The story of Helaman’s 2060 stripling warriors (the subject of Sunday School lesson #33) is another of the most cited and, I assume, the more beloved among young men and boys. However, the main idea broached in the lesson, that these young men were righteous and obeyed “every word of command with exactness,” could easily be lost in the midst of their military valor. The stripling warriors, like many of those who serve in military service around the world today, are indeed heroes\u2014but, Eliza R. Snow observes that there are other, more valuable ways to be a hero:<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
by Eliza R. Snow<\/em><\/p>\n Well may the fire of glory blaze His deeds are deeds of courage, for If such the meed the warrior gains\u2014 How noble must be His reward Who goes opinion to unbind, Who wars with prejudice, to break Above all earthly, his shall be The Wasp, v1 n47, 22 March 1843, p. 1 .<\/p>\n While the decision of how to serve, military or a mission or otherwise, is not always a stark, either-or choice, Snow is clearly suggesting that serving the Lord is of more value and more important than military service. And, she suggest that the reward for serving the Lord must be much greater than “the Hero’s Reward” for military service.<\/p>\n I also like a more subtle idea broached in Snow’s poem; found in her characterization of the war missionaries engage in. Snow sees this war as one on prejudice and error instead of a war on evil or against others. I like how she suggests that missionaries are those: “Who goes opinion to unbind, \/ That reason may go free.” Often we and they are both “bound” to our erroneous opinions, and in the process reason is imprisoned. I think that is exactly what happens.<\/p>\n .<\/p>\n One of the more interesting heroes in the Book of Mormon is Teancum, a figure who is left out of the current Gospel Doctrine lessons, although he is contemporaneous with Helaman and the stripling warriors. In particular, the story of his death, which is celebrated in this (IIRC frequently reprinted) poem, might be seen as problematic:<\/p>\n .<\/p>\n by Benjamin F. Cummings<\/em><\/p>\n Teancum, O Teancum! Is this thy form so cold! Teancum, O Teancum! How can we part from thee! The wicked Lamanitish king, bloodthirsty Ammoron, Thy purpose was to end a war caused by a traitor\u2019s schemes, \u2018Twas midnight\u2019s hour and darkness did thy panther movement hide; Thou poised thy javelin with true aim above that wicked breast; An eagle\u2019s wings could not have saved thee from thy fate so swift. Teancum, O Teancum, in battle\u2019s dread array, Teancum, O Teancum, thou soldier, statesman, friend! Teancum, O Teancum, the Nephite nation weeps
\nUpon the warrior’s tread;
\nAnd nations twine the wreath of praise
\nAround the hero’s head;
\nHis path is honour, and his name
\nIs written on the spire of fame.<\/p>\n
\nHe treads o’er gory ground,
\nAmid the pride and pomp of war
\nWhen carnage sweeps around;
\nWith sword unsheath’d, he stands before
\nThe foe, amid the cannon’s roar.<\/p>\n
\nIf such the palm he bears\u2014
\nIf such insignia he obtains\u2014
\nIf such the crown he wears,
\nIf laurels thus his head entwine,
\nAnd stars of triumph round him shine!<\/p>\n
\nWho, ‘midst the crafts of men;
\nClad in the armour of the Lord
\nGoes forth to battle, when
\nThe powers of darkness warfare wage,
\nAnd Satan’s host around him rage.<\/p>\n
\nThat reason may go free,
\nAnd liberate the human mind
\nFrom priestly tyranny.
\nTo sever superstition’s rod,
\nAnd propagate the truth of God.<\/p>\n
\nAsunder error’s chain.
\nAnd make the sandy pillars shake
\nWhere human dogmas reign.
\nWho dares to be a man of God,
\nAnd bear the spirit’s sword abroad!<\/p>\n
\nAn everlasting fame;
\nThe archives of eternity
\nWill register his name
\nWith gems of sacred honour rife\u2014
\nHis crown will be eternal life.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
\nMillennial Star, 1 April 1846, p. 112<\/p>\n*\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0 *\u00a0\u00a0 *<\/h2>\n
Death of Teancum<\/h3>\n
\nCan it be true that thou art dead, O soldier, strong and bold!
\nShall we thy comrades ne\u2019er again fight side by side with thee?
\nAnd shall we ne\u2019er again be led by thee to victory?<\/p>\n
\nHow can we spare thee from our ranks! Must such bereavement be!
\nO father, brother, leader brave! Thy valor never failed;
\nThough sword point pressed upon thy breast thy stout heart never quailed.<\/p>\n
\nWith all his dark skinned hosts were camped within walls high and strong.
\nProtected thus, they slept secure, the king within his tent,
\nWhen thou, Teancum, scaled the walls, on righteous vengeance bent.<\/p>\n
\nAnd by one blow to put an end to his ambitious dreams.
\nThy thought was that the traitor\u2019s death, encampassed by thy hand,
\nWould bring quick peace and happiness to thy distracted land.<\/p>\n
\nThe tent where lay the sleeping king thy keen eye soon espied.
\nThe tent door, yielding to thy touch, let in a star\u2019s faint ray
\nThat dimly showed the couch whereon the slumb\u2019ring monarch lay.<\/p>\n
\nAnother instant and its point within that heart found rest.
\nA single cry escaped the king, his servant heard the sound \u2013
\nOne shout \u2013 a thousand glittering swords the king\u2019s tent did surround.<\/p>\n
\nE\u2019er thou couldst move ten steps away thy heart in twain was cleft.
\nThy courage rash had cost thy life, and now around thy bier
\nThe Nephite soldiers bow in grief for one to them so dear.<\/p>\n
\nWhere arrows flew and sword blades flashed and hate and blood held sway,
\nWhen comrades fell around thee fast, and foes fierce vengeance took,
\nThy voice ne\u2019er failed thy troops to cheer, thy true hand never shook.<\/p>\n
\nWithin thy heart so great and brave did all the virtues blend;
\nA patriot, a leader, a champion of the right,
\nA tyrant\u2019s foe, a friend of peace, a soul of lustre bright.<\/p>\n
\nAround the grave where now in peace our hero sweetly sleeps;
\nAnd to our children we will tell, and in our scriptures write
\nThe story of thy deeds and worth, and of thy last brave fight.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n