The Book of Mormon Part 82

Alma 46:27 27 And now who knoweth but what the remnant of the seed of Joseph, which shall perish as his garment, are those who have dissented from us? Yea, and even it shall be ourselves if we do not stand fast in the faith of Christ.

Alma 46:28 28 And now it came to pa.s.s that when Moroni had said these words he went forth, and also sent forth in all the parts of the land where there were dissensions, and gathered together all the people who were desirous to maintain their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had dissented, who were called Amalickiahites.

Alma 46:29 29 And it came to pa.s.s that when Amalickiah saw that the people of Moroni were more numerous than the Amalickiahites--and he also saw that his people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause in which they had undertaken--therefore, fearing that he should not gain the point, he took those of his people who would and departed into the land of Nephi.

Alma 46:30 30 Now Moroni thought it was not expedient that the Lamanites should have any more strength; therefore he thought to cut off the people of Amalickiah, or to take them and bring them back, and put Amalickiah to death; yea, for he knew that he would stir up the Lamanites to anger against them, and cause them to come to battle against them; and this he knew that Amalickiah would do that he might obtain his purposes.

Alma 46:31 31 Therefore Moroni thought it was expedient that he should take his armies, who had gathered themselves together, and armed themselves, and entered into a covenant to keep the peace--and it came to pa.s.s that he took his army and marched out with his tents into the wilderness, to cut off the course of Amalickiah in the wilderness.

Alma 46:32 32 And it came to pa.s.s that he did according to his desires, and marched forth into the wilderness, and headed the armies of Amalickiah.

Alma 46:33 33 And it came to pa.s.s that Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men, and the remainder were delivered up into the hands of Moroni and were taken back into the land of Zarahemla.

Alma 46:34 34 Now, Moroni being a man who was appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, therefore he had power according to his will with the armies of the Nephites, to establish and to exercise authority over them.

Alma 46:35 35 And it came to pa.s.s that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, he caused to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom.

Alma 46:36 36 And it came to pa.s.s also, that he caused the t.i.tle of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.

Alma 46:37 37 And they began to have peace again in the land; and thus they did maintain peace in the land until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges.

Alma 46:38 38 And Helaman and the high priests did also maintain order in the church; yea, even for the s.p.a.ce of four years did they have much peace and rejoicing in the church.

Alma 46:39 39 And it came to pa.s.s that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing.

Alma 46:40 40 And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land--but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which G.o.d had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate--

Alma 46:41 41 But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose.

Alma 47 Chapter 47

Alma 47:1 1 Now we will return in our record to Amalickiah and those who had fled with him into the wilderness; for, behold, he had taken those who went with him, and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi, insomuch that the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land, among all his people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the Nephites.

Alma 47:2 2 And it came to pa.s.s that when the proclamation had gone forth among them they were exceedingly afraid; yea, they feared to displease the king, and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites lest they should lose their lives. And it came to pa.s.s that they would not, or the more part of them would not, obey the commandments of the king.

Alma 47:3 3 And now it came to pa.s.s that the king was wroth because of their disobedience; therefore he gave Amalickiah the command of that part of his army which was obedient unto his commands, and commanded him that he should go forth and compel them to arms.

Alma 47:4 4 Now behold, this was the desire of Amalickiah; for he being a very subtle man to do evil therefore he laid the plan in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites.

Alma 47:5 5 And now he had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who were in favor of the king; and he sought to gain favor of those who were not obedient; therefore he went forward to the place which was called Onidah, for thither had all the Lamanites fled; for they discovered the army coming, and, supposing that they were coming to destroy them, therefore they fled to Onidah, to the place of arms.

Alma 47:6 6 And they had appointed a man to be a king and a leader over them, being fixed in their minds with a determined resolution that they would not be subjected to go against the Nephites.

Alma 47:7 7 And it came to pa.s.s that they had gathered themselves together upon the top of the mount which was called Antipas, in preparation to battle.

Alma 47:8 8 Now it was not Amalickiah's intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the king; but behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites, that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take possession of the kingdom.

Alma 47:9 9 And behold, it came to pa.s.s that he caused his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the mount Antipas.

