126 "And the Lamanites were sallying forth against us from time to time, resolving by stratagem to destroy us; Nevertheless, we could not come to battle with them, because of their retreats and their strongholds.
127 "And it came to pass that we did wait in these difficult circumstances for the space of many months, even until we were about to perish for the want of food.
128 "But it came to pass that we did receive food which was guarded to us by an army of two thousand men, to our assistance;
129 And this is all the assistance which we did receive, to defend ourselves and our country from falling into the hands of our enemies, yea, to contend with an enemy which was innumerable.
130 "And now the cause of these our embarrassments, or the cause why they did not send more strength unto us, we knew not; Therefore, we were grieved, and also filled with fear, lest by any means the judgments of God should come upon our land to our overthrow and utter destruction;
131 Therefore, we did pour out our souls in prayer to God that He would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, Yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities and our lands and our possessions for the support of our people.
132 "Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that He would deliver us, Yea, insomuch that He did speak peace to our souls and did grant unto us great faith and did cause us that we should hope for our deliverance in Him;
133 And we did take courage with our small force which we had received, And were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies and to maintain our lands and our possessions and our wives and our children and the cause of our liberty.
134 "And thus we did go forth with all our might against the Lamanites which were in the City of Manti; And we did pitch our tents by the wilderness side, which was near to the city.
135 "And it came to pass on the morrow that when the Lamanites saw that we were in the borders by the wilderness, which was near the city, That they sent out their spies round about us that they might discover the number and the strength of our army.
136 "And it came to pass that when they saw that we were not strong, according to our numbers, And fearing that we should cut them off from their support, except they should come out to battle against us and kill us,