Chapter 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 aready to give them battle on that day.
So later the Lamanites found their king dead and the Nephites about to go to battle.
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 aMulek, and sought protection in their fortifications.
So they tried to defend themselves.
3 And it came to pass that the abrother of Amalickiah was appointed king over the people; and his name was bAmmoron; thus king Ammoron, the brother of king Amalickiah, was appointed to reign in his stead.
Amalickiah’s brother, Ammoron, took his place.
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.
Since they had lost a lot of blood in taking cities he wanted to keep them.
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.
Teancum decided to not attack them in their forts.
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 acasting up walls round about and preparing places of resort.
But he made preparation for war.
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.
Moroni fortified their army.
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 aransom for those whom the Lamanites had taken.
Moroni kept prisoners for strategy also.
9 And he also sent orders unto him that he should fortify the land aBountiful, and secure the bnarrow pass which led into the land cnorthward, lest the Lamanites should obtain that point and should have power to harass them on every side.
He had a geographical tactic.
10 And Moroni also sent unto him, desiring him that he would be afaithful 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.
Moroni encouraged him.
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.
Moroni had armies on him too.
12 Now, the king (Ammoron) had adeparted 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.
Ammoron was going to war. He told Amalickiah’s wife about Amalickiah’s death.
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.
His strategy was to get them.
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.
The Nephites had a dangerous existence that year.
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—
But then they wanted the cities back.
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.
So Teancum was supposed to try to retain a city.
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.
Because of preparation Ammoron failed.
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.
Moroni drove them away.
19 And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth year, Moroni and Teancum and many of the chief acaptains 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.
They wanted to trick the Lamanites.
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 aZoramite, would not come out with his army to meet them upon the plains.
The embassy plan faltered, like the first attempt to get the brass plates.
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 adecoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds.
Moroni wants to decoy them.
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 aMulek; and thus, on the morrow, when the guards of the Lamanites had discovered Teancum, they ran and told it unto Jacob, their leader.
He had a small number of men as bait.
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.
So the Lamanites took the bait.
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.
The decoys began to flee; the Lamanites fell victim to their bloodthirstiness.
25 And thus they did, and slew all those who had been left to protect the city, yea, all those who would not ayield up their weapons of war.
Strategy worked.
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.
Moroni had won back a city.
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.
The same thing again?
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.
Because of their strength they fled.
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.
But there was an army in front of and in back of them.
30 Now Lehi was not desirous to overtake them till they should meet Moroni and his army.
Lehi wanted to meet them when the two Nephite armies were together.
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.
The Lamanites lost majorly.
32 And Moroni commanded his men that they should fall upon them until they had given up their weapons of war.
Moroni commands them to be killed unless they drop their weapons.
33 And it came to pass that Jacob, being their leader, being also a aZoramite, and having an unconquerable spirit, he led the Lamanites forth to battle with exceeding fury against Moroni.
But they fought with fury with a Zoramite leader.
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.
But Moroni’s men were more powerful.
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.
Both sides fought hard.
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.
They gave up their weapons or got confused.
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.
So since they were confused Moroni explained his terms of peace.
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 aat the feet of Moroni, and also commanded their men that they should do the same.
They put down their weapons.
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.
Otherwise they were taken as slaves.
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.
There were more prisoners than slain on both sides!
Chapter 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.
They used slaves.
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 alike 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.
Mulek was like Moroni. MLK is “king” in Hebrew.
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 adigging a ditch round about the land, or the city, bBountiful.
The slaves were forced used for burial, then defense.
4 And he caused that they should build a abreastwork 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.
They made a wonderful defense.
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 abuild 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.
This city would remain strong.
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 aMulek, 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.
So the Nephites were “winning.”
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.
They sustained themselves that year and prepared.
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 adissensions 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.
The Nephites had lost some ground themselves to blame.
9 And thus because of ainiquity amongst themselves, yea, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances.
It was iniquity and it led them to be in danger.
10 And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the apeople 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 bconverted unto the Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites.
About the Ammonites-
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 anever 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.
They had vowed not to fight again.
12 And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been aprotected by the Nephites.
The Nephites were protecting them because of this.
13 But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many aafflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compassion and were bdesirous to take up arms in the defence of their country.
They felt like defending their country.
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 abreak the boath which they had made.
But Helaman didn’t want them to break their oath.
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.
Helaman wanted them to keep their souls.
16 But behold, it came to pass they had many asons, 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.
Their children hadn’t taken the oath and prepared for battle.
17 And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the alaying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their bliberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.
They fought for their liberty.
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.
There were 2000 of them.
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.
So nature finds a way.
20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for acourage, 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.
These young men had character. Valience for courage, strength, activity, and responsible.
21 Yea, they were men of truth and asoberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to bwalk uprightly before him.
They had more character. Truth, soberness, obdeience and uprightness.
22 And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his atwo thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea.
Stripling means young man.
23 And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
That was the end of the year.
Chapter 54
1 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the twenty and ninth year of the judges, that aAmmoron sent unto Moroni desiring that he would exchange prisoners.
About prisoner exchange.
2 And it came to pass that Moroni felt to arejoice 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.
This was practical to Moroni so he wanted it.
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.
Moroni maximized prisoner release.
