Elder Scott Learning, Living and Sharing the Gospel in Perú: The Army of Helaman

Elder Scott sent me a beautiful letter this past Mother's Day. I've thought of posting an excerpt from it a few different times, but the time just didn't feel right until today. Today was different because I had the great privledge to meet with 6 other mom's who all have sons or daughters serving with Elder Scott in Perú. It was incredible to sit around a table with these wonderful ladies and swap missionary stories about our children. I can tell their sons and daughters have come from wonderful homes where they were taught how important it is to serve the Lord in all you do. Such a sweet group of ladies.

Trujillo South Missionary Mom's

So the letter excerpt I want to share is about a story you can read in the Book of Mormon about the 2,000 Stripling Warriors also referred to as The Army of Helaman. These young men were incredibly courageous and valiant warriors who went to war against the strongest army of the Lamanites in order to defend their religious freedoms, their homes, and their families because years prior their parents had made a vow to never shed another drop of blood. None of these young boys had ever fought before, and yet, through their faith & determination, and because they were prepared both physically and spiritually, not one life was lost as they fought.

Here is what Elder Scott shared with me in his letter:

I love the story of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors. In Alma 56:45-46 we read, “And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.” Truly these are incredible men. “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 alone; therefore, let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.” So this group of only 2,000 warriors, all of which were, ‘all of them very young’, decided courageously to march to war against an army of the Lamanites, but not just any army, “the strongest army of the Lamanites, yea the most numerous (verses 3,4)”.

How incredible is that?! I have to agree, this is an act incredibly courageous. “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”(verse 47). So indeed these are magnificent kids. They fear not about losing their very lives, rather about the freedom of their people, even never having fought before. And they are all willing to go fight, faith unwavering, the strongest and most numerous army of the Lamanites. But Helaman makes it a strong point to put why they have such great faith, because “they had been taught by their mothers.” And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: “We do not doubt our mothers knew it” (verse 48). These warriors did not doubt the teachings of their mothers. This is why they were so courageous, because they had all been raised by amazing mothers who had taught them to put all their trust in God, and doubt not.

No matter what the circumstances may be. Including being small in number and very young and going to fight the biggest and strongest army of all of the Laminates. They did not doubt for a single second, but instead remembered that their mothers had taught them. I too can truly say I have a mother just as wonderful as those of the Stripling Warriors. One who, just as they did, taught me to always put my trust in my Father in Heaven and undoubtedly trust in the plan He has for me. I too can say as Nephi, “Having been born of goodly parents.” Mom, you never cease to amaze me. Thank you for teaching me, just as the moms of the Stripling Warriors did. Thanks to you and dad, I too can face my trials and challenges with the same determination as the sons of Helaman did, with full trust in God knowing He will deliver me.

We see in the example of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors that the promise is true, “But behold to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if it were 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.” Not a single soul was lost or fallen to the earth. And they fought with such a power that this ‘strongest army’ cowered before them and gave themselves up as prisoners of war all because the promise of God, taught to them by their wise mothers, was true, “If they did not doubt, God would deliver them.” “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. But, behold, my little band of two thousand and sixty fought most desperately; yea, they were firm before the Laminates, and did administer death unto all those who opposed them. 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. Yea, they did obey 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” (Alma 57:18-21). Once again though “not one soul of them did perish according to the goodness of God” (verse 25). Indeed, the story of the 2,000 Stripling Warriors is a miraculous one, filled with faith, courage, trust and miracles. But, none of this story would be the same had those powerful mothers faulted to teach their sons the message and lesson that gave them that very power. Indeed, all of this, and if they were here I think every one of the 2,060 would say the same, would not have been even remotely possible without their mothers. All of this was accredited to mothers who lived the gospel; lived it and taught it with power to their children.

A few fun photos from the past 2 weeks