All Present and Accounted For

It's True Sir-All Present and Accounted For by Clark Kelley Price

A Message from the Artist 

     Seldom in the annals of history has there been such an inspiring example of unwavering faith in God as was exhibited by the valiant young sons of the Ammonites. These two thousand and sixty young men were a "Great support" to their country´s defense. Though they had never fought, the scriptures tell us "they were exceedingly valiant for courage . . . . . and true at all times in whatsoever thing they were instructed. They were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God, and to walk up rightly before God." (Alma 53:20-21) Their mothers had especially influenced their faith. Their commanding officer, Helaman, called them his "sons," "for they are worthy to be called sons," he said. (Alma 56:10) They called him "father", such was the love and respect they had for him. 

     This scene depicts the moment when Helaman (shown on his horse) learns from a subordinate officer that all two thousand and sixty of his beloved sons have survived a terrible battle in which every one of them have "received many wounds." This was the second time this had occurred, though many other soldiers in the army had perished, this "little band" under Helaman´s leadership, lost not a single man. Speaking of this unbelievable occurrence, Helaman states, "two hundred out of my two thousand and sixty 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 the whole army, there was not one soul of them who did perish.

     "And now, their preservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea that they would be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain, and we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power of God, because of their exceeding faith in that which they had been taught to believe - that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, they should be preserved by His marvelous power. Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken. They are young and their minds are firm and they do put their trust in God continually." (Alma 57:25-27) Helaman had also stated in his epistle to his commanding general, Moroni that "as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted. Yea, they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them." (Alma 57:20-21) 

     It is my hope that in painting this poignant scene from the Book of Mormon, it will enable us to stand with them in their ranks, to absorb their marvelous spirit, that we may be one with them, and they with us, "all present and accounted for" in the final battle against the forces of Satan in these last days. - Clark Kelly Price

 Personal Testimony

     My father has often shared stories from his World War II experiences.  The following is one story I've pieced together the best I can.  One morning, as a teen-aged infantry soldier in France, his company was marched into a field with other units.  There was a platform from which the commander explained their objective for the next day.  They were to break through the enemy line.

     It was a day he never forgot.  His company, B Company, 8th Regiment, 4th Infantry Division, assembled at 3 a.m.  They were quietly marched through a dried-up swamp.  When they were almost to the other side, machine-guns opened fire "from all directions."  Dad quickly hit the ground.  When he looked around, he saw he was under an enemy machine-gun nest 20 feet away, "close enough that I wasn't planning on moving." 

      As a child, Dad's parents had divorced. He lived in Vermont with his mother who belonged to the Christian Science faith. He was not allowed to play sports and knew very little of organized sports in our country at the time. He did have a pet crow, a bicycle, a paper route, and a daisy air rifle.

     The sound of the bolt on the machine gun being pulled back would startle him as he lay as still as possible.  The sun rose and the sun set while pretending to be a dead body on the ground.  He could hear the soldiers talking to each other as they manned their machine gun nest. 

     Months earlier, while stationed in England and preparing for the invasion of Europe, Dad was in charge of a small group of soldiers that didn't like to get up in the morning. A thick fog would envelop the parade field during morning formation. Fortunately, he stood near the end of the field where he could not be seen.  He would report "all present or accounted for."  Most, if not all of his men, were still sleeping and not in formation.

  

     A full moon shined over the field that night as he lay as motionless as possible.  After midnight, clouds began to cover the moon.  He crawled away as fast as was prudent.  When out of range of the enemy, he kept moving until he got to his own line, where he was challenged by a soldier from another company. 

     Challenges and passwords were changed at midnight, and he hadn't received the new password.  He explained the situation, and the soldier proceded to quiz him about sports personalities unique to home.  The future was looking bleak as he explained that he knew nothing about sports or sports personalities.  He was then quizzed about where he was stationed in England, and it turned out that one of the soldiers he had let sleep-in was there and said "let him enter; Bob Walker is a good egg."

     I do not know the myriad of feelings one goes through in the midst of an armed conflict.  I do know that our life on earth is also a conflict.  I hope I can be present and accounted for with the rest of my family when the conflict is over.  I hope we can all be known as "good eggs" at the final day.