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:
He addressed Ammoron:
5 Behold, Ammoron, I have written unto you somewhat concerning this war which ye have waged against my people, or rather which thy abrother hath waged against them, and which ye are still determined to carry on after his death.
He addressed the situation.
6 Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the ajustice 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.
He could preach to him.
7 Yea, I would tell you these things if ye were capable of hearkening unto them; yea, I would tell you concerning that awful ahell that awaits to receive such bmurderers as thou and thy brother have been, except ye repent and withdraw your murderous purposes, and return with your armies to your own lands.
Warning him about his spiritual destiny.
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.
Saying it’s even unlikely for him to repent.
9 And now behold, we are prepared to receive you; yea, and except you withdraw your purposes, behold, ye will pull down the awrath of that God whom you have rejected upon you, even to your utter destruction.
God will destroy your people if you don’t withdraw your plans.
10 But, as the Lord liveth, our armies shall come upon you except ye withdraw, and ye shall soon be visited with adeath, for we will retain our cities and our lands; yea, and we will maintain our religion and the cause of our God.
They will keep following God!
11 But behold, it supposeth me that I talk to you concerning these things in vain; or it supposeth me that thou art a achild 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.
He offers an exchange of prisoners anyhow.
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 aour 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.
He threatens either an attack or an exchange.
13 Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people; ye have sought to amurder 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.
He is angry; he only wanted to live, but they will survive even if it means killing them.
14 Now I close my epistle. I am Moroni; I am a leader of the people of the Nephites.
The end of the epistle.
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:
Ammoron was angry also.
16 I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites; I am the brother of Amalickiah whom ye have amurdered. Behold, I will avenge his blood upon you, yea, and I will come upon you with my armies for I fear not your threatenings.
He said Amalickiah was murdered through Moroni.
17 For behold, your fathers did wrong their brethren, insomuch that they did rob them of their aright to the bgovernment when it rightly belonged unto them.
He said the Lamanites originally deserved to rule, not Nephi.
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.
He said he would make peace if they laid down their arms!
19 Behold, ye have breathed out many threatenings against me and my people; but behold, we fear not your threatenings.
He said their threats were hot air.
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.
He said he would do the exchange, and that it would help him.
21 And as concerning that God whom ye say we have rejected, behold, we aknow 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.
He denies God, but implies God would judge them too.
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.
He brings up killing Amalickiah again with judgement.
23 I am Ammoron, and a descendant of aZoram, whom your fathers pressed and brought out of Jerusalem.
He goes back to the founding of the country with Nephi, Sam, Laman, Lemuel and Zoram and the Ishmaelites.
24 And behold now, I am a bold Lamanite; behold, this war hath been waged to avenge their wrongs, and ato maintain and to obtain their rights to the government; and I close my epistle to Moroni.
He says he’s right and closes his epistle.
Chapter 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 afraud; 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.
Moroni was angry at Ammoron’s fraud.
2 And he said: Behold, I will not exchange prisoners with Ammoron save he will withdraw his apurpose, 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.
Because of Ammoron’s fraud, Ammoron would not get an exchange of prisoners.
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.
He vowed to fight them until they wanted peace.
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.
He found a Lamanite-by-genes Nephite-by-belief in his people.
5 And it came to pass that they found one, whose name was Laman; and he was aone of the servants of the king who was murdered by Amalickiah.
They found one who had belonged to the king who was murdered by Amalickiah.
6 Now Moroni caused that Laman and a small number of his men should go forth unto the guards who were over the Nephites.
So Moroni took a few men to the guards over the Nephites.
7 Now the Nephites were guarded in the city of aGid; therefore Moroni appointed Laman and caused that a small number of men should go with him.
He sent the man with a few others.
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.
He said he was a Lamanite escapee and brought wine.
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.
The Lamanites were happy to drink.
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;
Laman made them want it more bad by tempting them to do the right thing.
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.
They said they’d take it by and by to help relieve themselves before fighting.
12 And Laman said unto them: You may do according to your desires.
Laman allowed it.
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 astrength.
It was set up and they fell for it.
14 And it came to pass they did drink and were merry, and by and by they were all adrunken.
They got really drunk.
15 And now when Laman and his men saw that they were all drunken, and were in a adeep sleep, they returned to Moroni and told him all the things that had happened.
They reported to Moroni.
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 aweapons of war unto the prisoners, insomuch that they were all armed;
So they gave weapons to the prisoners past the guards.
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.
They even gave weapons to women and children.
18 But had they awakened the Lamanites, behold they were drunken and the Nephites could have slain them.
But it wouldn’t have mattered if they woke because they could have slain them. This verse seems a little callous; maybe they wouldn’t have wanted to slay them.
19 But behold, this was not the desire of Moroni; he did not adelight 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.
That’s key; Moroni did not want bloodshed.
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.
But he armed the Nephites in the walls.
21 And then he caused the men who were with him to withdraw a pace from them, and surround the armies of the Lamanites.
Then they surrounded the Lamanites.
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.
The Lamanites woke to a shock.
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 acaptains demanded their weapons of war, and they brought them forth and bcast them at the feet of the Nephites, pleading for mercy.
There was no reason to fight so they just gave away their weapons to the Nephites.
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.
But Moroni took them as POWs.
