ALM 49:0 The invading Lamanites baffled and repulsed--Amalickiah's wrath over
his failure--Prosperity of the church.
ALM 49:1 And now it came to pass in the eleventh month of the nineteenth
year, on the tenth day of the month, the armies of the Lamanites were seen
approaching towards the land of Ammonihah.
ALM 49:2 And behold, the city had been rebuilt, and Moroni had stationed an
army by the borders of the city, and they had cast up dirt round about to
shield them from the arrows and the stones of the Lamanites; for behold, they
fought with stones and with arrows.
ALM 49:3 Behold, I said that the city of Ammonihah had been rebuilt. I say
unto you, yea, that it was in part rebuilt; and because the Lamanites had
destroyed it once because of the iniquity of the people, they supposed that
it would again become an easy prey for them.
ALM 49:4 But behold, how great was their disappointment; for behold, the
Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was so high that
the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them that they
might take effect, neither could they come upon them save it was by their
place of entrance.
ALM 49:5 Now at this time the chief captains of the Lamanites were astonished
exceedingly, because of the wisdom of the Nephites in preparing their places
of security.
ALM 49:6 Now the leaders of the Lamanites had supposed, because of the
greatness of their numbers, yea, they supposed that they should be privileged
to come upon them as they had hitherto done; yea, and they had also prepared
themselves with shields, and with breastplates; and they had also prepared
themselves with garments of skins, yea, very thick garments to cover their
nakedness.
ALM 49:7 And being thus prepared they supposed that they should easily
overpower and subject their brethren to the yoke of bondage, or slay and
massacre them according to their pleasure.
ALM 49:8 But behold, to their uttermost astonishment, they were prepared for
them, in a manner which never had been known among the children of Lehi. Now
they were prepared for the Lamanites, to battle after the manner of the
instructions of Moroni.
ALM 49:9 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, or the Amalickiahites, were
exceedingly astonished at their manner of preparation for war.
ALM 49:10 Now, if king Amalickiah had come down out of the land of Nephi, at
the head of his army, perhaps he would have caused the Lamanites to have
attacked the Nephites at the city of Ammonihah; for behold, he did care not
for the blood of his people.
ALM 49:11 But behold, Amalickiah did not come down himself to battle. And
behold, his chief captains durst not attack the Nephites at the city of
Ammonihah, for Moroni had altered the management of affairs among the
Nephites, insomuch that the Lamanites were disappointed in their places of
retreat and they could not come upon them.
ALM 49:12 Therefore they retreated into the wilderness, and took their camp
and marched towards the land of Noah, supposing that to be the next best
place for them to come against the Nephites.
ALM 49:13 For they knew not that Moroni had fortified, or had built forts of
security, for every city in all the land round about; therefore, they marched
forward to the land of Noah with a firm determination; yea, their chief
captains came forward and took an oath that they would destroy the people of
that city.
ALM 49:14 But behold, to their astonishment, the city of Noah, which had
hitherto been a weak place, had now, by the means of Moroni, become strong,
yea, even to exceed the strength of the city Ammonihah.
ALM 49:15 And now, behold, this was wisdom in Moroni; for he had supposed
that they would be frightened at the city Ammonihah; and as the city of Noah
had hitherto been the weakest part of the land, therefore they would march
thither to battle; and thus it was according to his desires.
ALM 49:16 And behold, Moroni had appointed Lehi to be chief captain over the
men of that city; and it was that same Lehi who fought with the Lamanites in
the valley on the east of the river Sidon.
ALM 49:17 And now behold it came to pass, that when the Lamanites had found
that Lehi commanded the city they were again disappointed, for they feared
Lehi exceedingly; nevertheless their chief captains had sworn with an oath to
attack the city; therefore, they brought up their armies.
ALM 49:18 Now behold, the Lamanites could not get into their forts of
security by any other way save by the entrance, because of the highness of
the bank which had been thrown up, and the depth of the ditch which had been
dug round about, save it were by the entrance.
ALM 49:19 And thus were the Nephites prepared to destroy all such as should
attempt to climb up to enter the fort by any other way, by casting over
stones and arrows at them.
ALM 49:20 Thus they were prepared, yea, a body of their strongest men, with
their swords and their slings, to smite down all who should attempt to come
into their place of security by the place of entrance; and thus were they
prepared to defend themselves against the Lamanites.
ALM 49:21 And it came to pass that the captains of the Lamanites brought up
their armies before the place of entrance, and began to contend with the
Nephites, to get into their place of security; but behold, they were driven
back from time to time, insomuch that they were slain with an immense
slaughter.
ALM 49:22 Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the
Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they
might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might have an equal chance to
fight; but behold, in these attempts they were swept off by the stones and
arrows which were thrown at them; and instead of filling up their ditches by
pulling down the banks of earth, they were filled up in a measure with their
dead and wounded bodies.
ALM 49:23 Thus the Nephites had all power over their enemies; and thus the
Lamanites did attempt to destroy the Nephites until their chief captains were
all slain; yea, and more than a thousand of the Lamanites were slain; while,
on the other hand, there was not a single soul of the Nephites which was
slain.
ALM 49:24 There were about fifty who were wounded, who had been exposed to
the arrows of the Lamanites through the pass, but they were shielded by their
shields, and their breastplates, and their head-plates, insomuch that their
wounds were upon their legs, many of which were very severe.
ALM 49:25 And it came to pass, that when the Lamanites saw that their chief
captains were all slain they fled into the wilderness. And it came to pass
that they returned to the land of Nephi, to inform their king, Amalickiah,
who was a Nephite by birth, concerning their great loss.
