58:1 And behold, now it came to pass 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. |
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58:2 And they were so much more numerous than was
our army that we durst not go forth and attack them in
their strongholds. |
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58:3 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. |
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58:4 And it came to pass that I thus did send an
embassy to the governor of our land, to acquaint him
concerning the affairs of our people. And it came to pass
that we did wait to receive provisions and strength from
the land of Zarahemla. |
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58:5 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
circumstances at this period of time. |
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58:6 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. |
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58:7 And it came to pass that we did wait in these
difficult circumstances for the space of many months,
even until we were about to perish for the want of food. |
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58:8 But it came to pass that we did receive food,
which was guarded to us by an army of two thousand men to
our assistance; and this is all the assistance 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. |
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58:9 And now the cause of these our embarrassments,
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 God should
come upon our land, to our overthrow and utter
destruction. |
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58:10 Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer
to God, 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. |
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58:11 Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God
did visit us with assurances 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. |
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58:12 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. |
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58:13 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. |
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58:14 And it came to pass 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. |
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58:15 And it came to pass 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. |
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58:16 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. |
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58:17 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. |
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58:18 And it came to pass 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. |
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58:19 And it came to pass 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 pass by in the midst of Gid and Teomner, insomuch
that they were not discovered by the Lamanites. |
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58:20 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had
passed by, or when the army had passed 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. |
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58:21 And it came to pass 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. |
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58:22 Now this was done because the Lamanites did
suffer their whole army, save a few guards only, to be
led away into the wilderness. |
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58:23 And it came to pass that Gid and Teomner by
this means had obtained possession of their strongholds.
And it came to pass that we took our course, after having
traveled much in the wilderness towards the land of
Zarahemla. |
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58:24 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. |
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58:25 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. |
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58:26 Now it came to pass 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. |
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58:27 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. |
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58:28 And thus it came to pass, that by this
stratagem we did take possession of the city of Manti
without the shedding of blood. |
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58:29 And it came to pass 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. |
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58:30 Yea, and it came to pass 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. |
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58:31 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. |
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58:32 But behold, our armies are small to maintain so
great a number of cities and so great possessions. |
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58:33 But behold, we trust in our God who has given
us victory over those lands, insomuch that we have
obtained those cities and those lands, which were our
own. |
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58:34 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. |
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58:35 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. |
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58:36 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 assistance; for we know that they are
more numerous than that which they have sent. |
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58:37 But, behold, it mattereth not--we trust God
will deliver us, not-withstanding the weakness of our
armies, yea, and deliver us out of the hands of our
enemies. |
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58:38 Behold, this is the twenty and ninth year, in
the latter end, and we are in the possession of our
lands; and the Lamanites have fled to the land of Nephi. |
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58:39 And those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom
I have so highly spoken, are with me in the city of
Manti; and the Lord has supported them, yea, and kept
them from falling by the sword, insomuch that
even one soul has not been slain. |
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58:40 But behold, they have received many wounds;
nevertheless they 1stand fast in that liberty where-with God has
made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord
their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep
his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments
continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies
concerning that which is to come. |
[1] Galatians 5:1: Stand fast therefore in the
liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free... |
58:41 And now, my beloved brother, Moroni, may the
Lord our God, who has redeemed us and made us free, keep
you continually in his presence; yea, and may he favor
this people, even that ye may have success in obtaining
the possession of all that which the Lamanites have taken
from us, which was for our support. And now, behold, I
close mine epistle. I am Helaman, the son of Alma. |
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