"neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds."

Sunday was the war chapter Sunday school. A significant portion of the Book of Mormon is about war. And they were received twice. One in particular. The Sons of Helaman. The Stripling Warriors. 2,000 sons take up the arms their Parents could not. And fight well. 

It's a stirring story. One of my childhood favorites.

In the story Helaman's force of 2,000 (eventually 2,600) survive two major battles without any fatalities. That's miraculous for any forces who met in pitched combat. But the next phrase Helaman relays in the account is the one that has stuck with me, and deepened, over time.

"And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds."

I always focused on those that lost so much blood they fainted. The physical nature of the injuries. How incredible it was that so many wounds were inflicted. How painful that was.

But blood was only mentioned once. And through my life I've learned not all wounds were physical. I think that's what Helaman is referring to here.

PTSD happens. And moral injuries matter. They have substantial weight. Hidden but substantial. And the worst part is they often occur by doing what has to be done. 

Harm cuts both ways. Period. 

Often we use metaphoric war in regards to spiritual conflict. I think it works pretty well when discussing defense and preventative measures. But it misses the boat sometimes on the cost of war.

I can’t look at the story of 2,600 teens fighting underneath a prophet and think these men walked away without emotional scars from the trauma committed against and by them.

I think we need to recognize the cost a little better as a culture. 

We are aware of the veterans and service members in today’s age that need help. Need support. As they navigate the cost of war and the sacrifices involved. 

I think we miss that in scripture. We deify these warriors. Make them superhuman in emotion and deed. But if they’re people, then 1/3 would be suffering mentally from the war. Let’s not forget that. 

All I know is I want to focus on the positive spiritual needs I have. The things I’m trying to do. Instead of living my life thinking I’m at war spiritually at all times.  

But that’s just me, deep in my thoughts today and yesterday.