This morning I finished reading the chapter of Alma 56, introducing the stripling warriors. I wrote that we need to treat the raising generation as stripling warriors because they have the faith to turn the tides of war. Completing the chapter, I learned how stripling warriors were treated as they grew up.
I believe that their valience comes from the faith in God implanted in them by the teaching of their parents.
And now, in the city Antiparah were stationed the strongest army of the Lamanites; yea, the most numerous...And it came to pass that we did flee before them, northward. And thus we did lead away the most powerful army of the Lamanites;... And now Antipus, beholding our danger, did speed the march of his army. But behold, it was night; therefore they did not overtake us, neither did Antipus overtake them; therefore we did camp for the night... And it came to pass that again, when the light of the morning came we saw the Lamanites upon us, and we did flee before them. But it came to pass that they did not pursue us far before they halted; and it was in the morning of the third day of the seventh month.
And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they might catch us in their snare; Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle? And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen so great courage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.
For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus. Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers, saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it...
But behold, to my great joy, there had not one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the strength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war. (Alma 56:34, 36, 38, 41-48, & 56)
The sons of the Anti-Nephi-Lehi people believed that God would divinely protect them; insomuch-that, none of them would die. There were only two thousand of them, and they did not fear the largest and strongest army of the Lamanites; although, none were trained in combat. How could this be true?
The key is faith in Jesus Christ, and the youth obtained it through the teaching of their parents.
Faith is based on the word of God and revelation. The stripling warriors did not just make up the belief that God would protect them. I believe that the Anti-Nephi-Lehi people fasted and prayed for the preservation of their children's lives, and God granted according to their desires by revelation.
This type of faith is a higher level of faith than the regular standards of belief. The temple recommend interview has many questions similar to the baptismal interview. These questions are the standards of faith in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each question requires revelations; however, God designed that when an individual learns the truth fulness of the Book of Mormon that all of the questions are affirmed. If God told an individual something, the individual should act based on that knowledge. This is faith. Faith is not a blind belief because people receive revelation and knowledge of God. Faith is also known as an assurance.
One must trust the assurances that an individual is given. Faith weavers in doubt.
The stripling warriors trusted God's word that he would protect them. They would have died, if they doubted. We need to trust in our revelations today, for doubt will destroy faith, knowledge, and revelation, if we don't continually remember them. The stripling warriors would not have this higher level of faith, if they were not raised by stalwart parents in the gospel, teaching of faith in Christ.
