Alma
36 verses
I received a letter from Ammoron, the king, saying that if I would hand over the prisoners of war we had captured, he would give us the city of Antiparah.
And now it came to pass that I received an epistle from Ammoron, the king, stating that if I would deliver up those prisoners of war whom we had taken that he would deliver up the city of Antiparah unto us.
I sent a letter to the king, saying that we were confident our forces were strong enough to take the city of Antiparah by force; and that giving up the prisoners in exchange for the city would not be wise, and we would only release our prisoners if it was an equal exchange.
But I sent an epistle unto the king, that we were sure our forces were sufficient to take the city of Antiparah by our force; and by delivering up the prisoners for that city we should suppose ourselves unwise, and that we would only deliver up our prisoners on exchange.
Ammoron refused my letter because he would not exchange prisoners, so we started getting ready to go against the city of Antiparah.
And Ammoron refused mine epistle, for he would not exchange prisoners; therefore we began to make preparations to go against the city of Antiparah.
The people of Antiparah left the city and fled to other cities they controlled to strengthen them, so the city of Antiparah came into our hands.
But the people of Antiparah did leave the city, and fled to their other cities, which they had possession of, to fortify them; and thus the city of Antiparah fell into our hands.
And that is how the twenty-eighth year of the reign of the judges ended.
And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges.
At the beginning of the twenty-ninth year, we received a supply of provisions and also reinforcements for our army from the land of Zarahemla and the surrounding areas—six thousand men, plus sixty of the sons of the Ammonites who came to join their brothers, my little band of two thousand. Now we were strong, and we also had plenty of provisions brought to us.
And it came to pass that in the commencement of the twenty and ninth year, we received a supply of provisions, and also an addition to our army, from the land of Zarahemla, and from the land round about, to the number of six thousand men, besides sixty of the sons of the Ammonites who had come to join their brethren, my little band of two thousand. And now behold, we were strong, yea, and we had also plenty of provisions brought unto us.
We wanted to fight the army that was stationed to protect the city of Cumeni.
And it came to pass that it was our desire to wage a battle with the army which was placed to protect the city Cumeni.
Now I will show you that we soon accomplished our goal. With our strong force, or with part of it, we surrounded the city of Cumeni by night, shortly before they were to receive a supply of provisions.
And now behold, I will show unto you that we soon accomplished our desire; yea, with our strong force, or with a part of our strong force, we did surround, by night, the city Cumeni, a little before they were to receive a supply of provisions.
We camped around the city for many nights, sleeping with our swords and keeping guards so the Lamanites couldn’t attack and kill us during the night. They tried many times, but each time they did, they were killed.
And it came to pass that we did camp round about the city for many nights; but we did sleep upon our swords, and keep guards, that the Lamanites could not come upon us by night and slay us, which they attempted many times; but as many times as they attempted this their blood was spilt.
Eventually, their supplies arrived, and they were about to enter the city at night. Since we were Nephites and not Lamanites, we captured them and took their supplies.
At length their provisions did arrive, and they were about to enter the city by night. And we, instead of being Lamanites, were Nephites; therefore, we did take them and their provisions.
Even though the Lamanites were cut off from their support in this way, they were still determined to hold the city. So we needed to take those provisions and send them to Judea, and send our prisoners to the land of Zarahemla.
And notwithstanding the Lamanites being cut off from their support after this manner, they were still determined to maintain the city; therefore it became expedient that we should take those provisions and send them to Judea, and our prisoners to the land of Zarahemla.
Not many days passed before the Lamanites began to lose all hope of help, so they surrendered the city to us, and we accomplished our goal of taking the city Cumeni.
And it came to pass that not many days had passed away before the Lamanites began to lose all hopes of succor; therefore they yielded up the city unto our hands; and thus we had accomplished our designs in obtaining the city Cumeni.
Our prisoners were so numerous that, even though our army was large, we had to use all our strength either to guard them or to put them to death.
But it came to pass that our prisoners were so numerous that, notwithstanding the enormity of our numbers, we were obliged to employ all our force to keep them, or to put them to death.
They broke out in large numbers and fought with stones, clubs, or anything they could get their hands on, so we ended up killing more than two thousand of them after they had surrendered as prisoners of war.
For behold, they would break out in great numbers, and would fight with stones, and with clubs, or whatsoever thing they could get into their hands, insomuch that we did slay upwards of two thousand of them after they had surrendered themselves prisoners of war.