ALM 49:26 And it came to pass that he was exceedingly angry with his people,
because he had not obtained his desire over the Nephites; he had not
subjected them to the yoke of bondage.
ALM 49:27 Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse God, and also
Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood; and this because
Moroni had kept the commandments of God in preparing for the safety of his
people.
ALM 49:28 And it came to pass, that on the other hand, the people of Nephi
did thank the Lord their God, because of his matchless power in delivering
them from the hands of their enemies.
ALM 49:29 And thus ended the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over
the people of Nephi.
ALM 49:30 Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and exceedingly
great prosperity in the church because of their heed and diligence which they
gave unto the word of God, which was declared unto them by Helaman, and
Shiblon, and Corianton, and Ammon and his brethren, yea, and by all those who
had been ordained by the holy order of God, being baptized unto repentance,
and sent forth to preach among the people.
ALM 50:0 Moroni fortifies the lime between land of Zarahemla and land of
Nephi--Morianton plans to occupy the land northward--he is killed by
Teancum--Pahoran succeeds Nephihah.
ALM 50:1 And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations
for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that
his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the
reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth
round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by
the Nephites.
ALM 50:2 And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there
should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man,
round about the cities.
ALM 50:3 And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a
frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and
high.
ALM 50:4 And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of
pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that
the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them.
ALM 50:5 And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top
thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay him who
should attempt to approach near the walls of the city.
ALM 50:6 Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their
enemies, round about every city in all the land.
ALM 50:7 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his armies should go
forth into the east wilderness; yea, and they went forth and drove all the
Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their own lands, which were
south of the land of Zarahemla.
ALM 50:8 And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea
to the west.
ALM 50:9 And it came to pass that when Moroni had driven all the Lamanites
out of the east wilderness, which was north of the lands of their own
possessions, he caused that the inhabitants who were in the land of Zarahemla
and in the land round about should go forth into the east wilderness, even to
the borders by the seashore, and possess the land.
ALM 50:10 And he also placed armies on the south, in the borders of their
possessions, and caused them to erect fortifications that they might secure
their armies and their people from the hands of their enemies.
ALM 50:11 And thus he cut off all the strongholds of the Lamanites in the
east wilderness, yea, and also on the west, fortifying the line between the
Nephites and the Lamanites, between the land of Zarahemla and the land of
Nephi, from the west sea, running by the head of the river Sidon--the
Nephites possessing all the land northward, yea, even all the land which was
northward of the land Bountiful, according to their pleasure.
ALM 50:12 Thus Moroni, with his armies, which did increase daily because of
the assurance of protection which his works did bring forth unto them, did
seek to cut off the strength and the power of the Lamanites from off the
lands of their possessions, that they should have no power upon the lands of
their possession.
ALM 50:13 And it came to pass that the Nephites began the foundation of a
city, and they called the name of the city Moroni; and it was by the east
sea; and it was on the south by the line of the possessions of the Lamanites.
ALM 50:14 And they also began a foundation for a city between the city of
Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni; and
they called the name of the city, or the land, Nephihah.
ALM 50:15 And they also began in that same year to build many cities on the
north, one in a particular manner which they called Lehi, which was in the
north by the borders of the seashore.
ALM 50:16 And thus ended the twentieth year.
ALM 50:17 And in these prosperous circumstances were the people of Nephi in
the commencement of the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges over
the people of Nephi.
ALM 50:18 And they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceedingly rich;
yea, and they did multiply and wax strong in the land.
ALM 50:19 And thus we see how merciful and just are all the dealings of the
Lord, to the fulfilling of all his words unto the children of men; yea, we
can behold that his words are verified, even at this time, which he spake
unto Lehi, saying:
ALM 50:20 Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed,
inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land.
But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be
cut off from the presence of the Lord.
ALM 50:21 And we see that these promises have been verified to the people of
Nephi; for it has been their quarrelings and their contentions, yea, their
murderings, and their plunderings, their idolatry, their whoredoms, and their
abominations, which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars
and their destructions.
ALM 50:22 And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord
were delivered at all times, whilst thousands of their wicked brethren have
been consigned to bondage, or to perish by the sword, or to dwindle in
unbelief, and mingle with the Lamanites.
ALM 50:23 But behold there never was a happier time among the people of
Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this
time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges.
ALM 50:24 And it came to pass that the twenty and second year of the reign of
the judges also ended in peace; yea, and also the twenty and third year.
ALM 50:25 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the twenty and
fourth year of the reign of the judges, there would also have been peace
among the people of Nephi had it not been for a contention which took place
among them concerning the land of Lehi, and the land of Morianton, which
joined upon the borders of Lehi; both of which were on the borders by the
seashore.
ALM 50:26 For behold, the people who possessed the land of Morianton did
claim a part of the land of Lehi; therefore there began to be a warm
contention between them, insomuch that the people of Morianton took up arms
against their brethren, and they were determined by the sword to slay them.
ALM 50:27 But behold, the people who possessed the land of Lehi fled to the
camp of Moroni, and appealed unto him for assistance; for behold they were
not in the wrong.
ALM 50:28 And it came to pass that when the people of Morianton, who were led
by a man whose name was Morianton, found that the people of Lehi had fled to
the camp of Moroni, they were exceedingly fearful lest the army of Moroni
should come upon them and destroy them.
ALM 50:29 Therefore, Morianton put it into their hearts that they should flee
to the land which was northward, which was covered with large bodies of
water, and take possession of the land which was northward.
ALM 50:30 And behold, they would have carried this plan into effect, (which
would have been a cause to have been lamented) but behold, Morianton being a
man of much passion, therefore he was angry with one of his maid servants,
and he fell upon her and beat her much.
