Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 56:46-47, 56-56
"For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us along; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
And now it came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain.
But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war."
In this chapter Helaman writes an epistle to Moroni recounting the story of his battles. I just wept over how many lives were being lost. Then I wept over his account of the 2,000 young sons of the people of Ammon, that had made an oath to never take up weapons of war. Their sons had made no such oath, this is why they could fight. This made we wonder how old would their sons be?
The people of Ammonihah were destroyed in the 11th year of the judges. Which happened right after the people of Ammon laid down their weapons of war and were slaughtered by the Lamanites. The story of the sons of Helaman happened in the 26th year of the judges. So these young men would be no older than 15 years old. I can see why Helaman called them very young, and referred to them as his sons. After this battle they deserved the honor of being called the 2,000 stripling warriors.
There are so many lessons I have learned over the years of the 2,000 stripling warriors. The most important is trusting the Lord and not doubting he will deliver you. Their mothers instilled that belief in them. What an important role mothers have. Yet, it takes an honest heart to listen to a mother's wisdom and the spirit of the Lord. Their mothers hadn't been raised to have such believing hearts. They had been converted. It shows me that we are blessed in our youth if we have mothers that teach us to believe, but anyone's heart can change at any point in their life. There are never missed opportunities in life, we just have to keep moving towards Christ. God will do amazing things to protect those that trust in him. He will make weak things strong that put their faith in Him and never doubt.
Day 330 Tami Fitzgerald Harris
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