Table of Contents
Alma CHAPTER 53 The Lamanite prisoners are used to fortify the city Bountiful—Dissensions among the Nephites give rise to Lamanite victories—Helaman takes command of the two thousand stripling sons of the people of Ammon. About 64–63 B.C.
Alma CHAPTER 54 Ammoron and Moroni negotiate for the exchange of prisoners—Moroni demands that the Lamanites withdraw and cease their murderous attacks—Ammoron demands that the Nephites lay down their arms and become subject to the Lamanites. About 63 B.C.
Alma CHAPTER 55 Moroni refuses to exchange prisoners—The Lamanite guards are enticed to become drunk, and the Nephite prisoners are freed—The city of Gid is taken without bloodshed. About 63–62 B.C.
Alma CHAPTER 56 Helaman sends an epistle to Moroni, recounting the state of the war with the Lamanites—Antipus and Helaman gain a great victory over the Lamanites—Helaman’s two thousand stripling sons fight with miraculous power, and none of them are slain. Verse 1, about 62 B.C.; verses 2–19, about 66 B.C.; and verses 20–57, about 65–64 B.C.
Alma CHAPTER 57 Helaman recounts the taking of Antiparah and the surrender and later the defense of Cumeni—His Ammonite striplings fight valiantly; all are wounded, but none are slain—Gid reports the slaying and the escape of the Lamanite prisoners. About 63 B.C.
Alma CHAPTER 58 Helaman, Gid, and Teomner take the city of Manti by a stratagem—The Lamanites withdraw—The sons of the people of Ammon are preserved as they stand fast in defense of their liberty and faith. About 63–62 B.C.
Alma CHAPTER 59 Moroni asks Pahoran to strengthen the forces of Helaman—The Lamanites take the city of Nephihah—Moroni is angry with the government. About 62 B.C.
Alma CHAPTER 60 Moroni complains to Pahoran of the government’s neglect of the armies—The Lord suffers the righteous to be slain—The Nephites must use all of their power and means to deliver themselves from their enemies—Moroni threatens to fight against the government unless help is supplied to his armies. About 62 B.C.
Alma CHAPTER 61 Pahoran tells Moroni of the insurrection and rebellion against the government—The king-men take Zarahemla and are in league with the Lamanites—Pahoran asks for military aid against the rebels. About 62 B.C.
Alma CHAPTER 62 Moroni marches to the aid of Pahoran in the land of Gideon—The king-men who refuse to defend their country are put to death—Pahoran and Moroni retake Nephihah—Many Lamanites join the people of Ammon—Teancum slays Ammoron and is in turn slain—The Lamanites are driven from the land, and peace is established—Helaman returns to the ministry and builds up the Church. About 62–57 B.C.
Alma CHAPTER 63 Shiblon and later Helaman take possession of the sacred records—Many Nephites travel to the land northward—Hagoth builds ships, which sail forth in the west sea—Moronihah defeats the Lamanites in battle. About 56–52 B.C.
Alma 53
Helaman and the 2000 Stripling Warriors
I can be faithful to God like Helaman’s young soldiers.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Alma 53-63”
- You can use many resources to share the story of Helaman’s soldiers, including the pictures in this outline and “Chapter 34: Helaman and the 2,000 Young Warriors” (Book of Mormon Stories, 93–94).
Book of Mormon Stories “Chapter 34: Helaman and the 2,000 Young Warriors” Video and Images
Friend August 2024 “The Stripling Warriors”
Book of Mormon Stories for Young Readers “The Stripling Warriors” Video and Images (scroll down to read the captions.)
This week’s activity page can help your children think of ways they can be like the army of Helaman. Consider sharing some of the qualities of the young soldiers from Alma 53:20–21 to get them started.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Alma 53-63” Read Alma 53:20–21, and help the children understand what words like valiant, courage, strength, and true mean. Describe how the stripling warriors showed these qualities. Make simple name tags for the children that read, “When I am , I am like a stripling warrior!” Help the children fill in the blank with a quality they choose from Alma 53:20–21.
Teaching Children the Gospel “Lesson 27: Helaman and the Stripling Warriors” Activity: Divide the children into four groups and explain that each group is going to look up a scripture that tells about one of the righteous characteristics the young Ammonites developed in their youth. Give each group their characteristic card and their scripture and discussion ideas card. Tell them to read their discussion card and scripture and be prepared to tell what their characteristic is, tell about or describe their characteristic, and read the related parts of their scripture to the class. Have them tape their characteristic on the board. (Be prepared to add in any additional needed discussion to what the children present.)
Game: After a group presents their characteristic, do the following game: Have a child stand and tell how they can demonstrate that characteristic as they go about their day to day life. For example “I can courageously stand up for the right by sticking up for a child that is being picked on.” Have the next child stand and say the same thing plus add their own. Continue doing this until all the children have had a turn. (Start with a different child each time a new characteristic is presented.)