ALM 50:31 And it came to pass that she fled, and came over to the camp of
Moroni, and told Moroni all things concerning the matter, and also concerning
their intentions to flee into the land northward.
ALM 50:32 Now behold, the people who were in the land Bountiful, or rather
Moroni, feared that they would hearken to the words of Morianton and unite
with his people, and thus he would obtain possession of those parts of the
land, which would lay a foundation for serious consequences among the people
of Nephi, yea, which consequences would lead to the overthrow of their
liberty.
ALM 50:33 Therefore Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people
of Morianton, to stop their flight into the land northward.
ALM 50:34 And it came to pass that they did not head them until they had come
to the borders of the land Desolation; and there they did head them, by the
narrow pass which led by the sea into the land northward, yea, by the sea, on
the west and on the east.
ALM 50:35 And it came to pass that the army which was sent by Moroni, which
was led by a man whose name was Teancum, did meet the people of Morianton;
and so stubborn were the people of Morianton, (being inspired by his
wickedness and his flattering words) that a battle commenced between them, in
the which Teancum did slay Morianton and defeat his army, and took them
prisoners, and returned to the camp of Moroni. And thus ended the twenty and
fourth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
ALM 50:36 And thus were the people of Morianton brought back. And upon their
covenanting to keep the peace they were restored to the land of Morianton,
and a union took place between them and the people of Lehi; and they were
also restored to their lands.
ALM 50:37 And it came to pass that in the same year that the people of Nephi
had peace restored unto them, that Nephihah, the second chief judge, died,
having filled the judgment seat with perfect uprightness before God.
ALM 50:38 Nevertheless, he had refused Alma to take possession of those
records and those things which were esteemed by Alma and his fathers to be
most sacred; therefore Alma had conferred them upon his son, Helaman.
ALM 50:39 Behold, it came to pass that the son of Nephihah was appointed to
fill the judgment-seat, in the stead of his father; yea, he was appointed
chief judge and governor over the people, with an oath and sacred ordinance
to judge righteously, and to keep the peace and the freedom of the people,
and to grant unto them their sacred privileges to worship the Lord their God,
yea, to support and maintain the cause of God all his days, and to bring the
wicked to justice according to their crime.
ALM 50:40 Now behold, his name was Pahoran. And Pahoran did fill the seat of
his father, and did commence his reign in the end of the twenty and fourth
year, over the people of Nephi.
ALM 51:0 King-men and freemen--Pahoran, chief judge, is sustained by the
freemen--King-men suppressed--Amalickiah's invasion, defeat, and death.
ALM 51:1 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the twenty and fifth
year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, they having
established peace between the people of Lehi and the people of Morianton
concerning their lands, and having commenced the twenty and fifth year in
peace;
ALM 51:2 Nevertheless, they did not long maintain an entire peace in the
land, for there began to be a contention among the people concerning the
chief judge Pahoran; for behold, there were a part of the people who desired
that a few particular points of the law should be altered.
ALM 51:3 But behold, Pahoran would not alter nor suffer the law to be
altered; therefore, he did not hearken to those who had sent in their voices
with their petitions concerning the altering of the law.
ALM 51:4 Therefore, those who were desirous that the law should be altered
were angry with him, and desired that he should no longer be chief judge over
the land; therefore there arose a warm dispute concerning the matter, but not
unto bloodshed.
ALM 51:5 And it came to pass that those who were desirous that Pahoran should
be dethroned from the judgment-seat were called king-men, for they were
desirous that the law should be altered in a manner to overthrow the free
government and to establish a king over the land.
ALM 51:6 And those who were desirous that Pahoran should remain chief judge
over the land took upon them the name of freemen; and thus was the division
among them, for the freemen had sworn or covenanted to maintain their rights
and the privileges of their religion by a free government.
ALM 51:7 And it came to pass that this matter of their contention was settled
by the voice of the people. And it came to pass that the voice of the people
came in favor of the freemen, and Pahoran retained the judgment-seat, which
caused much rejoicing among the brethren of Pahoran and also many of the
people of liberty, who also put the king-men to silence, that they durst not
oppose but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom.
ALM 51:8 Now those who were in favor of kings were those of high birth, and
they sought to be kings; and they were supported by those who sought power
and authority over the people.
ALM 51:9 But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be
among the people of Nephi; for behold, Amalickiah had again stirred up the
hearts of the people of the Lamanites against the people of the Nephites, and
he was gathering together soldiers from all parts of his land, and arming
them, and preparing for war with all diligence; for he had sworn to drink the
blood of Moroni.
ALM 51:10 But behold, we shall see that his promise which he made was rash;
nevertheless, he did prepare himself and his armies to come to battle against
the Nephites.
ALM 51:11 Now his armies were not so great as they had hitherto been, because
of the many thousands who had been slain by the hand of the Nephites; but
notwithstanding their great loss, Amalickiah had gathered together a
wonderfully great army, insomuch that he feared not to come down to the land
of Zarahemla.
ALM 51:12 Yea, even Amalickiah did himself come down, at the head of the
Lamanites. And it was in the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the
judges; and it was at the same time that they had begun to settle the affairs
of their contentions concerning the chief judge, Pahoran.
ALM 51:13 And it came to pass that when the men who were called king-men had
heard that the Lamanites were coming down to battle against them, they were
glad in their hearts; and they refused to take up arms, for they were so
wroth with the chief judge, and also with the people of liberty, that they
would not take up arms to defend their country.
