Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 53:19

Today's Favorite Verse: Alma 53:19
"And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be their leader."

I was curious as to why the two thousand stripling warriors wanted Helaman as their leader? Why not Moroni who was a righteous Nephite military commander, firm in his faith in Christ .

"Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.
Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God."
(Alma 48:17-18)

I went back and read Alma 53:14-15.

"But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Helaman and his brethren, for they were about to break the oath which they had made.
And Helaman feared lest by so doing they should lose their souls; therefore all those who had entered into this covenant were compelled to behold their brethren wade through their afflictions, in their dangerous circumstances at this time."

Helaman, son of Alma the younger, was a spiritual leader to them. He feared that their fathers that made an oath to bury their weapons of war would lose their souls to take them up again. If I had to select someone that would care for my young sons it would be such a leader.

Day 3497