In the grand tapestry of history, the threads most often highlighted are those woven by the hands of the famous—the victors, the inventors, and the leaders. Yet, for every Alexander who conquered, every Newton who discovered, and every Cleopatra who ruled, there are countless others who played vital roles in shaping the world as we know it—people whose names have been lost to the shadows of time.
We see the same phenomenon in the Book of Mormon war chapters (Alma 43–63). We rightly celebrate Helaman, Teancum, and Chief Captain Moroni; at the same time, unnamed people who shaped Nephite history appear in these chapters. Let’s explore two of these individuals and lessons we can learn from them.
Morianton’s Maidservant
In Alma chapter 50, we learn of a conflict between Nephites in which the people of Morianton began to take land from the people of Lehi. Morianton soon resorted to violence, and the people from the land of Lehi fled to chief captain Moroni.
Moroni brought his army to protect the innocent Nephites from Morianton, which caused Morianton to develop a plan to escape to the land northward. Mormon tells us that such an escape “would have been a cause to have been lamented” (Alma 50:30). However, Moronianton’s plan was foiled by an unnamed woman.
Mormon records, “But behold, Morianton being a man of much passion, therefore he was angry with one of his maid servants, and he fell upon her and beat her much. And it came to pass that she fled, and came over to the camp of Moroni, and told Moroni all things concerning the matter, and also concerning their intentions to flee into the land northward…therefore, Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Morianton … (Alma 50:30–33).”
How I wish we knew the name of this courageous woman! It’s never easy to break out of negative situations and seek help, yet she found the strength to do just that. By escaping her difficult circumstances, she altered the course of Nephite history.
Her story serves as a powerful reminder that when we find ourselves trapped in harmful situations—whether in abusive relationships or spiritually dangerous environments—we too can find the courage to seek help and make a change.
The Servant of Teancum
Shortly after the battle with Morianton, Moroni and Teancum faced an army of Lamanites led by Amalickiah. On the very last day of the twenty-fifth year of the reign of the judges, the Nephites and Lamanites were battling near the land Bountiful. On this New Year’s Eve there was no Martinellis and no waiting for the ball to drop.
Most people went to bed early (that’s what I like to do on New Year’s Eve), but “Teancum and his servant … went into the camp of Amalickiah… Teancum stole privily into the tent of the king, and put a javelin to his heart; and he did cause the death of the king immediately that he did not awake his servants” (Alma 51:33–34). Teancum and his servant returned to the Nephite camp, and the following morning, when the Lamanites saw that their leader was dead, they retreated from the battlefield.
For me, the servant of Teancum is a reminder of the importance of the millions of people who quietly are “in the path of their duty,” making the contributions that they are asked to make. While we don’t know his name, his efforts to help Teancum dramatically altered Nephite history. (My son was so inspired by the servant of Teancum that he made a video game about his life. You can download it for free).
While we may never face the battlefield like Teancum’s servant, we can still strive to make a difference by lifting where we stand, fulfilling the roles God has prepared for each of us.
And So Many More
Morianton’s maidservant and the servant of Teancum are only two examples of nameless individuals who reshaped Nephite society. There are the stripling warriors—and of course their mothers. As we reflect on history in general, and the war chapters specifically, it's easy to be captivated by the names we know.
But we must also honor the countless individuals whose contributions have been forgotten. They remind us of President Howard W. Hunter’s words: “If you feel that much of what you do this year or in the years to come does not make you very famous, take heart. Most of the best people who ever lived weren’t very famous either. Serve and grow, faithfully and quietly.”
Find more inspiration from the scriptures in the links below:
▶ 6 genius ways to study scripture that anyone can do (from one of our favorite scholars)
▶ 3 ways we may misunderstand ‘Moroni’s promise’ (and how the truth helps build testimony)
▶ When death or tragedy strike the faithful, Amulek’s story gives a unique sense of hope
