Mosiah 19:13

And it came to pass that those that tarried with their wives and their children, caused that their fair daughters should stand forth and plead with the Lamanites, that they would not slay them.

The men who stayed with their families had an idea. They sent their beautiful daughters to ask the Lamanites not to kill them.

Those who stayed had their young daughters step forward and plead with the Lamanites to spare their lives.