The Book of Mormon Part 90

Alma 57:23 23 And we retained our city c.u.meni, and were not all destroyed by the sword; nevertheless, we had suffered great loss.

Alma 57:24 24 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 57:25 25 And it came to pa.s.s 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 G.o.d, 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.

Alma 57:26 26 And now, their preservation was astonis.h.i.+ng 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 G.o.d, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe--that there was a just G.o.d, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.

Alma 57:27 27 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 G.o.d continually.

Alma 57:28 28 And now it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 57:29 29 Now Gid was the chief captain over the band who was appointed to guard them down to the land.

Alma 57:30 30 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 pa.s.s that we did meet the spies of our armies, who had been sent out to watch the camp of the Lamanites.

Alma 57:31 31 And they cried unto us, saying--Behold, the armies of the Lamanites are marching towards the city of c.u.meni; and behold, they will fall upon them, yea, and will destroy our people.

Alma 57:32 32 And it came to pa.s.s that our prisoners did hear their cries, which caused them to take courage; and they did rise up in rebellion against us.

Alma 57:33 33 And it came to pa.s.s because of their rebellion we did cause that our swords should come upon them. And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 57:34 34 And behold, when they had fled and we could not overtake them, we took our march with speed towards the city c.u.meni; and behold, we did arrive in time that we might a.s.sist our brethren in preserving the city.

Alma 57:35 35 And behold, we are again delivered out of the hands of our enemies. And blessed is the name of our G.o.d; for behold, it is he that has delivered us; yea, that has done this great thing for us.

Alma 57:36 36 Now it came to pa.s.s that when I, Helaman, had heard these words of Gid, I was filled with exceeding joy because of the goodness of G.o.d 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 G.o.d.

Alma 58 Chapter 58

Alma 58:1 1 And behold, now it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 58:2 2 And they were so much more numerous than was our army that we durst not go forth and attack them in their strongholds.

Alma 58:3 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.

Alma 58:4 4 And it came to pa.s.s that I thus did send an emba.s.sy to the governor of our land, to acquaint him concerning the affairs of our people. And it came to pa.s.s that we did wait to receive provisions and strength from the land of Zarahemla.

Alma 58:5 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 circ.u.mstances at this period of time.

Alma 58:6 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.

Alma 58:7 7 And it came to pa.s.s that we did wait in these difficult circ.u.mstances for the s.p.a.ce of many months, even until we were about to perish for the want of food.

Alma 58:8 8 But it came to pa.s.s that we did receive food, which was guarded to us by an army of two thousand men to our a.s.sistance; and this is all the a.s.sistance 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.

Alma 58:9 9 And now the cause of these our embarra.s.sments, 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 G.o.d should come upon our land, to our overthrow and utter destruction.

Alma 58:10 10 Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to G.o.d, 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.

Alma 58:11 11 Yea, and it came to pa.s.s that the Lord our G.o.d did visit us with a.s.surances 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.

Alma 58:12 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.

Alma 58:13 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.

Alma 58:14 14 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 58:15 15 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 58:16 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.

Alma 58:17 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.

Alma 58:18 18 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 58:19 19 And it came to pa.s.s 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 pa.s.s by in the midst of Gid and Teomner, insomuch that they were not discovered by the Lamanites.

Alma 58:20 20 And it came to pa.s.s that when the Lamanites had pa.s.sed by, or when the army had pa.s.sed 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.

Alma 58:21 21 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 58:22 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.

Alma 58:23 23 And it came to pa.s.s that Gid and Teomner by this means had obtained possession of their strongholds. And it came to pa.s.s that we took our course, after having traveled much in the wilderness towards the land of Zarahemla.

Alma 58:24 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.

Alma 58:25 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.

Alma 58:26 26 Now it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 58:27 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.

Alma 58:28 28 And thus it came to pa.s.s, that by this stratagem we did take possession of the city of Manti without the shedding of blood.

Alma 58:29 29 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 58:30 30 Yea, and it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 58:31 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.

Alma 58:32 32 But behold, our armies are small to maintain so great a number of cities and so great possessions.

Alma 58:33 33 But behold, we trust in our G.o.d who has given us victory over those lands, insomuch that we have obtained those cities and those lands, which were our own.

Alma 58:34 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.

Alma 58:35 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.

Alma 58:36 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 a.s.sistance; for we know that they are more numerous than that which they have sent.