ALM 51:14 And it came to pass that when Moroni saw this, and also saw that
the Lamanites were coming into the borders of the land, he was exceedingly
wroth because of the stubbornness of those people whom he had labored with so
much diligence to preserve; yea, he was exceedingly wroth; his soul was
filled with anger against them.
ALM 51:15 And it came to pass that he sent a petition, with the voice of the
people, unto the governor of the land, desiring that he should read it, and
give him (Moroni) power to compel those dissenters to defend their country or
to put them to death.
ALM 51:16 For it was his first care to put an end to such contentions and
dissensions among the people; for behold, this had been hitherto a cause of
all their destruction. And it came to pass that it was granted according to
the voice of the people.
ALM 51:17 And it came to pass that Moroni commanded that his army should go
against those king-men, to pull down their pride and their nobility and level
them with the earth, or they should take up arms and support the cause of
liberty.
ALM 51:18 And it came to pass that the armies did march forth against them;
and they did pull down their pride and their nobility, insomuch that as they
did lift their weapons of war to fight against the men of Moroni they were
hewn down and leveled to the earth.
ALM 51:19 And it came to pass that there were four thousand of those
dissenters who were hewn down by the sword; and those of their leaders who
were not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison, for there was no
time for their trials at this period.
ALM 51:20 And the remainder of those dissenters, rather than be smitten down
to the earth by the sword, yielded to the standard of liberty, and were
compelled to hoist the title of liberty upon their towers, and in their
cities, and to take up arms in defence of their country.
ALM 51:21 And thus Moroni put an end to those king-men, that there were not
any known by the appellation of king-men; and thus he put an end to the
stubbornness and the pride of those people who professed the blood of
nobility; but they were brought down to humble themselves like unto their
brethren, and to fight valiantly for their freedom from bondage.
ALM 51:22 Behold, it came to pass that while Moroni was thus breaking down
the wars and contentions among his own people, and subjecting them to peace
and civilization, and making regulations to prepare for war against the
Lamanites, behold, the Lamanites had come into the land of Moroni, which was
in the borders by the seashore.
ALM 51:23 And it came to pass that the Nephites were not sufficiently strong
in the city of Moroni; therefore Amalickiah did drive them, slaying many. And
it came to pass that Amalickiah took possession of the city, yea, possession
of all their fortifications.
ALM 51:24 And those who fled out of the city of Moroni came to the city of
Nephihah; and also the people of the city of Lehi gathered themselves
together, and made preparations and were ready to receive the Lamanites to
battle.
ALM 51:25 But it came to pass that Amalickiah would not suffer the Lamanites
to go against the city of Nephihah to battle, but kept them down by the
seashore, leaving men in every city to maintain and defend it.
ALM 51:26 And thus he went on, taking possession of many cities, the city of
Nephihah, and the city of Lehi, and the city of Morianton, and the city of
Omner, and the city of Gid, and the city of Mulek, all of which were on the
east borders by the seashore.
ALM 51:27 And thus had the Lamanites obtained, by the cunning of Amalickiah,
so many cities, by their numberless hosts, all of which were strongly
fortified after the manner of the fortifications of Moroni; all of which
afforded strongholds for the Lamanites.
ALM 51:28 And it came to pass that they marched to the borders of the land
Bountiful, driving the Nephites before them and slaying many.
ALM 51:29 But it came to pass that they were met by Teancum, who had slain
Morianton and had headed his people in his flight.
ALM 51:30 And it came to pass that he headed Amalickiah also, as he was
marching forth with his numerous army that he might take possession of the
land Bountiful, and also the land northward.
ALM 51:31 But behold he met with a disappointment by being repulsed by
Teancum and his men, for they were great warriors; for every man of Teancum
did exceed the Lamanites in their strength and in their skill of war,
insomuch that they did gain advantage over the Lamanites.
ALM 51:32 And it came to pass that they did harass them, insomuch that they
did slay them even until it was dark. And it came to pass that Teancum and
his men did pitch their tents in the borders of the land Bountiful; and
Amalickiah did pitch his tents in the borders on the beach by the seashore,
and after this manner were they driven.
ALM 51:33 And it came to pass that when the night had come, Teancum and his
servant stole forth and went out by night, and went into the camp of
Amalickiah; and behold, sleep had overpowered them because of their much
fatigue, which was caused by the labors and heat of the day.
ALM 51:34 And it came to pass that Teancum stole privily into the tent of the
king, and put a javelin to his heart; and he did cause the death of the king
immediately that he did not awake his servants.
ALM 51:35 And he returned again privily to his own camp, and behold, his men
were asleep, and he awoke them and told them all the things that he had done.
ALM 51:36 And he caused that his armies should stand in readiness, lest the
Lamanites had awakened and should come upon them.
ALM 51:37 And thus endeth the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi; and thus endeth the days of Amalickiah.
ALM 52:0 Ammoron succeeds Amalickiah--Moroni, with Teancum and Lehi, retakes
city of Mulek and wins great victory--Death of Jacob, the Lamanite general.
ALM 52:1 And now, it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year of the reign
of the judges over the people of Nephi, behold, when the Lamanites awoke on
the first morning of the first month, behold, they found Amalickiah was dead
in his own tent; and they also saw that Teancum was ready to give them battle
on that day.
ALM 52:2 And now, when the Lamanites saw this they were affrighted; and they
abandoned their design in marching into the land northward, and retreated
with all their army into the city of Mulek, and sought protection in their
fortifications.
ALM 52:3 And it came to pass that the brother of Amalickiah was appointed
king over the people; and his name was Ammoron; thus king Ammoron, the
brother of king Amalickiah, was appointed to reign in his stead.
