Patti Rowley e-mailed me her revision of the above interview.  She said, "I have the Vailant 12 year old girls.  I thought I'd send the changes to you in case someone else needs the changes for a class with only girls."  Thanks Patti!!

Interviewer: This is ____________, your "People in the News" reporter, coming to you live and direct from the land of Zarahemla.  With us today we have the distinguished Nephite leader, Helaman, and two of his young warriors. We are here to talk with them about their amazing victories in the continuing war with the Lamanites. (Interviewer turns to the mothers)  You are the mother of Helaman, we are happy to have you and the other mothers of the stripling warriors with us today.

Helaman’s Mother: We are happy to be here.

Interviewer: (to Warriors) Your sons are called Helaman's stripling warriors. What does "stripling" mean?

Mother #1: It means that they are boys just coming into manhood. 

Interviewer: (to mother 2)   I watched them as they marched out with Helaman.  They are very young. Why are they fighting, instead of your fathers?

Mother #2: We, the parents, were Lamanites.  We were converted by Ammon and the sons of Mosiah.   We were first called The Anti-Nephi-Lehies.  Later we were called the People of Ammon.  We had no more desire to kill their brothers, so we made a covenant with the Lord that rather than shed the blood of their brothers, we would give up our lives. We buried our weapons of war so that we would never take them up again. Many of our people were killed by the Lamanites, so the Lord told Ammon to bring 'us to the land of Zarahemla. We have been protected by the Nephites for many years.

Mother #1: We saw all the suffering of the Nephites to protect us, and our men were about to break their covenant with the Lord. Helaman feared that our men would lose their souls, if they took up their arms again. But we realized that our sons had not entered into the covenant. So our sons gathered together and entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites. Our sons covenanted that they would never give up our liberty," even if they had to lay down their own lives.

Interviewer: (to mother3) How many of the sons of the people of Ammon are warriors?

Mother#3: The first group that went forth numbered 2,000.   Later we sent out another 60 of our sons to join Helaman and the other stripling warriors.  The whole total was 2,060 warriors.  Sometimes we forget that other young men joined Helaman. They became a great strength and support to the Nephites.  Our sons asked Helaman to be their leader.

Interviewer: (to mother2) Why did they ask Helaman to be their leader?

Mother #2: Because he cared for all of us and would not let us break our covenant with the Lord. Our sons wanted to fight with him to help our brothers, the Nephites.  Helaman is a righteous leader and all knew that with him our sons would be lead in a matter that was pleasing to the Lord.

Interviewer: (to Helaman Mother) That is quite a lot of faith that these warriors have put in you, Helaman. Please- tell us a little about yourself.

Helaman’s Mother: Helaman is our oldest son.  His father is Alma the younger. Alma the younger was converted by an angel of the Lord, and he became a great missionary and church leader. Helaman was given the sacred records and commanded to keep the records. He is a high priest, and has spent much time preaching the gospel and bringing order to the Church.

Interviewer: (to Helaman Mother)   Why would Helaman want to lead a group of young men and not an army of strong adults?

Helaman Mother:   It was honor to lead these young warriors. Helaman told all that would listen that the stripling warriors were all valiant, courageous, strong, and true to whatever they were entrusted. These young warriors had been taught to keep the commandments of God and were righteous. Helaman knew that they were very special and that God would bless them.

Interviewer: (to Helaman’s Mother) Helaman called these young warrior his sons. Why?

Helaman’s Mother: They are worthy to be called sons. Helaman is very proud of them and all that they stand for. We as their mothers are very proud of them as well. Since they are all so very young, Helaman feels like a father to them.  They called Helaman… Father.  Helaman has all the tender feeling for them as a father would.  Likewise our sons love Helaman as a Father.  They know that Helaman will do the Lord’s will and that is the best for all of us.

Interviewer: (to mother3) How did the leaders of the Nephite armies feel about your sons joining them?

Mother #3: The army of Antipus had lost many men who were killed by the Lamanites. So, Antipus rejoiced that we sent our sons out to help strengthen his army. The Nephite soldiers were sad and depressed at that time, and these stripling warriors gave them new hope and joy.

Interviewer: (to mother1) When your sons left your families to join this fight for all of you and the Nephites. What did your families do to help and support you as you served in the army?

Mother #1: We sent food and supplies to us and the Nephite armies. We also prayed for them.  We knew that they were young and would need extra help and protection from the Lord.   They did not have the experience that the older men had.

Interviewer: (to Helaman Mother) When it was time to fight against the Lamanites for the first time, how did the stripling warriors act? Were they afraid?

Helaman’s Mother: Helaman wrote many epistles so there was is record about our sons.  He wrote “Never had I seen so great courage and they said to me, "Father, behold our God is with us, and he will not suffer that we should fall . . . let us go forth. We would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone."

Interviewer: (to mother2) Wow! They had never fought before, and they still did not fear death. Why?

Mother #2: Our job as their mothers was to teach them that if they did not doubt God and have faith, God would deliver them. They believed us, and they put their faith in God.

Interviewer: (to Helaman Mother) How many of your sons did you lose?

Helaman’s Mother:   Helaman had wrote to me “I was afraid that many had been killed, but when I counted, I found that not one had been killed. I was very happy. They had fought with the strength of God. Their strength frightened, the Lamanites who were not killed, and the Lamanites gave up their weapons and were taken as prisoners.”  We were so very happy to know that all of our valiant sons were alive.

Interviewer: (to mother1) After that battle, did the Lamanites leave them alone so that they could go home?

Mother #1: No, we still had problems with the Lamanites and after a while the king of the Lamanites strengthened his army, and our sons had to fight them again in a big battle.

Interviewer: (to Helaman Mother) What happened when they fought this time?

Helaman’s Mother: Our Nephite army was about to lose the battle, but my son’s little band fought courageously and the Lamanites fled. After the battle, Helaman gave the order to go and find all the wounded so that could be take care of them. To everyone’s surprise, not one of the stripling warriors had died, but everyone had many wounds. The whole Nephite army was amazed that not one of Helaman’s little band had died, while a thousand Nephites had died. We know that they were saved because of the power of God. Because of their great faith, God protected them and gave them great strength.

Interviewer: (to mother 2 & 1) Our theme for Sharing Time this month is "Seek Guidance." You had guidance from your mothers. How important do you think it is for a child to have guidance from a mother?

Mother #2: Mothers teach us from the time we are very little to love God, to obey his commandments, and to put our faith and trust in God, our Heavenly Father. If our sons had not listened, they would not have been strong and the Lord would not have protected them. Many would have died, and they would not have been able to help the Nephites and protect our families.

Mother #1: You may not have to fight in a war like the stripling warriors did, but you will have to fight against Satan, because he will try to make you do evil. Listen to your mothers and the things they teach you, so that you can be strong to choose the right.

Note: If there is time, one or two songs could be sung during Sharing Time -- the verse about Helaman's warriors in "Book of Mormon Stories" and "We'll Bring the World His Truth." If not, these songs could be sung during singing time

Note: Interviewer will wear raincoat (overcoat) with a hat and carry a microphone. Helaman and warriors will wear appropriate costumes, including shields and swords.