Lesson 32: They Did Obey-Every Word of Command with Exactness

Purpose: 

To help class members see that the Lord will strengthen them as they follow the example of Helaman’s valiant young soldiers.

Reading Assignment:

Alma 53-63


Additional Reading:
Alma 24:15–18
Alma 27:22–24
Alma 37:1–2, 14
Alma 46:64
D&C 21:4–5
D&C 21:6
Faith Obedience - R. Conrad Schultz - April 2002
The Three Rs of Choice - Thomas S. Monson - October 2010


Overview:
a. Alma 53:10–19; 56:1–8. Two thousand valiant young Ammonites covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites. They ask Helaman to be their leader.
b. Alma 56:9–58:41. True to their mothers' teachings, the young soldiers exercise faith in God and fight courageously. They are joined by 60 other young Ammonites. All 2,060 young soldiers are wounded, but not one of them is killed.



Questions to Ponder:

a. Two thousand valiant young Ammonites covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites.

• The Nephites had promised to protect the Ammonites from the Lamanites (Alma 27:22–24; 53:12). What did the Ammonites want to do when they saw the afflictions of the Nephites? (See Alma 53:13.) Why did Helaman persuade the people not to break their covenant? (See Alma 53:14–15; 56:8.) What does this teach about keeping covenants?
  
  
• What did the Ammonites' sons do to help the Nephites? (See Alma 53:16.) How did the young Ammonites show the strength of their commitment to help the Nephites? (See Alma 53:17). They entered into a covenant and were determined to keep their covenant "in all cases."
  
  
• How will the Lord strengthen us as we make covenants with Him and keep these covenants "in all cases"?
  • President Ezra Taft Benson said: "Men and women who turn their lives over to God will discover that He can make a lot more out of their lives than they can. He will deepen their joys, expand their vision, quicken their minds, strengthen their muscles, lift their spirits, multiply their blessings, increase their opportunities, comfort their souls, raise up friends, and pour out peace. Whoever will lose his life in the service of God will find eternal life" (The Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson [1988], 361).
    
    
• The young Ammonites asked Helaman to be their leader (Alma 53:19; 56:1, 5). Helaman was a prophet and a high priest over the Church (Alma 37:1–2, 14; 46:6). Why would the decision to follow a prophet increase the young Ammonites' effectiveness in the battles they would fight? What kinds of leaders might weaken people in their spiritual battles?
  
  
• How did the young Ammonites respond to the commands they received? (See Alma 57:21). Why is it important to be exactly obedient to the teachings of the Lord's prophet? What are some specific things we must do today to follow the prophet "with exactness"?
  • President Harold B. Lee taught: "The power of Satan will increase; we see it in evidence on every hand. …"Now the only safety we have as members of this church is to do exactly what the Lord said to the Church in that day when the Church was organized. We must learn to give heed to the words and commandments that the Lord shall give through his prophet, 'as he receiveth them, walking in all holiness before me; … as if from mine own mouth, in all patience and faith.' (D&C 21:4–5.) There will be some things that take patience and faith. You may not like what comes from the authority of the Church. It may contradict your political views. It may contradict your social views. It may interfere with some of your social life. But if you listen to these things, as if from the mouth of the Lord himself, with patience and faith, the promise is that 'the gates of hell shall not prevail against you; yea, and the Lord God will disperse the powers of darkness from before you, and cause the heavens to shake for your good, and his name's glory.' (D&C 21:6.)" (in Conference Report, Oct. 1970, 152; or Improvement Era, Dec. 1970, 126).

b. The young soldiers exercise faith in God and fight courageously.

• The first army that the young Ammonites faced was the Lamanites' strongest and most numerous army (Alma 56:34–43). What was the young soldiers' response when Helaman asked if they wanted to go against this army? (See Alma 56:44–47.) From whom had these warriors learned to have such great faith and courage? (See Alma 56:47–48; see also Alma 53:21; 57:21. 
  • President Spencer W. Kimball taught: "To be a righteous woman during the winding-up scenes on this earth, before the Second Coming of our Savior, is an especially noble calling. The righteous woman's strength and influence today can be tenfold what it might be in more tranquil times. She has been placed here to help to enrich, to protect, and to guard the home—which is society's basic and most noble institution. Other institutions in society may falter and even fail, but the righteous woman can help to save the home, which may be the last and only sanctuary some mortals know in the midst of storm and strife" (The Teachings of Spencer W. Kimball, ed. Edward L. Kimball [1982], 326–27).
    
    
• The young soldiers did not doubt their mothers' testimonies (Alma 56:48). Why is it important for children to know the strength and certainty of their parents' testimonies? In what ways can parents share their testimonies with their children?
  
  
• During one difficult battle, many Nephites "were about to give way" (Alma 57:20; see also verses Alma 57:12–19). What was the response of the young Ammonites during this battle? (See Alma 57:19–20).
  
  
• What were the results of the young Ammonites' faith and courage? (See Alma 57:22–25; 58:31–33, 39.) How can we remain "firm and undaunted," even when friends, associates, and others are "about to give way"? How can we strengthen those who are "about to give way"?
  
  
• In what ways were the young Ammonites "firm and undaunted"? (For some examples, see Alma 53:20–21; 57:26–27; 58:40.)
  1. "They were exceedingly valiant for courage" (Alma 53:20).
  2. "They were … true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted" (Alma 53:20).
  3. "They were men of truth and soberness" (Alma 53:21).
  4. They had "exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe" (Alma 57:26).
  5. They "put their trust in God continually" (Alma 57:27).
  6. They "[stood] fast in that liberty wherewith God [had] made them free" (Alma 58:40).
  7. They were "strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day" (Alma 58:40).
  8. They kept God's "statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually" (Alma 58:40).
  9. "Their faith [was] strong in the prophecies" (Alma 58:40).
     
     
• In one battle, the Nephite armies led by Helaman, Gid, and Teomner faced "an enemy which was innumerable," but they received very little assistance from the land of Zarahemla (Alma 58:1–9). To what source did the Nephites turn for strength? (See Alma 58:10).
  
  
• How did the Lord answer the Nephites' prayers? (See Alma 58:11–12.) In what ways can such answers to prayer help us "take courage"?