ALM 52:4 And it came to pass that he did command that his people should
maintain those cities, which they had taken by the shedding of blood; for
they had not taken any cities save they had lost much blood.
ALM 52:5 And now, Teancum saw that the Lamanites were determined to maintain
those cities which they had taken, and those parts of the land which they had
obtained possession of; and also seeing the enormity of their number, Teancum
thought it was not expedient that he should attempt to attack them in their
forts.
ALM 52:6 But he kept his men round about, as if making preparations for war;
yea, and truly he was preparing to defend himself against them, by casting up
walls round about and preparing places of resort.
ALM 52:7 And it came to pass that he kept thus preparing for war until Moroni
had sent a large number of men to strengthen his army.
ALM 52:8 And Moroni also sent orders unto him that he should retain all the
prisoners who fell into his hands; for as the Lamanites had taken many
prisoners, that he should retain all the prisoners of the Lamanites as a
ransom for those whom the Lamanites had taken.
ALM 52:9 And he also sent orders unto him that he should fortify the land
Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward, lest
the Lamanites should obtain that point and should have power to harass them
on every side.
ALM 52:10 And Moroni also sent unto him, desiring him that he would be
faithful in maintaining that quarter of the land, and that he would seek
every opportunity to scourge the Lamanites in that quarter, as much as was in
his power, that perhaps he might take again by stratagem or some other way
those cities which had been taken out of their hands; and that he also would
fortify and strengthen the cities round about, which had not fallen into the
hands of the Lamanites.
ALM 52:11 And he also said unto him, I would come unto you, but behold, the
Lamanites are upon us in the borders of the land by the west sea; and behold,
I go against them, therefore I cannot come unto you.
ALM 52:12 Now, the king (Ammoron) had departed out of the land of Zarahemla,
and had made known unto the queen concerning the death of his brother, and
had gathered together a large number of men, and had marched forth against
the Nephites on the borders by the west sea.
ALM 52:13 And thus he was endeavoring to harass the Nephites, and to draw
away a part of their forces to that part of the land, while he had commanded
those whom he had left to possess the cities which he had taken, that they
should also harass the Nephites on the borders by the east sea, and should
take possession of their lands as much as it was in their power, according to
the power of their armies.
ALM 52:14 And thus were the Nephites in those dangerous circumstances in the
ending of the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the
people of Nephi.
ALM 52:15 But behold, it came to pass in the twenty and seventh year of the
reign of the judges, that Teancum, by the command of Moroni--who had
established armies to protect the south and the west borders of the land, and
had begun his march towards the land Bountiful, that he might assist Teancum
with his men in retaking the cities which they had lost--
ALM 52:16 And it came to pass that Teancum had received orders to make an
attack upon the city of Mulek, and retake it if it were possible.
ALM 52:17 And it came to pass that Teancum made preparations to make an
attack upon the city of Mulek, and march forth with his army against the
Lamanites; but he saw that it was impossible that he could overpower them
while they were in their fortifications; therefore he abandoned his designs
and returned again to the city Bountiful, to wait for the coming of Moroni,
that he might receive strength to his army.
ALM 52:18 And it came to pass that Moroni did arrive with his army at the
land of Bountiful, in the latter end of the twenty and seventh year of the
reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
ALM 52:19 And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth year, Moroni and
Teancum and many of the chief captains held a council of war--what they
should do to cause the Lamanites to come out against them to battle; or that
they might by some means flatter them out of their strongholds, that they
might gain advantage over them and take again the city of Mulek.
ALM 52:20 And it came to pass they sent embassies to the army of the
Lamanites, which protected the city of Mulek, to their leader, whose name was
Jacob, desiring him that he would come out with his armies to meet them upon
the plains between the two cities. But behold, Jacob, who was a Zoramite,
would not come out with his army to meet them upon the plains.
ALM 52:21 And it came to pass that Moroni, having no hopes of meeting them
upon fair grounds, therefore, he resolved upon a plan that he might decoy the
Lamanites out of their strongholds.
ALM 52:22 Therefore he caused that Teancum should take a small number of men
and march down near the seashore; and Moroni and his army, by night, marched
in the wilderness, on the west of the city Mulek; and thus, on the morrow,
when the guards of the Lamanites had discovered Teancum, they ran and told it
unto Jacob, their leader.
ALM 52:23 And it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites did march
forth against Teancum, supposing by their numbers to overpower Teancum
because of the smallness of his numbers. And as Teancum saw the armies of the
Lamanites coming out against him he began to retreat down by the seashore,
northward.
ALM 52:24 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that he began to
flee, they took courage and pursued them with vigor. And while Teancum was
thus leading away the Lamanites who were pursuing them in vain, behold,
Moroni commanded that a part of his army who were with him should march forth
into the city, and take possession of it.
ALM 52:25 And thus they did, and slew all those who had been left to protect
the city, yea, all those who would not yield up their weapons of war.
ALM 52:26 And thus Moroni had obtained possession of the city Mulek with a
part of his army, while he marched with the remainder to meet the Lamanites
when they should return from the pursuit of Teancum.
ALM 52:27 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue Teancum until
they came near the city Bountiful, and then they were met by Lehi and a small
army, which had been left to protect the city Bountiful.
ALM 52:28 And now behold, when the chief captains of the Lamanites had beheld
Lehi with his army coming against them, they fled in much confusion, lest
perhaps they should not obtain the city Mulek before Lehi should overtake
them; for they were wearied because of their march, and the men of Lehi were
fresh.
ALM 52:29 Now the Lamanites did not know that Moroni had been in their rear
with his army; and all they feared was Lehi and his men.
