Buckets' Literary Analysis of the Book of Mormon: Family Matters

There are multiples ways to examine Alma 56, or what Hardy defines as the first and second portion of Helaman's Letters to Moroni. If I could do this over again, I would highlight how the intent of Helaman's letter is transfored from Letter to historical document to scripture, but I decided to analyze Helaman's recollection of "the affairs of the people in that quarter of the land." While Helaman gives an honest, Moroni (and consequently us) learn much more about his "sons".


While many members the Church boast large families, only Helaman had two thousand children, and he was never lucky enough to get a daughter. Though not directly related, Helaman connects his bloodline and theirs together, going back to "our father Lehi." He then makes two different independent validations for calling them sons, first because of their "worthiness" and later on because of their youth. He also centers their purpose for battling around their doubtless maternal obeisance--they were mama's boys. Helaman successfully brings his "family" into battle.

Additionally, while the battle of Antiparah happens, the fallen are less remembered then the remaining. While the highest in command and others die, Helaman keeps the narrative subjective to his own army. It makes sense, but it takes away from the objective account that Mormon suggests Moroni was given when he introduces the letter. Not that Helaman's spin takes away from his accounting, but it does make a history an epic.