2000 Stripling Warriors!

So on Sunday Cora came home from Primary and and was telling me about a Parade the following Friday. She said there were gonna be a bunch of boys dressed as Helaman's Army. I got chills and knew we had to go. I know my mom loves parades so I invited her along. I talked to my neighbor about it and got all the info. She said she would save us a place, they were going up in the morning to save spots. Yesterday we spent most of the day with some school friends then headed up to the parade. It was so fun! And I haven't been to such a packed parade before!!

This picture was one of the first entries in the parade. As the band walked by I noticed the clarinet player was my cousin Mickey. I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and tried to snap a picture, well I got the back of him!! lol

Awesome V-dub Bus!!

Kids loved the "origami" dragon out of money!

after many many floats, band and other things there was nothing. Like the parade was finished but the last cop cars didn't come by. For about 5 minutes the parade stopped. There was silence. Then, in the distance you could hear a soft pounding.

In the Book of Mormon the Nephites fought the Lamanites. Then the Nephites made a covenant with God that they would not shed blood any more and the buried their weapons of war. Years later the Lamanites came upon them to fight again but because of the covenant they had made, they wouldn't fight. The sons of the Nephites stood up and said they didn't make the covenant with God and that they would fight. Helaman took charge of this army. They fought a long time and after the war, not one of the sons had been killed. They are known as the Stripling Warriors or the Army of Helaman. (Alma 53)

So years ago a stake president who often dressed as Helaman and told the story thought it would be awesome to gather 2000 young men and dress them like warriors and do a march. His vision was coming to life. Every time I have thought about this event or told people about it this week I would get goosebumps! The moment was here. around the corner we saw Helaman and a few warriors, then came the Army! It was sooo neat!! There is a primary song call the Army of Helaman, I could not for the life of me think of how it started but I wanted to sing it and yell "my Hero!!" I sang the chorus over and over in my head. Honestly it has got to be my favorite primary song!


I had to wipe tears from my eyes as they walked by.

It was so sweet to see young men both strong and weak. There were a few in wheelchairs and others being helped along the way.

The last couple rows of young men were missionaries. It was so neat!!
I am so thankful I had this moment to look across the faces of these young boys and think about the other boys who thousands of years ago set off on their walk to war. They must have been so scared but the Lord protected them. He is an amazing God!



"We Will Not Doubt!"