ALM 52:30 Now Lehi was not desirous to overtake them till they should meet
Moroni and his army.
ALM 52:31 And it came to pass that before the Lamanites had retreated far
they were surrounded by the Nephites, by the men of Moroni on one hand, and
the men of Lehi on the other, all of whom were fresh and full of strength;
but the Lamanites were wearied because of their long march.
ALM 52:32 And Moroni commanded his men that they should fall upon them until
they had given up their weapons of war.
ALM 52:33 And it came to pass that Jacob, being their leader, being also a
Zoramite, and having an unconquerable spirit, he led the Lamanites forth to
battle with exceeding fury against Moroni.
ALM 52:34 Moroni being in their course of march, therefore Jacob was
determined to slay them and cut his way through to the city of Mulek. But
behold, Moroni and his men were more powerful; therefore they did not give
way before the Lamanites.
ALM 52:35 And it came to pass that they fought on both hands with exceeding
fury; and there were many slain on both sides; yea, and Moroni was wounded
and Jacob was killed.
ALM 52:36 And Lehi pressed upon their rear with such fury with his strong
men, that the Lamanites in the rear delivered up their weapons of war; and
the remainder of them, being much confused, knew not whither to go or to
strike.
ALM 52:37 Now Moroni seeing their confusion, he said unto them: If ye will
bring forth your weapons of war and deliver them up, behold we will forbear
shedding your blood.
ALM 52:38 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had heard these words,
their chief captains, all those who were not slain, came forth and threw down
their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and also commanded their men that
they should do the same.
ALM 52:39 But behold, there were many that would not; and those who would not
deliver up their swords were taken and bound, and their weapons of war were
taken from them, and they were compelled to march with their brethren forth
into the land Bountiful.
ALM 52:40 And now the number of prisoners who were taken exceeded more than
the number of those who had been slain, yea, more than those who had been
slain on both sides.
ALM 53:0 City Bountiful fortified--Nephite dissension gives advantage to
enemy--Helaman and his two thousand stripling warriors.
ALM 53:1 And it came to pass that they did set guards over the prisoners of
the Lamanites, and did compel them to go forth and bury their dead, yea, and
also the dead of the Nephites who were slain; and Moroni placed men over them
to guard them while they should perform their labors.
ALM 53:2 And Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, and took command of
the city and gave it unto Lehi. Now behold, this Lehi was a man who had been
with Moroni in the more part of all his battles; and he was a man like unto
Moroni, and they rejoiced in each other's safety; yea, they were beloved by
each other, and also beloved by all the people of Nephi.
ALM 53:3 And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had finished burying
their dead and also the dead of the Nephites, they were marched back into the
land Bountiful; and Teancum, by the orders of Moroni, caused that they should
commence laboring in digging a ditch round about the land, or the city,
Bountiful.
ALM 53:4 And he caused that they should build a breastwork of timbers upon
the inner bank of the ditch; and they cast up dirt out of the ditch against
the breastwork of timbers; and thus they did cause the Lamanites to labor
until they had encircled the city of Bountiful round about with a strong wall
of timbers and earth, to an exceeding height.
ALM 53:5 And this city became an exceeding stronghold ever after; and in this
city they did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites; yea, even within a wall
which they had caused them to build with their own hands. Now Moroni was
compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to guard them
while at their labor; and he desired all his forces when he should make an
attack upon the Lamanites.
ALM 53:6 And it came to pass that Moroni had thus gained a victory over one
of the greatest of the armies of the Lamanites, and had obtained possession
of the city of Mulek, which was one of the strongest holds of the Lamanites
in the land of Nephi; and thus he had also built a stronghold to retain his
prisoners.
ALM 53:7 And it came to pass that he did no more attempt a battle with the
Lamanites in that year, but he did employ his men in preparing for war, yea,
and in making fortifications to guard against the Lamanites, yea, and also
delivering their women and their children from famine and affliction, and
providing food for their armies.
ALM 53:8 And now it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites, on the
west sea, south, while in the absence of Moroni on account of some intrigue
amongst the Nephites, which caused dissensions amongst them, had gained some
ground over the Nephites, yea, insomuch that they had obtained possession of
a number of their cities in that part of the land.
ALM 53:9 And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea, because of
dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the most
dangerous circumstances.
ALM 53:10 And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the people of
Ammon, who, in the beginning, were Lamanites; but by Ammon and his brethren,
or rather by the power and word of God, they had been converted unto the
Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever
since been protected by the Nephites.
ALM 53:11 And because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms
against their brethren; for they had taken an oath that they never would shed
blood more; and according to their oath they would have perished; yea, they
would have suffered themselves to have fallen into the hands of their
brethren, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammon and
his brethren had had for them.
ALM 53:12 And for this cause they were brought down into the land of
Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites.
ALM 53:13 But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many
afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were
moved with compassion and were desirous to take up arms in the defence of
their country.
ALM 53:14 But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they
were overpowered by the persuasions of Helaman and his brethren, for they
were about to break the oath which they had made.
ALM 53:15 And Helaman feared lest by so doing they should lose their souls;
therefore all those who had entered into this covenant were compelled to
behold their brethren wade through their afflictions, in their dangerous
circumstances at this time.
ALM 53:16 But behold, it came to pass they had many sons, who had not entered
into a covenant that they would not take their weapons of war to defend
themselves against their enemies; therefore they did assemble themselves
together at this time, as many as were able to take up arms, and they called
themselves Nephites.
ALM 53:17 And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the
Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea,
even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they
would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.
ALM 53:18 Now behold, there were two thousand of those young men, who entered
into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their country.