You could also sing together “We’ll Bring the World His Truth” (Children’s Songbook, 172–73).
I can be faithful to what my parents teach in righteousness.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Alma 53-63”
- Invite a girl and a boy to represent the mothers and fathers of the stripling warriors. As you read Alma 56:27 and 47–48, give these children items to hold that represent how the mothers and fathers helped the warriors, such as a sack of food to represent the “provisions” the fathers sent and scriptures to represent the mothers’ teachings. Ask the children to share things their parents provide for them or teach them.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Alma 53-63”
- Helaman’s young soldiers looked to their mothers’ faith when they were faced with a great challenge. Perhaps you could read Alma 56:46–48 with your children and invite them to listen for what the mothers of these young men taught them about faith. You might ask them what they’ve learned from their parents—or other faithful adults—about the Savior.
Why is it important to obey “with exactness”? (Alma 57:21).
Ensign August 2020 “Family Study Fun” Read Alma 57:19–27 together and talk about how the stripling warriors were protected when they obeyed “with exactness” (verse 21).
- Blindfold one family member and have them stand against a wall.
- Place an object anywhere along the opposite wall and have the blindfolded person try to find the object in one minute without any help.
- After the time is up, have the person try again, except this time give them instructions to follow “with exactness.”
Discussion: How do God’s “instructions” help us stay safe and reach our goals?
How can you—like the mothers of the stripling soldiers—make sure your children know of your faith in God? One way is to share how your faith affects your life. For example, how has He “delivered” you when you “did not doubt”?
Coloring Page: “We Do Not Doubt” (March 2010 Liahona and Friend)
Friend August 2020 “Cover”
I can keep my covenants with Heavenly Father.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Alma 53-63”
- Your children might be able to talk about a time when someone made and kept a promise with them. How did they feel when the promise was kept? You could read Alma 53:10–18 and invite your children to look for how Helaman, the people of Ammon, and the sons of the people of Ammon made and kept their promises, or covenants. You might share how Heavenly Father blesses you as you keep your covenants.
Gospel Media “The Anti-Nephi-Lehies Burying Their Swords”
Book of Mormon Seminary Teacher Manual (2024) “Alma 53”
Draw a path like the one in the above image to symbolize your life and the covenants we need to make to return to Heavenly Father. Draw pictures or write the covenants that each picture represents. Make a mark (or draw a figure representing yourself) showing where you currently are on the covenant path.
Take a moment to remember the covenants you have already made with Them and the ways you are striving to keep those covenants.
“Now, to each member of the Church I say, keep on the covenant path. Your commitment to follow the Savior by making covenants with Him and then keeping those covenants will open the door to every spiritual blessing and privilege available to men, women, and children everywhere. (Russell M. Nelson, “As We Go Forward Together,” Ensign, Apr. 2018, 7)
Alma 54-55
Moroni reclaims the Captured Prisoners
For the Strength of Youth August 2024 “Fun Stop” Rescue the Prisoner: Can you rescue the prisoner from the Lamanite stronghold? Without passing by any guards, find your way to the prisoner, and then leave by a different path than you came. (For a real-life story about rescuing prisoners, see Alma 55.) (See answer at link)
Alma 56-57
Helaman’s 2000 Young Warriors Trust God and are Preserved in Battle
Lesson 27: Helaman and the Stripling Warriors Lesson
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 “Alma 53-63”
- When compared with the Lamanite armies, Helaman’s “little army” (Alma 56:33) of 2,000 young Nephites shouldn’t have stood a chance. Besides being few in number, Helaman’s soldiers “were all … very young,” and “they never had fought” (Alma 56:46–47). In some ways, their situation might seem familiar to those of us who sometimes feel outnumbered and overwhelmed in our latter-day battle against Satan and the forces of evil in the world.
- But the army of Helaman had some advantages over the Lamanites that had nothing to do with numbers or military skill. They chose Helaman, a prophet, to lead them (Alma 53:19); “they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them” (Alma 56:47); and they had “exceeding faith in that which they had been taught.” As a result, they were protected by “the miraculous power of God” (Alma 57:26). Even though they were all wounded in battle, “there was not one soul of them who did perish” (Alma 57:25). So when life inflicts spiritual wounds on each of us, we can take courage—the message of Helaman’s army is that “there [is] a just God, and whosoever [does] not doubt, [will] be preserved by his marvelous power” (Alma 57:26).
Friend August 2020 “The Stripling Warriors Were Brave” Coloring page
Primary 4 Book of Mormon “Lesson 27: Helaman and the Two Thousand Warriors”
Let children volunteer to complete the following statements:
I can be like the young warriors by how I ______________.
