Alma and his people prospered in the land of Helam, but the Lamanites eventually discovered them. Alma surrenders. Why does this happen? How the Lamanites found them is not discussed, but when we remember that the total number of people who began the community were only four hundred and fifty, even with births and perhaps the absorption of some other peoples, they would not have had enough men of fighting age to protect them against the Lamanite army that found them. Sheer numbers would have shown Alma that surrender was the only options.