ALM 53:19 And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to
the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support;
for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be
their leader.
ALM 53:20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for
courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not
all--they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were
entrusted.
ALM 53:21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught
to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.
ALM 53:22 And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his
two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders
of the land on the south by the west sea.
ALM 53:23 And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi.
ALM 54:0 Ammoron asks for exchange of prisoners--Moroni grants request upon
conditions--The Lamanite king's angry reply.
ALM 54:1 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the twenty and ninth
year of the judges, that Ammoron sent unto Moroni desiring that he would
exchange prisoners.
ALM 54:2 And it came to pass that Moroni felt to rejoice exceedingly at this
request, for he desired the provisions which were imparted for the support of
the Lamanite prisoners for the support of his own people; and he also desired
his own people for the strengthening of his army.
ALM 54:3 Now the Lamanites had taken many women and children, and there was
not a woman nor a child among all the prisoners of Moroni, or the prisoners
whom Moroni had taken; therefore Moroni resolved upon a stratagem to obtain
as many prisoners of the Nephites from the Lamanites as it were possible.
ALM 54:4 Therefore he wrote an epistle, and sent it by the servant of
Ammoron, the same who had brought an epistle to Moroni. Now these are the
words which he wrote unto Ammoron, saying:
ALM 54:5 Behold, Ammoron, I have written unto you somewhat concerning this
war which ye have waged against my people, or rather which thy brother hath
waged against them, and which ye are still determined to carry on after his
death.
ALM 54:6 Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice of God, and
the sword of his almighty wrath, which doth hang over you except ye repent
and withdraw your armies into your own lands, or the land of your
possessions, which is the land of Nephi.
ALM 54:7 Yea, I would tell you these things if ye were capable of hearkening
unto them; yea, I would tell you concerning that awful hell that awaits to
receive such murderers as thou and thy brother have been, except ye repent
and withdraw your murderous purposes, and return with your armies to your own
lands.
ALM 54:8 But as ye have once rejected these things, and have fought against
the people of the Lord, even so I may expect you will do it again.
ALM 54:9 And now behold, we are prepared to receive you; yea, and except you
withdraw your purposes, behold, ye will pull down the wrath of that God whom
you have rejected upon you, even to your utter destruction.
ALM 54:10 But, as the Lord liveth, our armies shall come upon you except ye
withdraw, and ye shall soon be visited with death, for we will retain our
cities and our lands; yea, and we will maintain our religion and the cause of
our God.
ALM 54:11 But behold, it supposeth me that I talk to you concerning these
things in vain; or it supposeth me that thou art a child of hell; therefore I
will close my epistle by telling you that I will not exchange prisoners, save
it be on conditions that ye will deliver up a man and his wife and his
children, for one prisoner; if this be the case that ye will do it, I will
exchange.
ALM 54:12 And behold, if ye do not this, I will come against you with my
armies; yea, even I will arm my women and my children, and I will come
against you, and I will follow you even into your own land, which is the land
of our first inheritance; yea, and it shall be blood for blood, yea, life for
life; and I will give you battle even until you are destroyed from off the
face of the earth.
ALM 54:13 Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people; ye have sought to
murder us, and we have only sought to defend ourselves. But behold, if ye
seek to destroy us more we will seek to destroy you; yea, and we will seek
our land, the land of our first inheritance.
ALM 54:14 Now I close my epistle. I am Moroni; I am a leader of the people of
the Nephites.
ALM 54:15 Now it came to pass that Ammoron, when he had received this
epistle, was angry; and he wrote another epistle unto Moroni, and these are
the words which he wrote, saying:
ALM 54:16 I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites; I am the brother of
Amalickiah whom ye have murdered. Behold, I will avenge his blood upon you,
yea, and I will come upon you with my armies for I fear not your
threatenings.
ALM 54:17 For behold, your fathers did wrong their brethren, insomuch that
they did rob them of their right to the government when it rightly belonged
unto them.
ALM 54:18 And now behold, if ye will lay down your arms, and subject
yourselves to be governed by those to whom the government doth rightly
belong, then will I cause that my people shall lay down their weapons and
shall be at war no more.
ALM 54:19 Behold, ye have breathed out many threatenings against me and my
people; but behold, we fear not your threatenings.
ALM 54:20 Nevertheless, I will grant to exchange prisoners according to your
request, gladly, that I may preserve my food for my men of war; and we will
wage a war which shall be eternal, either to the subjecting the Nephites to
our authority or to their eternal extinction.
ALM 54:21 And as concerning that God whom ye say we have rejected, behold, we
know not such a being; neither do ye; but if it so be that there is such a
being, we know not but that he hath made us as well as you.
ALM 54:22 And if it so be that there is a devil and a hell, behold will he
not send you there to dwell with my brother whom ye have murdered, whom ye
have hinted that he hath gone to such a place? But behold these things matter
not.
ALM 54:23 I am Ammoron, and a descendant of Zoram, whom your fathers pressed
and brought out of Jerusalem.
ALM 54:24 And behold now, I am a bold Lamanite; behold, this war hath been
waged to avenge their wrongs, and to maintain and to obtain their rights to
the government; and I close my epistle to Moroni.
ALM 55:0 Moroni, incensed at Ammoron's false assertions, refuses to exchange
prisoners--Strategy secures release of captured Nephites--City of Gid taken
without bloodshed.
ALM 55:1 Now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle he
was more angry, because he knew that Ammoron had a perfect knowledge of his
fraud; yea, he knew that Ammoron knew that it was not a just cause that had
caused him to wage a war against the people of Nephi.
