The Book of Mormon Part 84

Alma 49:20 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.

Alma 49:21 21 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 49:22 22 Now when they found that they could not obtain power over the Nephites by the pa.s.s, they began to dig down their banks of earth that they might obtain a pa.s.s 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.

Alma 49:23 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.

Alma 49:24 24 There were about fifty who were wounded, who had been exposed to the arrows of the Lamanites through the pa.s.s, but they were s.h.i.+elded by their s.h.i.+elds, and their breastplates, and their head-plates, insomuch that their wounds were upon their legs, many of which were very severe.

Alma 49:25 25 And it came to pa.s.s, that when the Lamanites saw that their chief captains were all slain they fled into the wilderness. And it came to pa.s.s that they returned to the land of Nephi, to inform their king, Amalickiah, who was a Nephite by birth, concerning their great loss.

Alma 49:26 26 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 49:27 27 Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he did curse G.o.d, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would drink his blood; and this because Moroni had kept the commandments of G.o.d in preparing for the safety of his people.

Alma 49:28 28 And it came to pa.s.s, that on the other hand, the people of Nephi did thank the Lord their G.o.d, because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies.

Alma 49:29 29 And thus ended the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

Alma 49:30 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 G.o.d, which was declared unto them by Helaman, and s.h.i.+blon, and Corianton, and Ammon and his brethren, yea, and by all those who had been ordained by the holy order of G.o.d, being baptized unto repentance, and sent forth to preach among the people.

Alma 50 Chapter 50

Alma 50:1 1 And now it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 50:2 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.

Alma 50:3 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.

Alma 50:4 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.

Alma 50:5 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.

Alma 50:6 6 Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land.

Alma 50:7 7 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 50:8 8 And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west.

Alma 50:9 9 And it came to pa.s.s 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 seash.o.r.e, and possess the land.

Alma 50:10 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.

Alma 50:11 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.

Alma 50:12 12 Thus Moroni, with his armies, which did increase daily because of the a.s.surance 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.

Alma 50:13 13 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 50:14 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.

Alma 50:15 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 seash.o.r.e.

Alma 50:16 16 And thus ended the twentieth year.

Alma 50:17 17 And in these prosperous circ.u.mstances 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.

Alma 50:18 18 And they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceedingly rich; yea, and they did multiply and wax strong in the land.

Alma 50:19 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:

Alma 50:20 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.

Alma 50:21 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 wh.o.r.edoms, and their abominations, which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars and their destructions.

Alma 50:22 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.

Alma 50:23 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.

Alma 50:24 24 And it came to pa.s.s that the twenty and second year of the reign of the judges also ended in peace; yea, and also the twenty and third year.

Alma 50:25 25 And it came to pa.s.s 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 seash.o.r.e.

Alma 50:26 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.

Alma 50:27 27 But behold, the people who possessed the land of Lehi fled to the camp of Moroni, and appealed unto him for a.s.sistance; for behold they were not in the wrong.

Alma 50:28 28 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 50:29 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.

Alma 50:30 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 pa.s.sion, therefore he was angry with one of his maid servants, and he fell upon her and beat her much.

Alma 50:31 31 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 50:32 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.

Alma 50:33 33 Therefore Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Morianton, to stop their flight into the land northward.

Alma 50:34 34 And it came to pa.s.s 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 pa.s.s which led by the sea into the land northward, yea, by the sea, on the west and on the east.

Alma 50:35 35 And it came to pa.s.s that the army which was sent by Moroni, which was led by a man whose name was Teanc.u.m, 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 Teanc.u.m 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.

Alma 50:36 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.

Alma 50:37 37 And it came to pa.s.s 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 G.o.d.

Alma 50:38 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.