joy is found.”

Alma 61

Soon Pahoran sent an epistle back to him

Saying, “I do not joy in your great afflictions!

“Some are glad and they’ve risen up in rebellion

“Against me and others who call themselves freemen.

“They have their own king and drove me out of the land

“Merging with the Lamanites is their master plan.

“I am gathering all the freemen that I can.

“Our numbers have grown, so we frighten those king-“men.

“I know you have censured me but it matters not.

“I’m not mad—I rejoice in the greatness of your heart.

“I don’t seek for power, I stand for liberty.

“Let us fight together.  Come join us speedily.

“I’m grateful you wrote; I was not sure what to do.

“Now I know we must fight our brethren, thanks to you.

“I have sent supplies for Lehi and Teancum

“So they can stand fast while you’re here in Gideon.”

Alma 62

Moroni felt joy.  His friend wasn’t a traitor.

So he left Lehi and Teancum where they were.

He and a small group headed back to Gideon.

On their way they had thousands come to fight with them.

He and Pahoran headed with their combined force

And made sure Pahoran’s judgment-seat was restored.

Pachus was the king that the dissenters had crowned

He was slain and his men were easily put down.

Subsequently, for the safety of everyone,

They killed all dissenters who fought against freedom.

Right away, Moroni sent provisions and men

To Lehi, to Teancum, and to Helaman.

Then, as he and Pahoran marched to fight elsewhere,

They met Lamanites on their path and fought them there.

They slew many.  Those who promised they’d never fight

Were allowed to leave and dwell with the Ammonites.

Afterward, Moroni’s army marched without pause

So they could camp outside the city Nephihah.

By the dark of night, Moroni climbed up their walls

And saw where the Lamanites were sleeping, one and all.

So, over the wall the whole Nephite army stole

And they took the city without losing a soul.

Once again, their prisoners joined the Ammonites.

They learned to work hard and raise grains of every kind.

Now Moroni’s men went to the land of Lehi.

When the Lamanites saw, they ran away in fright.

Soon the Nephite armies surrounded all of them

And both armies set up their camps by the day’s end.

Too angry to sleep, Teancum crept in their camp,

Found Ammoron and threw a javelin at him.

Ammoron cried out and it woke his servants up.

They chased down and killed his assailant, Teancum.

That next day, the Nephites attacked the Lamanites

They defeated them and for years they wouldn’t fight.

This war had been so long the Nephites came to be

Either hardened or softened with humility.

Now the war was over, Moroni passed command

Into his son, Moronihah’s capable hands.

Helaman returned to preaching with his brethren

They had found the church needed more regulation.

All the Nephites prospered but they avoided pride.

This made Helaman a happy man when he died.

Alma 63

With his brother’s death, Shiblon took over the plates.

And, a year later, Moroni would pass away.

Many Nephites started to travel.  Some went north.

The curious Hagoth traveled by ship with more.

When he saw that he would soon pass away Shiblon

Passed the plates on to Helaman’s son, Helaman.

When dissenters started a battle the Nephites,

Led by Moronihah, conquered the Lamanites.

© 2020 by N. Noelle Maes