25 And it came to pass that he did cause the Lamanites, whom he had taken prisoners, that they should commence a alabor in strengthening the fortifications round about the city Gid.
He made those POWs work on their own enemy’s defense.
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.
Then he took the prisoners to another city and had them guard it well.
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.
The Lamanites tried things but nothing worked.
28 And it came to pass that the Nephites began aagain to be victorious, and to reclaim their rights and their privileges.
The Nephites began to reclaim what they believed belonged to them.
29 Many times did the Lamanites attempt to encircle them about by night, but in these attempts they did lose many prisoners.
the Lamanites tried to surround them by night, but they just got captured lots of them.
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.
They tried to do wine back to the Nephites. Note D&C 89 says wicked men can use wine.
31 But behold, the Nephites were not slow to aremember 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.
The Nephites remembered things thanks to their God.
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.
They still drank alcohol, I guess they didn’t know better, but they tried it on the Lamanites first.
33 And now it came to pass that it was expedient for Moroni to make preparations to attack the city aMorianton; for behold, the Lamanites had, by their labors, fortified the city Morianton until it had become an exceeding stronghold.
Moroni wanted to go after a Lamanite fortification.
34 And they were continually bringing new forces into that city, and also new supplies of provisions.
The Lamanites kept fortifying it.
35 And thus ended the twenty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
A year passed.
Chapter 56
1 And now it came to pass in the commencement of the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges, on the second day in the first month, aMoroni received an bepistle from Helaman, stating the affairs of the people in cthat quarter of the land.
OK Moroni got a letter from Helaman.
2 And these are the words which he wrote, saying: My dearly beloved brother, Moroni, as well in the Lord as in the tribulations of our warfare; behold, my beloved brother, I have somewhat to tell you concerning our warfare in this part of the land.
Helaman wants to tell him about their war.
3 Behold, atwo thousand of the sons of those men whom Ammon brought down out of the land of Nephi—now ye have known that these were descendants of Laman, who was the eldest son of our father Lehi;
Regarding the 2000 stripling warriors-
4 Now I need not rehearse unto you concerning their traditions or their unbelief, for thou knowest concerning all these things—
They came from unbelievers.
5 Therefore it sufficeth me that I tell you that two thousand of these young men have taken their weapons of war, and would that I should be their leader; and we have come forth to defend our country.
But they want Helaman to help them defend their country.
6 And now ye also know concerning the acovenant which their fathers made, that they would not take up their weapons of war against their brethren to shed blood.
There parents, because of sin, swore not to fight, leaving it up to them.
7 But in the twenty and sixth year, when they saw our afflictions and our tribulations for them, they were about to abreak the covenant which they had made and take up their weapons of war in our defence.
They almost broke their covenant because of the threat.
8 But I would not suffer them that they should break this acovenant which they had made, supposing that God would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of the fulfilling the boath which they had taken.
Helaman believed in God.
9 But behold, here is one thing in which we may have great joy. For behold, in the twenty and sixth year, I, Helaman, did march at the head of these atwo thousand young men to the city of bJudea, to assist Antipus, whom ye had appointed a leader over the people of that part of the land.
So he marched with his 2000.
10 And I did join my two thousand asons, (for they are worthy to be called sons) to the army of Antipus, in which strength Antipus did rejoice exceedingly; for behold, his army had been reduced by the Lamanites because their forces had slain a vast number of our men, for which cause we have to mourn.
Many had died already.
11 Nevertheless, we may console ourselves in this point, that they have died in the cause of their country and of their God, yea, and they are ahappy.
But their afterlife was hopeful.
12 And the Lamanites had also retained many prisoners, all of whom are chief acaptains, for none other have they spared alive. And we suppose that they are now at this time in the land of Nephi; it is so if they are not slain.
The Lamanites only kept the enemy captains alive.
13 And now these are the cities of which the Lamanites have obtained possession by the shedding of the blood of so many of our valiant men:
These are the cities the Nephites lost even though they were valient.
14 The land of aManti, or the city of Manti, and the city of Zeezrom, and the city of bCumeni, and the city of Antiparah.
4 cities.
15 And these are the cities which they possessed when I arrived at the city of Judea; and I found Antipus and his men toiling with their might to fortify the city.
Closing the statement.
16 Yea, and they were depressed in body as well as in spirit, for they had fought valiantly by day and toiled by night to maintain their cities; and thus they had suffered great afflictions of every kind.
They were warn out from warfare.
17 And now they were determined to conquer in this place or die; therefore you may well suppose that this little force which I brought with me, yea, those asons of mine, gave them great hopes and much joy.
They wanted to win.
18 And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Antipus had received a greater strength to his army, they were compelled by the orders of Ammoron to not come against the city of Judea, or against us, to battle.
So the Lamanities because of their large numbers came against the Nephites.
19 And thus were we favored of the Lord; for had they come upon us in this our weakness they might have perhaps destroyed our little army; but thus were we preserved.
“If you are prepared you shall not fear.”
20 They were commanded by Ammoron to maintain those cities which they had taken. And thus ended the twenty and sixth year. And in the commencement of the twenty and seventh year we had prepared our city and ourselves for defence.
They both tried to keep what they had.
