The Wonders of a Woman with Four: My stripling Warriors

Elder Fischer and Elder Uri

One of my favorite stories in the Book of Mormon is of the 2,000 stripling warriors. When I read about them, I can not help but think of our missionaries. The stripling warriors volunteered to go to battle. Their parents covenant with the Lord that they would never take up arms again. Their children enlisted to defend their parents and the other Nephites that the Lamanites were trying to kill. They asked Helaman to be their captain. These young men were thrown into the thick of the battle. They were not positioned on the outskirts, they were on the front lines where death was very likely. They were used as a decoy and passed by the Lamanite spies and lured the Lamanites from their strong hold. Can you imagine what the Lamanites spies thought when they saw a bunch of teenagers walking by with supplies? I bet they ran back to the army and said..."The Nephites have teeny boppers in their army, let's go get them". They began pursuing the stripling warriors but did not know that Antipus was right behind them. So the stripling warriors are being pursued by the Lamanites and the Lamanites are being tailed by the army of Antipus. This plan worked for a while until Helaman realized the Lamanites had stopped. He did not know why. It could have been a trap or it could be that they were attacking the army of Antipus. Next is one of my favorite parts of this story. Helaman asks them if they are willing to go into battle. These boys had never fought before and were being thrown into the midst of a terrible battle. These young boys as Helaman calls them say the following. "Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth;" They were not afraid to die. They had faith that the Lord would deliver them. I love this because the anidote to fear is faith. They had been taught by their mothers that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. These young boys had been prepared by their mothers to face whatever was thrown at them. They were taught the commandments and the protection that comes with obedience. The stripling warriors leapt forward after the Lamanites in hopes that they were not attacking Antipus and his army, but Helaman was correct and the Lamanites were brutally attacking Antipus. The young boys courageously attacked the Lamanites with such vigor that they stopped fighting Antipus and turned to face Helaman. This is where the Stripling warriors were in the most danger of being killed. The army of the Lamanites were bearing down on these young ones. They fought valiantly which gave Antipus time to regroup and they were victorious over the Lamanites. Helaman was very concerned that many of his "sons" were killed, but to his surprise and delight non of them were killed. All 2,000 were saved!

This story reminds me of the battle our missionaries fight. They are exceedingly young. Most are 18-19 years old. They also volunteer to serve a mission for 18 months to 2 years. They put their wants and desires aside to spend this time devoted to the Lord. They are in a literal battle with Satan. The devil is trying to kill us spiritually just like the Lamanites were trying to kill the Nephites. These missionaries are literally saving lives. They are going into battle against Satan and the world. They have chosen for their captain the prophet Thomas S. Monson. Just like the Lamanite spies who probably thought these teenagers were a joke, Satan has no idea the force he has to reckon with. I have a son who returned not that long ago from a mission in the country of Samoa. It was an incredible opportunity for him to grow and learn and help share the gospel with so many people in Samoa. One of the great lessons in the story of the stripling warriors is of faith. I see this everyday with the missionaries serving in my area. They are not afraid to talk to people. They are not afraid to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. They go out and give service and share their testimonies with others EVERY DAY! I like seeing these "boys" in their white shirt and ties, but I LOVE seeing them in their jeans and t-shirts. That tells me they are out giving service. They are out giving of themselves. I have seen these boys...my "sons" as I call them ( I am their mission mom) out sharing the gospel through service. I love it! They are attacking the work with a vigor that will certainly beat back the army of Satan.

Elder Thompson and Elder Holt out giving service

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I have never served a mission, but I have a strong testimony that what these Stripling Warriors are doing will bring souls to Christ. We are in the last days. The time is short and I know the Lord has prepared these stripling warriors because just as the warriors in the Book of Mormon where Helaman proclaims that he has never seen "so great courage" among all the Nephites, I know the best and finest young men have been saved and prepared to come in the Lord's final hours to bring souls to him. These young men are my Stripling warriors. They are my hero's!