The following is by Pandora, Exponent blogger and Managing Editor of Exponent II. We hope that it will inspire you to send in your own submission to the Exponent II annual essay contest. 

Helaman was tired. He was always tired these days. There was no relief from the endless battles. And lately he wasn’t sure what he was supposed to be defending. His people fought among themselves as much as the enemy. With arrows flying over their heads, he had to mediate as his captains argued over who would lead which battle plan. He reminded them of their purpose, of the cities they had lost, and for a moment he could see humility flicker across their faces. Or maybe it was fear. The war was going poorly. 

He was about to meet a group of new recruits assembled by the Ammonite people. Helaman had been negotiating with them as well, but for different reasons. They had wanted to fight alongside the Nephite troops, but Helaman had refused their offer. Their oath of peace was one of the only true and right paths amid this dark time. He would not have them waver. The compromise was to consider their sons, too young for the covenant, but ready to defend their parents and allies. Helaman repeated his commitment to their way of life as he and the leaders made their way to a clearing outside of town, and there lined up, row after row, was a battalion of young men. 

Joanna stood in the sixth row, to the left side. She had positioned herself carefully, not in front, not in back; hoping Helaman would survey the first few rows and move back along the right side. She was dressed like her companions except for a leather strip binding her breasts. She had draped a woven cloth and her traveling pack across her body as well, obscuring any curves. The boys standing near her knew exactly who and what she was, but they would stay silent. They had been told in dreams that God wanted her to fight alongside them. 

Joanna had dreams as well, and also waking visions. She had seen Nephi, and Mother Eve, and her grandmother who had been killed by Amalekites before Joanna was born. Joanna had been told to fight even when her people had sworn not to, even when as a woman, she was not allowed. She had been told she must save the Nephite people. Nephi assured her that he had been the younger brother, also not the obvious hero, yet God had chosen him, just as God had chosen Joanna. Mother Eve gave her knowledge beyond her experience and her grandmother gave her courage. They came to her frequently, guiding her, teaching her, pushing her to act. It was she who had initiated the idea of the 2,000 warriors – telling her aunt, who told her husband, who then suggested to the leadership. It was she who convinced her brothers and his friends that their dream of victory were true and to surround her in the lineup. It was she who had schooled these same boys in the basics of combat, in secret and with skill she should not have been able to wield. They called her “the Maid of Zarahemla” to tease her even as they followed her lead. 

Her heart raced as Helaman stood at the front of the group of would-be soldiers, discussing details with the leadership. Then the conversation was over and he was moving. Helaman walked up and down the rows, stopping now and then to ask a boy’s name, who his parents were, why he wanted to fight. He had passed by Joanna just as she had planned, to the right and back. Then he was at the end, he was smiling, the leaders were smiling, she had made it through. Then Helaman stopped. 

Helaman heard a rushing sound in his ears, like water falling from a waterfall, and the sound of the leaders’ voices dimmed. He felt that he should turn around, that he should go to the left side, and he was walking before understanding why. He wove through and found himself standing in front of one young man that he had not noticed before. The boy had the same long plaited hair, the same resolute expression staring straight ahead, the same stance and gear as the rest. But the eyes … then suddenly Helaman knew it was a girl. He did not know how he knew. With the leaders on the other side of the crowd trying to determine what had happened, Helaman leaned forward and said softly, “What is your name?” Joanna looked at him directly, paused, and said, “Joan.” Helaman met those strange, endless eyes, reactions colliding in his mind. Then the noise in his ears cleared, and only one response remained. “You will fight with us, Joan, and God will bless us.” Helaman walked away and realized he wasn’t tired anymore. He felt rested. Calm. 

Submissions should be 700-2400 words and in Google Doc or Word form. They can be sent to exponentiihttps://exponentii.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/IMG_5173-scaled-1.jpg AT gmail DOT com. Authors should identify with the mission of Exponent II. The deadline for submissions is October 1, 2019.