21 Now we were desirous that the Lamanites should come upon us; for we were not desirous to make an attack upon them in their strongholds.
They did not want the Lamanites to come at them; they didn’t want to go after the Lamanites in their strongholds.
22 And it came to pass that we kept spies out round about, to watch the movements of the Lamanites, that they might not pass us by night nor by day to make an attack upon our other cities which were on the northward.
They had a spy network.
23 For we knew in those cities they were not sufficiently strong to meet them; therefore we were desirous, if they should pass by us, to fall upon them in their rear, and thus bring them up in the rear at the same time they were met in the front. We supposed that we could overpower them; but behold, we were disappointed in this our desire.
They wanted to surround them.
24 They durst not pass by us with their whole army, neither durst they with a part, lest they should not be sufficiently strong and they should fall.
But the Lamanites remembered and wouldn’t paass them with an army large or small.
25 Neither durst they march down against the city of Zarahemla; neither durst they cross the head of Sidon, over to the city of Nephihah.
They didn’t go anywhere that would be dangerous for them.
26 And thus, with their forces, they were determined to maintain those cities which they had taken.
They thought they could keep the cities they had obtained.
27 And now it came to pass in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons.
After a bit, the Nephites received provisions.
28 And also there were sent two thousand men unto us from the land of Zarahemla. And thus we were prepared with ten thousand men, and provisions for them, and also for their wives and their children.
They got more soldiers for the Nephites.
29 And the Lamanites, thus seeing our forces increase daily, and provisions arrive for our support, they began to be fearful, and began to sally forth, if it were possible to put an end to our receiving provisions and strength.
The Lamanites worried at the Nephites’ gaining strength.
30 Now when we saw that the Lamanites began to grow uneasy on this wise, we were desirous to bring a stratagem into effect upon them; therefore Antipus ordered that I should march forth with my little sons to a neighboring city, aas if we were carrying provisions to a neighboring city.
So the Nephites wanted to use strategy. They marched with a small number to a neighboring city.
31 And we were to march near the city of Antiparah, as if we were going to the city beyond, in the borders by the seashore.
They went by some city called Antiparah. You can look up Book of Mormon cities on the Internet.
32 And it came to pass that we did march forth, as if with our provisions, to go to that city.
So they marched as if they were going there.
33 And it came to pass that Antipus did march forth with a part of his army, leaving the remainder to maintain the city. But he did not march forth until I had gone forth with my little army, and came near the city Antiparah.
So the Lamanites took some soldiers there too.
34 And now, in the city Antiparah were stationed the strongest army of the Lamanites; yea, the most numerous.
This was the biggest Lamanite stronghold.
35 And it came to pass that when they had been informed by their spies, they came forth with their army and marched against us.
So after spying the Nephites they went out against them.
36 And it came to pass that we did flee before them, northward. And thus we did lead away the most powerful army of the Lamanites;
They fled to decoy the largest army of the Lamanites.
37 Yea, even to a considerable distance, insomuch that when they saw the army of Antipus pursuing them, with their might, they did not turn to the right nor to the left, but pursued their march in a straight course after us; and, as we suppose, it was their intent to slay us before Antipus should overtake them, and this that they might not be surrounded by our people.
The Lamanites went straight at them hoping not to be surrounded.
38 And now Antipus, beholding our danger, did speed the march of his army. But behold, it was night; therefore they did not overtake us, neither did Antipus overtake them; therefore we did camp for the night.
And they sped up too.
39 And it came to pass that before the dawn of the morning, behold, the Lamanites were pursuing us. Now we were not sufficiently strong to contend with them; yea, I would not suffer that my little sons should fall into their hands; therefore we did continue our march, and we took our march into the wilderness.
The Nephites kept marching also.
40 Now they durst not turn to the right nor to the left lest they should be surrounded; neither would I turn to the right nor to the left lest they should overtake me, and we could not stand against them, but be slain, and they would make their escape; and thus we did flee all that day into the wilderness, even until it was dark.
They both had to go straight until nightfall.
41 And it came to pass that again, when the light of the morning came we saw the Lamanites upon us, and we did flee before them.
At morning this continued.
42 But it came to pass that they did not pursue us far before they halted; and it was in the morning of the third day of the seventh month.
They halted later for some reason.
43 And now, whether they were overtaken by Antipus we knew not, but I said unto my men: Behold, we know not but they have halted for the purpose that we should come against them, that they might catch us in their snare;
The Nephites didn’t know why they halted, but were cautious if it was a trap.
44 Therefore what say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?
So he asked the 2000 sons if they wanted to go to battle against them.
45 And now I say unto you, my beloved brother Moroni, that never had I seen aso great bcourage, nay, not amongst all the Nephites.
They were courageous…
46 For as I had ever called them my sons (for they were all of them very young) even so they said unto me: Father, behold our God is with us, and he will anot suffer that we should fall; then let us go forth; we would not slay our brethren if they would let us alone; therefore let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipus.
They said they knew that God would protect them.
47 Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the aliberty of their bfathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their cmothers, that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.
They had never fought but they were brave and cared about their cause of liberty. Their mothers had taught them.
48 And they rehearsed unto me the words of their amothers, saying: We bdo not doubt our mothers knew it.
They told what their mothers had said.
