The Book of Mormon Part 86

Alma 52:10 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.

Alma 52:11 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.

Alma 52:12 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.

Alma 52:13 13 And thus he was endeavoring to hara.s.s 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 hara.s.s 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.

Alma 52:14 14 And thus were the Nephites in those dangerous circ.u.mstances in the ending of the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

Alma 52:15 15 But behold, it came to pa.s.s in the twenty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, that Teanc.u.m, 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 a.s.sist Teanc.u.m with his men in retaking the cities which they had lost--

Alma 52:16 16 And it came to pa.s.s that Teanc.u.m had received orders to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and retake it if it were possible.

Alma 52:17 17 And it came to pa.s.s that Teanc.u.m 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.

Alma 52:18 18 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 52:19 19 And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth year, Moroni and Teanc.u.m 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.

Alma 52:20 20 And it came to pa.s.s they sent emba.s.sies 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.

Alma 52:21 21 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 52:22 22 Therefore he caused that Teanc.u.m should take a small number of men and march down near the seash.o.r.e; 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 Teanc.u.m, they ran and told it unto Jacob, their leader.

Alma 52:23 23 And it came to pa.s.s that the armies of the Lamanites did march forth against Teanc.u.m, supposing by their numbers to overpower Teanc.u.m because of the smallness of his numbers. And as Teanc.u.m saw the armies of the Lamanites coming out against him he began to retreat down by the seash.o.r.e, northward.

Alma 52:24 24 And it came to pa.s.s that when the Lamanites saw that he began to flee, they took courage and pursued them with vigor. And while Teanc.u.m 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.

Alma 52:25 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.

Alma 52:26 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 Teanc.u.m.

Alma 52:27 27 And it came to pa.s.s that the Lamanites did pursue Teanc.u.m 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.

Alma 52:28 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.

Alma 52:29 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.

Alma 52:30 30 Now Lehi was not desirous to overtake them till they should meet Moroni and his army.

Alma 52:31 31 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 52:32 32 And Moroni commanded his men that they should fall upon them until they had given up their weapons of war.

Alma 52:33 33 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 52:34 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.

Alma 52:35 35 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 52:36 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.

Alma 52:37 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.

Alma 52:38 38 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 52:39 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.

Alma 52:40 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.

Alma 53 Chapter 53

Alma 53:1 1 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 53:2 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.

Alma 53:3 3 And it came to pa.s.s 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 Teanc.u.m, by the orders of Moroni, caused that they should commence laboring in digging a ditch round about the land, or the city, Bountiful.

Alma 53:4 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.

Alma 53:5 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.

Alma 53:6 6 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 53:7 7 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 53:8 8 And now it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 53:9 9 And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the most dangerous circ.u.mstances.

Alma 53:10 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 G.o.d, 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.

Alma 53:11 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.

Alma 53:12 12 And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites.

Alma 53:13 13 But it came to pa.s.s that when they saw the danger, and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compa.s.sion and were desirous to take up arms in the defence of their country.

Alma 53:14 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.

Alma 53:15 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 circ.u.mstances at this time.

Alma 53:16 16 But behold, it came to pa.s.s 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 a.s.semble themselves together at this time, as many as were able to take up arms, and they called themselves Nephites.

Alma 53:17 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.

Alma 53:18 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.