So we had to either kill them or guard them with our swords all the way to the land of Zarahemla. Also, our supplies were only just enough for our own people, even with what we had taken from the Lamanites.
Therefore it became expedient for us, that we should put an end to their lives, or guard them, sword in hand, down to the land of Zarahemla; and also our provisions were not any more than sufficient for our own people, notwithstanding that which we had taken from the Lamanites.
In those difficult circumstances, it was very important to decide what to do with the prisoners of war. We decided to send them to the land of Zarahemla, so we chose some of our men and put them in charge of taking the prisoners there.
And now, in those critical circumstances, it became a very serious matter to determine concerning these prisoners of war; nevertheless, we did resolve to send them down to the land of Zarahemla; therefore we selected a part of our men, and gave them charge over our prisoners to go down to the land of Zarahemla.
The next day they returned. We didn’t ask them about the prisoners, because the Lamanites were attacking us, and our people came back just in time to save us from being captured. Ammoron had sent them new supplies and a large army for support.
But it came to pass that on the morrow they did return. And now behold, we did not inquire of them concerning the prisoners; for behold, the Lamanites were upon us, and they returned in season to save us from falling into their hands. For behold, Ammoron had sent to their support a new supply of provisions and also a numerous army of men.
The men we sent with the prisoners arrived just in time to stop them, as they were about to overpower us.
And it came to pass that those men whom we sent with the prisoners did arrive in season to check them, as they were about to overpower us.
My little group of two thousand and sixty fought desperately; they stood firm against the Lamanites and killed all those who opposed them.
But behold, my little band of two thousand and sixty fought most desperately; yea, they were firm before the Lamanites, and did administer death unto all those who opposed them.
As the rest of our army was about to retreat before the Lamanites, those two thousand and sixty stood firm and unafraid.
And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted.
They obeyed and followed every command exactly; and according to their faith, it happened for them. I remembered the words they told me—that their mothers had taught them.
Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.
It was my sons and the men chosen to escort the prisoners who deserve credit for this great victory, because they defeated the Lamanites and drove them back to the city of Manti.
And now behold, it was these my sons, and those men who had been selected to convey the prisoners, to whom we owe this great victory; for it was they who did beat the Lamanites; therefore they were driven back to the city of Manti.
We kept control of our city Cumeni and were not completely destroyed by the sword; however, we suffered great losses.
And we retained our city Cumeni, and were not all destroyed by the sword; nevertheless, we had suffered great loss.
After the Lamanites fled, I immediately ordered that my wounded men be taken from among the dead and had their wounds treated.
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.
Out of my two thousand and sixty soldiers, two hundred had fainted because of blood loss. But, by the goodness of God, to our great surprise and the joy of our whole army, not one of them died. In fact, every single one of them had received many wounds.
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.
Their preservation amazed our entire army, that they were spared while a thousand of our brothers were killed. We rightly attribute this to the miraculous power of God, because of their great faith in what they had been taught to believe—that there is a just God, and that anyone who did not doubt would be preserved by his marvelous power.
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.
This is the faith of those I’ve spoken about; they are young, their minds are steadfast, and they continually put their trust in God.
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.
After we had taken care of our wounded men and buried our dead, as well as the many dead among the Lamanites, we asked Gid about the prisoners they had started to take down to the land of Zarahemla.
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.
Gid was the chief captain of the group assigned to guard them as they traveled to the land.
Now Gid was the chief captain over the band who was appointed to guard them down to the land.
These are the words Gid said to me: We started to go down to the land of Zarahemla with our prisoners. We met the spies from our armies, who had been sent out to watch the camp of the Lamanites.
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.
They called out to us, saying, “The armies of the Lamanites are marching toward the city of Cumeni, and they will attack and destroy our people. ”
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.
Our prisoners heard their cries, which gave them courage, and they rose up in rebellion against us.
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.
Because of their rebellion, we attacked them with our swords. They charged at us all together, and most of them were killed; the rest broke through and ran away from us.
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.
When they fled and we couldn't catch them, we quickly marched toward the city of Cumeni, and we arrived in time to help our brothers protect the city.
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.
We have once again been rescued from our enemies. Blessed is the name of our God, for he is the one who has delivered us and done this great thing for us.
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.
When I, Helaman, heard these words from Gid, I was filled with great joy because of God's goodness in preserving us so that we did not all perish. I also trust that the souls of those who have been killed have entered into the rest of their God.
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.