Three Book of Mormon Challenges: Challenge 1

The other day I listened to a talk by Elder H. Bryan Richards about the Book of Mormon. In the talk, Elder Richards gives three Book of Mormon challenges--questions to ponder. Here is the first one.

1. The scriptures make a point that Helaman's 2,000 stripling warriors were taught by their mothers. What did their mothers teach them?

The quick answer to this is faith. In Alma 56, when Helaman's army was debating whether to turn back to fight the Lamanite army which had been pursuing them but which had halted, it says that the young men "had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them" (vs. 47).

But that answer seems too easy. Are there other things they were taught by their mothers? Well, of course... but what other things are evident from the Book of Mormon?

After another Nephite victory, Helaman recounts that these young men "did obey and observe to perform 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 57:21). From this passage, it appears that in addition to faith, the mothers likely taught their young men obedience--exact obedience.

This exact obedience was likely taught in word, but it was also certainly taught by example. The mothers of those young men were part of the generation of Lamanites who were converted to the gospel and gave up their warring ways. They buried their weapons and made a covenant with God to never fight again. They then held true to that covenant even though it meant allowing themselves to be killed by their enemies without putting up a fight of defense. That example of strict obedience to a covenant surely helped their sons learn to obey orders on the battlefield.

Of course the mothers of these sons were also part of the former Lamanites who moved into Nephite lands, where they were "distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things; and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end. And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren with the greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did look upon death with any degree of terror, for their hope and views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, death was swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it" (Alma 27:27-28).

The mothers of these sons taught their sons many things by example, it appears. Integrity, faith, testimony of Christ, religious zeal, obedience, commitment to covenants--these and many other virtues were exemplified by them. The young men themselves were examples of many of these same virtues, as well as others. Certainly they learned these things from their parents.

Here is a list I created a month or so ago while studying the qualities of these young men (as recorded in Alma chapters 53 and 56–58).

• They were all young men. (Alma 53:20)
  
• They were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity. (Alma 53:20)
  
• They were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. (Alma 53:20)
  
• They were men of truth and soberness. (Alma 53:21)
  
• They had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him. (Alma 53:21)
  
• They did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives. (Alma 56:47)
  
• They had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. (Alma 56:47)
  
• They had fought as if with the strength of God. (Alma 56:56)
  
• Those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted. (Alma 57:20)
  
• They did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness. (Alma 57:21)
  
• Even according to their faith it was done unto them. (Alma 57:21)
  
• Their minds are firm. (Alma 57:27)
  
• They do put their trust in God continually. (Alma 57:57)
  
• They have received many wounds. (Alma 58:40)
  
• They stand fast in that liberty wherewith God has made them free. (Alma 58:40)
  
• They are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day. (Alma 58:40)
  
• They do observe to keep his statues, and his judgments, and his commandments continually. (Alma 58:40)
  
• Their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come. (Alma 58:40)