49 And it came to pass that I did return with my two thousand against these Lamanites who had pursued us. And now behold, the armies of Antipus had overtaken them, and a terrible battle had commenced.
So thre was a terrible battle with them.
50 The army of Antipus being weary, because of their long march in so short a space of time, were about to fall into the hands of the Lamanites; and had I not returned with my two thousand they would have obtained their purpose.
Antipus army were tired; the two thousand soldiers helped.
51 For Antipus had fallen by the sword, and many of his leaders, because of their weariness, which was occasioned by the speed of their march—therefore the men of Antipus, being confused because of the fall of their leaders, began to give way before the Lamanites.
Antipus had died; many were weary.
52 And it came to pass that the Lamanites took courage, and began to pursue them; and thus were the Lamanites pursuing them with great vigor when aHelaman came upon their rear with his two thousand, and began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that the whole army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helaman.
The Lamanites were going after them when the 2000 came in.
53 Now when the people of Antipus saw that the Lamanites had turned them about, they gathered together their men and came again upon the rear of the Lamanites.
The Lamanites were approached in the rear.
54 And now it came to pass that we, the people of Nephi, the people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did surround the Lamanites, and did slay them; yea, insomuch that they were compelled to deliver up their weapons of war and also themselves as prisoners of war.
They surrounded the Lamanites and made them give up their weapons to survive.
55 And now it came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up unto us, behold, I numbered those young men who had fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain.
Then Helaman counted the 2000 left.
56 But behold, to my great joy, there had anot one soul of them fallen to the earth; yea, and they had fought as if with the bstrength of God; yea, never were men known to have fought with such miraculous strength; and with such mighty power did they fall upon the Lamanites, that they did frighten them; and for this cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war.
All had survived.
57 And as we had no place for our prisoners, that we could guard them to keep them from the armies of the Lamanites, therefore we sent them to the land of Zarahemla, and a part of those men who were not slain of Antipus, with them; and the remainder I took and joined them to my stripling aAmmonites, and took our march back to the city of Judea.
The prisoners were sent to Zarahemla.
Chapter 57
1 And now it came to pass that I received an epistle from Ammoron, the king, stating that if I would deliver up those prisoners of war whom we had taken that he would deliver up the city of Antiparah unto us.
POWs for a city.
2 But I sent an epistle unto the king, that we were sure our forces were sufficient to take the city of Antiparah by our force; and by delivering up the prisoners for that city we should suppose ourselves unwise, and that we would only deliver up our prisoners on exchange.
The Nephites felt it unnecessary and that they could have both. The Lamantites could resign.
3 And Ammoron refused mine epistle, for he would not exchange prisoners; therefore we began to make preparations to go against the city of Antiparah.
But Ammoron would not.
4 But the people of Antiparah did leave the city, and fled to their other cities, which they had possession of, to fortify them; and thus the city of Antiparah fell into our hands.
However Ammoron is not responsible for his citizens; they fled anyway and survived in the hands of the Nephites.
5 And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges.
Another year.
6 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the twenty and ninth year, we received a supply of provisions, and also an addition to our army, from the land of Zarahemla, and from the land round about, to the number of six thousand men, besides sixty of the asons of the Ammonites who had come to join their brethren, my little band of two thousand. And now behold, we were strong, yea, and we had also plenty of provisions brought unto us.
In the next year they were looking pretty good.
7 And it came to pass that it was our desire to wage a battle with the army which was placed to protect the city aCumeni.
They wanted to have a battle; OK. What are the details?
8 And now behold, I will show unto you that we soon accomplished our desire; yea, with our strong force, or with a part of our strong force, we did surround, by night, the city Cumeni, a little before they were to receive a supply of provisions.
They were wise and it worked.
9 And it came to pass that we did camp round about the city for many nights; but we did sleep upon our swords, and keep guards, that the Lamanites could not come upon us by night and slay us, which they attempted many times; but as many times as they attempted this their blood was spilt.
They tried to choke the city I guess.
10 At length their provisions did arrive, and they were about to enter the city by night. And we, instead of being Lamanites, were Nephites; therefore, we did take them and their provisions.
They took their provisions for themselves to try to get surrender.
11 And notwithstanding the Lamanites being cut off from their support after this manner, they were still determined to maintain the city; therefore it became expedient that we should take those provisions and send them to aJudea, and our prisoners to the land of Zarahemla.
The Lamanites wouldn’t surrender, so they gave provisions to their own peoples elsewhere.
12 And it came to pass that not many days had passed away before the Lamanites began to lose all hopes of succor; therefore they yielded up the city unto our hands; and thus we had accomplished our designs in obtaining the city Cumeni.
The Lamanites surrendered when they had no choice. I don’t think the Lamanites had to give up any of their beliefs.
13 But it came to pass that our prisoners were so numerous that, notwithstanding the enormity of our numbers, we were obliged to employ all our force to keep them, or to put them to death.
Uh-oh, they had to put prisoners to death because of their numbers.
14 For behold, they would break out in great numbers, and would fight with stones, and with clubs, or whatsoever thing they could get into their hands, insomuch that we did slay upwards of two thousand of them after they had surrendered themselves prisoners of war.
They were breaking out.