ALM 55:2 And he said: Behold, I will not exchange prisoners with Ammoron save
he will withdraw his purpose, as I have stated in my epistle; for I will not
grant unto him that he shall have any more power than what he hath got.
ALM 55:3 Behold, I know the place where the Lamanites do guard my people whom
they have taken prisoners; and as Ammoron would not grant unto me mine
epistle, behold, I will give unto him according to my words; yea, I will seek
death among them until they shall sue for peace.
ALM 55:4 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words, he
caused that a search should be made among his men, that perhaps he might find
a man who was a descendant of Laman among them.
ALM 55:5 And it came to pass that they found one, whose name was Laman; and
he was one of the servants of the king who was murdered by Amalickiah.
ALM 55:6 Now Moroni caused that Laman and a small number of his men should go
forth unto the guards who were over the Nephites.
ALM 55:7 Now the Nephites were guarded in the city of Gid; therefore Moroni
appointed Laman and caused that a small number of men should go with him.
ALM 55:8 And when it was evening Laman went to the guards who were over the
Nephites, and behold, they saw him coming and they hailed him; but he saith
unto them: Fear not; behold, I am a Lamanite. Behold, we have escaped from
the Nephites, and they sleep; and behold we have taken of their wine and
brought with us.
ALM 55:9 Now when the Lamanites heard these words they received him with joy;
and they said unto him: Give us of your wine, that we may drink; we are glad
that ye have thus taken wine with you for we are weary.
ALM 55:10 But Laman said unto them: Let us keep of our wine till we go
against the Nephites to battle. But this saying only made them more desirous
to drink of the wine;
ALM 55:11 For, said they: We are weary, therefore let us take of the wine,
and by and by we shall receive wine for our rations, which will strengthen us
to go against the Nephites.
ALM 55:12 And Laman said unto them: You may do according to your desires.
ALM 55:13 And it came to pass that they did take of the wine freely; and it
was pleasant to their taste, therefore they took of it more freely; and it
was strong, having been prepared in its strength.
ALM 55:14 And it came to pass they did drink and were merry, and by and by
they were all drunken.
ALM 55:15 And now when Laman and his men saw that they were all drunken, and
were in a deep sleep, they returned to Moroni and told him all the things
that had happened.
ALM 55:16 And now this was according to the design of Moroni. And Moroni had
prepared his men with weapons of war; and he went to the city Gid, while the
Lamanites were in a deep sleep and drunken, and cast in weapons of war unto
the prisoners, insomuch that they were all armed;
ALM 55:17 Yea, even to their women, and all those of their children, as many
as were able to use a weapon of war, when Moroni had armed all those
prisoners; and all those things were done in a profound silence.
ALM 55:18 But had they awakened the Lamanites, behold they were drunken and
the Nephites could have slain them.
ALM 55:19 But behold, this was not the desire of Moroni; he did not delight
in murder or bloodshed, but he delighted in the saving of his people from
destruction; and for this cause he might not bring upon him injustice, he
would not fall upon the Lamanites and destroy them in their drunkenness.
ALM 55:20 But he had obtained his desires; for he had armed those prisoners
of the Nephites who were within the wall of the city, and had given them
power to gain possession of those parts which were within the walls.
ALM 55:21 And then he caused the men who were with him to withdraw a pace
from them, and surround the armies of the Lamanites.
ALM 55:22 Now behold this was done in the night-time, so that when the
Lamanites awoke in the morning they beheld that they were surrounded by the
Nephites without, and that their prisoners were armed within.
ALM 55:23 And thus they saw that the Nephites had power over them; and in
these circumstances they found that it was not expedient that they should
fight with the Nephites; therefore their chief captains demanded their
weapons of war, and they brought them forth and cast them at the feet of the
Nephites, pleading for mercy.
ALM 55:24 Now behold, this was the desire of Moroni. He took them prisoners
of war, and took possession of the city, and caused that all the prisoners
should be liberated, who were Nephites; and they did join the army of Moroni,
and were a great strength to his army.
ALM 55:25 And it came to pass that he did cause the Lamanites, whom he had
taken prisoners, that they should commence a labor in strengthening the
fortifications round about the city Gid.
ALM 55:26 And it came to pass that when he had fortified the city Gid,
according to his desires, he caused that his prisoners should be taken to the
city Bountiful; and he also guarded that city with an exceedingly strong
force.
ALM 55:27 And it came to pass that they did, notwithstanding all the
intrigues of the Lamanites, keep and protect all the prisoners whom they had
taken, and also maintain all the ground and the advantage which they had
retaken.
ALM 55:28 And it came to pass that the Nephites began again to be victorious,
and to reclaim their rights and their privileges.
ALM 55:29 Many times did the Lamanites attempt to encircle them about by
night, but in these attempts they did lose many prisoners.
ALM 55:30 And many times did they attempt to administer of their wine to the
Nephites, that they might destroy them with poison or with drunkenness.
ALM 55:31 But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their
God in this their time of affliction. They could not be taken in their
snares; yea, they would not partake of their wine, save they had first given
to some of the Lamanite prisoners.
ALM 55:32 And they were thus cautious that no poison should be administered
among them; for if their wine would poison a Lamanite it would also poison a
Nephite; and thus they did try all their liquors.
ALM 55:33 And now it came to pass that it was expedient for Moroni to make
preparations to attack the city Morianton; for behold, the Lamanites had, by
their labors, fortified the city Morianton until it had become an exceeding
stronghold.
ALM 55:34 And they were continually bringing new forces into that city, and
also new supplies of provisions.
ALM 55:35 And thus ended the twenty and ninth year of the reign of the judges
over the people of Nephi.
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