I can be like the young warriors by remembering that my parents taught me to____________ .
I most admire_____________about the young warriors.
My favorite part of the account of the two thousand young warriors is______________
Alma 58
When I am worried, I can trust God.
Come, Follow Me—For Primary: Book of Mormon 2020 “Alma 53-63”
- Draw a frowning face on the board, and talk about how Helaman was worried because his army didn’t have enough food or enough men to keep fighting (see Alma 58:32–41). Ask the children to share times when they were worried. Read Alma 58:37 (or help a child read it), and help the children change the face on the board to a smiling face to show how Helaman felt because he trusted God. What can we do when we feel worried? Sing together “Smiles” (Children’s Songbook, 267).
- Write on some slips of paper a few things that children might worry about. Let the children take turns choosing a paper for you to read, and invite the children to share how God could help them with each of these worries. Share an experience in which God helped you when you were worried.
Alma 59-62
Moroni and Pahoran
I can choose to not be angry.
Come, Follow Me—For Home and Church: Book of Mormon 2024 “Alma 53-63”
- Consider inviting your children to think about a time when they were accused of doing something they didn’t do. Tell them about how this happened to Pahoran (see Alma 60–61; see also “Chapter 35: Captain Moroni and Pahoran,” Book of Mormon Stories, 95–97). To learn about how Pahoran reacted, take turns reading verses from Alma 61:3–14. What did Pahoran do when Moroni accused him? (see Alma 61:2–3, 8–9). What do we learn about forgiveness from the Savior’s example? (see Luke 23:34).
Book of Mormon Stories “Chapter 35: Captain Moroni and Pahoran” Video and Images
- Both Helaman and Pahoran had good reasons to be offended. Helaman was not receiving sufficient support for his armies, and Pahoran was falsely accused by Moroni of withholding that support. Instead of getting angry, Pahoran said, “I … rejoice in the greatness of your heart” (Alma 61:9).
I can choose to think the best of others and not be offended.
For the Strength of Youth March 2023 “When You’re Judged Unfairly”
- “The Right Reply.” Emily wants to write a mean reply when her friend sends her a mean email, but then she thinks of what Jesus would do and responds kindly. (From the Friend.)
- “Bugs and Brothers.” In this Friend story, Lacey learns that she doesn’t have to be angry at her brother Zach for teasing her.
Elder David A. Bednar of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said: “Endowed with agency, you and I are agents, and we primarily are to act and not just be acted upon. To believe that someone or something can make us feel offended, angry, hurt, or bitter diminishes our moral agency and transforms us into objects to be acted upon. As agents, however, you and I have the power to act and to choose how we will respond to an offensive or hurtful situation.”
Alma 62
Teancum
After the War
Hardened or Softened by Adversity
Come, Follow Me—For Individuals and Families: Book of Mormon 2020 “Alma 53-63”Here’s an object lesson that can help your family understand that we can choose to be either “hardened” or “softened” by our trials: Place a raw potato and a raw egg in a pot of boiling water. The potato and the egg represent us, and the water represents the trials we face. As the potato and egg boil, you could talk about some of the trials your family faces. What are some different ways to react to trials like these? According to Alma 62:41, how do our reactions to trials affect us? After the potato and egg are fully cooked, cut open the potato and crack open the egg to show that the same “trial” softened the potato and hardened the egg. What can our family do to be sure that our trials humble us and bring us closer to God?
Additional Resources
Friend August 2024 “Come, Follow Me Activities” Helaman and other leaders wrote epistles, or letters, to tell each other about the good and bad things happening in the battles (see Alma 56). You can write letters too! Write a letter to a family member or friend. Write down the good things happening in your life and the things that are hard for you. Then send your letter!
For younger children: Practice writing “I love you” or drawing a heart to give to someone you love. Talk about how prophets in the scriptures also wrote letters.
Friend August 2020 “Stripling Warrior Challenge” The stripling warriors kept their bodies and spirits strong. Set this page on the floor. Close your eyes and drop a pebble or button onto the page. Then do the challenge for the box it lands closest to.
- “Stripling-Warrior Search” (August 2019 Friend)
Find eight letters hidden in this picture of the stripling warriors, and unscramble them to decode a hidden message.
Friend August 2000 “Stripling Warriors Game” Story Review Game
Friend Scripture Figures: “Stripling Warriors”
Media Library “Stripling Warriors”
Book of Mormon Coloring Book “The Stripling Warriors”
Latter Day Kids “The Valiant Fox- Come Follow Me: August 10th-16th” Video, lesson and activity ideas. Helping children to understand what valiant means.
- Primary 4 Book of Mormon “Lesson 27: Helaman and the Two Thousand Warriors”
- Come Follow Me Kid
- The Cozy Red Cottage
- News with Naylors