15 Therefore it became expedient for us, that we should put an end to their lives, or guard them, sword in hand, down to the land of Zarahemla; and also our provisions were not any more than sufficient for our own people, notwithstanding that which we had taken from the Lamanites.
They tried bringing some to Zarahemla.
16 And now, in those critical circumstances, it became a very serious matter to determine concerning these prisoners of war; nevertheless, we did resolve to send them down to the land of Zarahemla; therefore we selected a part of our men, and gave them charge over our prisoners to go down to the land of Zarahemla.
It was difficult for them too, so they resolved to send them to Zarahemla.
17 But it came to pass that on the morrow they did return. And now behold, we did not ainquire of them concerning the prisoners; for behold, the Lamanites were upon us, and they returned in season to save us from falling into their hands. For behold, Ammoron had sent to their support a new supply of provisions and also a numerous army of men.
The Lamanites had been reinforced.
18 And it came to pass that those men whom we sent with the prisoners did arrive in season to check them, as they were about to overpower us.
Those taking the prisoners to Zarahemla came back in time.
19 But behold, my little band of two thousand and sixty fought most desperately; yea, they were firm before the Lamanites, and did aadminister death unto all those who opposed them.
Luckily, they had their 2000 men.
20 And as the remainder of our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold, those two thousand and sixty were firm and undaunted.
The 2000 stood firm and encouraged the timid Nephites. Were they timid because of what they had done?
21 Yea, and they did aobey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their bmothers had taught them.
They won through obedience.
22 And now behold, it was these my sons, and those men who had been selected to convey the prisoners, to whom we owe this great victory; for it was they who did beat the Lamanites; therefore they were driven back to the city of Manti.
The 2000 and the POW transporters coming back were what won it. It was good that they took them to Zarahemla.
23 And we retained our city Cumeni, and were not all destroyed by the sword; nevertheless, we had suffered great loss.
They kept their city but suffered loss.
24 And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had fled, I immediately gave orders that my men who had been wounded should be taken from among the dead, and caused that their wounds should be dressed.
They cared about and for their warriors wounds.
25 And it came to pass that there were two hundred, out of my two thousand and sixty, who had fainted because of the loss of blood; nevertheless, according to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment, and also the joy of our whole army, there was anot one soul of them who did perish; yea, and neither was there one soul among them who had not received many wounds.
All were wounded but none died, which was a miracle.
26 And now, their apreservation was astonishing to our whole army, yea, that they should be spared while there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain. And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous bpower of God, because of their exceeding cfaith in that which they had been taught to believe—that there was a just God, and whosoever did not doubt, that they should be preserved by his marvelous power.
The other soldiers had some slain. Those 2000 who lived they thought it was because of their faith.
27 Now this was the afaith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are bfirm, and they do put their trust in God continually.
They had faith, firm minds, and trust in God.
28 And now it came to pass that after we had thus taken care of our wounded men, and had buried our dead and also the dead of the Lamanites, who were many, behold, we did inquire of Gid concerning the aprisoners whom they had started to go down to the land of Zarahemla with.
They asked Gid about what happened to the POWs they sent over.
29 Now Gid was the chief captain over the band who was appointed to guard them down to the land.
Gid was the one in charge of them.
30 And now, these are the words which Gid said unto me: Behold, we did start to go down to the land of Zarahemla with our prisoners. And it came to pass that we did meet the spies of our armies, who had been sent out to watch the camp of the Lamanites.
Gid said they started taking them, when they met their own spies (the Nephite spies).
31 And they cried unto us, saying—Behold, the armies of the Lamanites are marching towards the city of Cumeni; and behold, they will fall upon them, yea, and will destroy our people.
The Lamanites were going after another place and the Nephites there were in danger.
32 And it came to pass that our prisoners did hear their cries, which caused them to take courage; and they did rise up in rebellion against us.
The Lamanite prisoners took courage and rose up against the Nephites.
33 And it came to pass because of their rebellion we did cause that our swords should come upon them. And it came to pass that they did in a body run upon our swords, in the which, the greater number of them were slain; and the remainder of them broke through and fled from us.
They rushed on their swords. Some were slain; the rest got through. (This was probably unanticipated).
34 And behold, when they had fled and we could not overtake them, we took our march with speed towards the city Cumeni; and behold, we did arrive in time that we might assist our brethren in preserving the city.
So they went to Cumeni (see vs 31).
35 And behold, we are again delivered out of the hands of our enemies. And blessed is the name of our God; for behold, it is he that has delivered us; yea, that has done this great thing for us.
And they were delivered out of the hands of their enemies.
36 Now it came to pass that when I, Helaman, had heard these words of Gid, I was filled with exceeding joy because of the goodness of God in preserving us, that we might not all perish; yea, and I trust that the souls of them who have been slain have aentered into the rest of their God.
Helaman was glad they were saved and assumed those of them who died went to Heaven.
Chapter 58
1 And behold, now it came to pass that our next object was to obtain the city of Manti; but behold, there was no way that we could lead them out of the city by our small bands. For behold, they remembered that which we had hitherto done; therefore we could not adecoy them away from their strongholds.
The Nephites could not come up with a plan to get Manti next.
2 And they were so much more numerous than was our army that we durst not go forth and attack them in their strongholds.
The Lamanites had too big of an army besides.
