Heleman and the Stripling Warriors

Heleman with a few of his Stripling Warriors

(New drawing)

In the Book of Mormon we learn about Heleman.  He was a prophet and leader of the Christian Church ...somewhere in the Americas ...about 62 B.C.    When the Nephite country was invaded Heleman took command of a bunch of young  volunteers called the Stripling Warriors.  These young soldiers had been Lamanites when they were very young.  Their parents converted to Christianity and many were killed and persecuted so they had to flee their homeland and live among their former enemies, the Nephites.  When they converted these former Lamanite men took an oath no never use weapons of war again.  But several years later they were about to repent of their oath because of all the suffering they saw among the Nephites . . . who had been invaded.  But in the end, instead of breaking their oath, the young men who were sons of those who took the no war oath... volunteered to fight and help defend their new country.  They were certainly all teenagers or maybe even pre-teens.  They fought with such courage that often the Lamanites fled before them.  They also fought with the strength of God.  They said that their mothers taught them to have faith.  In spite of fighting in many battles and all of them being wounded at one time or another. . . none of them ever died in battle or of battle wounds.  It is an amazing story found in the Book of Mormon in the book of Alma, chapters 56-58.

The big difference in these two drawings is the setting.  In the top drawing the Nephite Heleman and his Ammonite warriors are depicted in what would be similar to armor and fighting weaponry of the Mississippian or Mound Builder culture of North America near the Mississippi River.  The bottom picture. . . an older picture. . . is depicting Heleman and the Ammonite warriors in Central or South America.  The fact is, we do not know with certainty where the Book of Mormon events took place.  We members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints believe the Book of Mormon to be a record of some of God's people somewhere in the Americas.  I actually studied the archaeology in Central America and Mexico when I was a college student.  I even lived in Mexico for a semester.  Many Latter Day Saints assume that the events of the Book of Mormon took place there in Middle America.  Others think it all happened in both North and South America.  The idea that perhaps it all took place near the Mississippi River is a relatively new theory.  

The weapons, shield, armor, and headdress in the first drawing up top are indicative of the Mississippian or Mound Builder culture.  They are not exactly like those found as relics, but they are similar.  The Mississippian Culture was quite advanced and it is amazing how little we know about them.  Many of their relics have been looted or destroyed over the years.  Of course the same might be said for the Mayan, Toltec, and Olmec cultures of Middle America. . . but we probably know more about them than we know about the Mound Builders or Mississippian Culture.  

NOTE:  Printable drawings are found by clicking the buttons up top.   The newer drawings are on the bottom of the correct list.  These drawings are both found under the All Printables button and the Religious button.  

Heleman leads the young Ammonite Warriors