Alma 47:10 10 And it came to pa.s.s that when it was night he sent a secret emba.s.sy into the mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were upon the mount, whose name was Lehonti, that he should come down to the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him.

Alma 47:11 11 And it came to pa.s.s that when Lehonti received the message he durst not go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pa.s.s that Amalickiah sent again the second time, desiring him to come down. And it came to pa.s.s that Lehonti would not; and he sent again the third time.

Alma 47:12 12 And it came to pa.s.s that when Amalickiah found that he could not get Lehonti to come down off from the mount, he went up into the mount, nearly to Lehonti's camp; and he sent again the fourth time his message unto Lehonti, desiring that he would come down, and that he would bring his guards with him.

Alma 47:13 13 And it came to pa.s.s that when Lehonti had come down with his guards to Amalickiah, that Amalickiah desired him to come down with his army in the night-time, and surround those men in their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would deliver them up into Lehonti's hands, if he would make him (Amalickiah) a second leader over the whole army.

Alma 47:14 14 And it came to pa.s.s that Lehonti came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalickiah, so that before they awoke at the dawn of day they were surrounded by the armies of Lehonti.

Alma 47:15 15 And it came to pa.s.s that when they saw that they were surrounded, they plead with Amalickiah that he would suffer them to fall in with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed.

Now this was the very thing which Amalickiah desired.

Alma 47:16 16 And it came to pa.s.s that he delivered his men, contrary to the commands of the king. Now this was the thing that Amalickiah desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king.

Alma 47:17 17 Now it was the custom among the Lamanites, if their chief leader was killed, to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader.

Alma 47:18 18 And it came to pa.s.s that Amalickiah caused that one of his servants should administer poison by degrees to Lehonti, that he died.

Alma 47:19 19 Now, when Lehonti was dead, the Lamanites appointed Amalickiah to be their leader and their chief commander.

Alma 47:20 20 And it came to pa.s.s that Amalickiah marched with his armies (for he had gained his desires) to the land of Nephi, to the city of Nephi, which was the chief city.

Alma 47:21 21 And the king came out to meet him with his guards, for he supposed that Amalickiah had fulfilled his commands, and that Amalickiah had gathered together so great an army to go against the Nephites to battle.

Alma 47:22 22 But behold, as the king came out to meet him Amalickiah caused that his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they went and bowed themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of his greatness.

Alma 47:23 23 And it came to pa.s.s that the king put forth his hand to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites.

Alma 47:24 24 And it came to pa.s.s that when he had raised the first from the ground, behold he stabbed the king to the heart; and he fell to the earth.

Alma 47:25 25 Now the servants of the king fled; and the servants of Amalickiah raised a cry, saying:

Alma 47:26 26 Behold, the servants of the king have stabbed him to the heart, and he has fallen and they have fled; behold, come and see.

Alma 47:27 27 And it came to pa.s.s that Amalickiah commanded that his armies should march forth and see what had happened to the king; and when they had come to the spot, and found the king lying in his gore, Amalickiah pretended to be wroth, and said: Whosoever loved the king, let him go forth, and pursue his servants that they may be slain.

Alma 47:28 28 And it came to pa.s.s that all they who loved the king, when they heard these words, came forth and pursued after the servants of the king.

Alma 47:29 29 Now when the servants of the king saw an army pursuing after them, they were frightened again, and fled into the wilderness, and came over into the land of Zarahemla and joined the people of Ammon.

Alma 47:30 30 And the army which pursued after them returned, having pursued after them in vain; and thus Amalickiah, by his fraud, gained the hearts of the people.

Alma 47:31 31 And it came to pa.s.s on the morrow he entered the city Nephi with his armies, and took possession of the city.

Alma 47:32 32 And now it came to pa.s.s that the queen, when she had heard that the king was slain--for Amalickiah had sent an emba.s.sy to the queen informing her that the king had been slain by his servants, that he had pursued them with his army, but it was in vain, and they had made their escape--

Alma 47:33 33 Therefore, when the queen had received this message she sent unto Amalickiah, desiring him that he would spare the people of the city; and she also desired him that he should come in unto her; and she also desired him that he should bring witnesses with him to testify concerning the death of the king.