3 Yea, and it became expedient that we should employ our men to the maintaining those parts of the land which we had regained of our possessions; therefore it became expedient that we should wait, that we might receive more strength from the land of Zarahemla and also a new supply of provisions.
The Nephites had to guard the lands they had.
4 And it came to pass that I thus did send an embassy to the governor of our land, to acquaint him concerning the affairs of our people. And it came to pass that we did wait to receive provisions and strength from the land of Zarahemla.
He sent an embassy to the Zerahemla hoping for supplies.
5 But behold, this did profit us but little; for the Lamanites were also receiving great strength from day to day, and also many provisions; and thus were our circumstances at this period of time.
However the Lamanites were receiving supplies too.
6 And the Lamanites were sallying forth against us from time to time, resolving by stratagem to destroy us; nevertheless we could not come to battle with them, because of their aretreats and their strongholds.
The Lamanites had small skirmishes against the Nephites occasionally. That was a problem for the Nephites.
7 And it came to pass that we did wait in these difficult circumstances for the space of many months, even until we were about to aperish for the want of food.
They waited patiently, but to no avail.
8 But it came to pass that we did receive food, which was guarded to us by an army of two thousand men to our assistance; and this is all the assistance which we did receive, to defend ourselves and our country from falling into the hands of our enemies, yea, to contend with an enemy which was innumerable.
They got a little food.
9 And now the cause of these our embarrassments, or the cause why they did not send more strength unto us, we knew not; therefore we were grieved and also filled with fear, lest by any means the judgments of God should come upon our land, to our overthrow and utter destruction.
They didn’t know why they hadn’t gotten more, thinking negatively about it.
10 Therefore we did pour out our souls in prayer to God, that he would strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, yea, and also give us strength that we might retain our cities, and our lands, and our possessions, for the support of our people.
They prayed for help!
11 Yea, and it came to pass that the Lord our God did visit us with assurances that he would deliver us; yea, insomuch that he did speak peace to our souls, and did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us that we should hope for our adeliverance in him.
The Lord promised to help!
12 And we did take courage with our small force which we had received, and were fixed with a determination to conquer our enemies, and to amaintain our lands, and our possessions, and our wives, and our children, and the cause of our bliberty.
So they renewed their efforts.
13 And thus we did go forth with all our might against the Lamanites, who were in the city of Manti; and we did pitch our tents by the wilderness side, which was near to the city.
They went all out against the Lamanites.
14 And it came to pass that on the morrow, that when the Lamanites saw that we were in the borders by the wilderness which was near the city, that they sent out their spies round about us that they might discover the number and the strength of our army.
The Lamanites tried to spy the number and strength of the Nephite army.
15 And it came to pass that when they saw that we were not strong, according to our numbers, and fearing that we should cut them off from their support except they should come out to battle against us and kill us, and also supposing that they could easily destroy us with their numerous hosts, therefore they began to make preparations to come out against us to battle.
Since the Nephites were not strong and they wanted supplies, they prepared to go to battle against the Nephites.
16 And when we saw that they were making preparations to come out against us, behold, I caused that Gid, with a small number of men, should asecrete himself in the wilderness, and also that Teomner and a small number of men should secrete themselves also in the wilderness.
Nephites added secret, small armies.
17 Now Gid and his men were on the right and the others on the left; and when they had thus secreted themselves, behold, I remained, with the remainder of my army, in that same place where we had first pitched our tents against the time that the Lamanites should come out to battle.
They waited.
18 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come out with their numerous army against us. And when they had come and were about to fall upon us with the sword, I caused that my men, those who were with me, should retreat into the wilderness.
When the Lamanites came they decoyed them into the wilderness.
19 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did follow after us with great speed, for they were exceedingly desirous to overtake us that they might slay us; therefore they did follow us into the wilderness; and we did pass by in the midst of Gid and Teomner, insomuch that they were not discovered by the Lamanites.
The Lamanites really wanted them dead.
20 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had passed by, or when the army had passed by, Gid and Teomner did rise up from their secret places, and did cut off the spies of the Lamanites that they should not return to the city.
The armies waiting in the wing cut off their spies.
21 And it came to pass that when they had cut them off, they ran to the city and fell upon the guards who were left to guard the city, insomuch that they did destroy them and did take possession of the city.
Then they went to the city and recaptured it.
22 Now this was done because the Lamanites did suffer their whole army, save a few guards only, to be led away into the wilderness.
This was because the Lamanites had been decoyed.
23 And it came to pass that Gid and Teomner by this means had obtained possession of their strongholds. And it came to pass that we took our course, after having traveled much in the wilderness towards the land of Zarahemla.
Thus they got back their strongholds.
24 And when the Lamanites saw that they were marching towards the land of Zarahemla, they were exceedingly afraid, lest there was a plan laid to lead them on to destruction; therefore they began to retreat into the wilderness again, yea, even back by the same way which they had come.
The Lamanites tried to retreat.
25 And behold, it was night and they did pitch their tents, for the chief acaptains of the Lamanites had supposed that the Nephites were weary because of their march; and supposing that they had driven their whole army therefore they took no thought concerning the city of Manti.
They assumed the Nephites were tired and wanted Manti back.
26 Now it came to pass that when it was night, I caused that my men should not sleep, but that they should march forward by another way towards the land of Manti.
Instead of sleeping, the Nephites marched to Manti in another path that couldn’t be detected.
27 And because of this our march in the night-time, behold, on the morrow we were beyond the Lamanites, insomuch that we did arrive before them at the city of Manti.
The Nephites beat the Lamanites to Manti.
28 And thus it came to pass, that by this stratagem we did take possession of the city of Manti without the shedding of blood.
They got Manti without bloodletting.
29 And it came to pass that when the armies of the Lamanites did arrive near the city, and saw that we were prepared to meet them, they were astonished exceedingly and struck with great fear, insomuch that they did aflee into the wilderness.
The Lamanites saw it and ran away afriad.
30 Yea, and it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites did flee out of all this quarter of the land. But behold, they have carried with them many women and children out of the land.
Those Lamanites had women and children that were fleeing.
31 And athose cities which had been taken by the Lamanites, all of them are at this period of time in our possession; and our fathers and our women and our children are returning to their homes, all save it be those who have been taken prisoners and carried off by the Lamanites.
The Nephites had won everything back except POWs and women and children were returning home.
32 But behold, our armies are small to maintain so great a number of cities and so great possessions.
However, the armies were small to defend so much.
33 But behold, we atrust in our God who has given us victory over those lands, insomuch that we have obtained those cities and those lands, which were our own.
They trust in God to maintain their lands.
34 Now we do not know the acause that the government does not grant us more strength; neither do those men who came up unto us know why we have not received greater strength.
They don’t know why the government isn’t helping more.
35 Behold, we do not know but what aye are unsuccessful, and ye have drawn away the forces into that quarter of the land; if so, we do not desire to murmur.
They give the benefit of the doubt and don’t complain.
36 And if it is not so, behold, we fear that there is some afaction in the government, that they do not send more men to our assistance; for we know that they are more numerous than that which they have sent.
They wondered if the government became inbalanced by a faction, or partisanship.
37 But, behold, it mattereth not—we trust God will adeliver us, notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, yea, and deliver us out of the hands of our enemies.
They trusted in God anyway.
38 Behold, this is the twenty and ninth year, in the latter end, and we are in the possession of our lands; and the Lamanites have fled to the land of Nephi.
They rehearsed their condition.
39 And those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom I have so highly spoken, are with me in the city of Manti; and the Lord has supported them, yea, and kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even aone soul has not been slain.
The 2000 were not killed.
40 But behold, they have received many wounds; nevertheless they astand fast in that bliberty wherewith God has made them free; and they are strict to remember the Lord their God from day to day; yea, they do observe to keep his statutes, and his judgments, and his commandments continually; and their faith is strong in the prophecies concerning that which is to come.
They are good religiously.
41 And now, my beloved brother, Moroni, may the Lord our God, who has redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually in his presence; yea, and may he favor this people, even that ye may have success in obtaining the possession of all that which the Lamanites have taken from us, which was for our support. And now, behold, I close mine epistle. I am Helaman, the son of Alma.
He wanted all their land back.
Chapter 59
1 Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, after Moroni had received and had read Helaman’s aepistle, he was exceedingly rejoiced because of the welfare, yea, the exceeding success which Helaman had had, in obtaining bthose lands which were lost.
Moroni was happy for Helaman and the success of the people he helped.
2 Yea, and he did make it known unto all his people, in all the land round about in that part where he was, that they might rejoice also.
He told everyone so they would be happy.
3 And it came to pass that he immediately sent aan epistle to bPahoran, desiring that he should cause men to be gathered together to strengthen Helaman, or the armies of Helaman, insomuch that he might with ease maintain that part of the land which he had been so miraculously prospered in regaining.
So he asked Pahoran for assistance in maintaining their lands that they had gotten.
4 And it came to pass when Moroni had sent this epistle to the land of Zarahemla, he began again to lay a plan that he might obtain the remainder of those possessions and cities which the Lamanites had taken from them.
Moroni planned for what he would do with Pahoran’s assistance.
5 And it came to pass that while Moroni was thus making preparations to go against the Lamanites to battle, behold, the people of aNephihah, who were gathered together from the city of Moroni and the city of Lehi and the city of Morianton, were attacked by the Lamanites.
Nephites were attacked by Lamanites while waiting.
6 Yea, even those who had been acompelled to flee from the land of Manti, and from the land round about, had come over and joined the Lamanites in this part of the land.
As far as Manti, people had joined up with the Lamanites.
7 And thus being exceedingly numerous, yea, and receiving strength from day to day, by the command of Ammoron they came forth against the people of Nephihah, and they did begin to slay them with an exceedingly great slaughter.
The number of Lamanites overwhelmed that of the Nephites. I don’t know that it says what the Nephites could have done about this.
8 And their armies were so numerous that the remainder of the people of aNephihah were bobliged to flee before them; and they came even and joined the army of Moroni.
But the Nephites fled to a stronghold.
9 And now as Moroni had supposed that there ashould be men sent to the city of Nephihah, to the assistance of the people to maintain that city, and knowing that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them, he supposed that they would easily maintain that city.
Moroni thought he could maintain Nephihah with help from the government.
10 Therefore he retained all his force to maintain those places which he had recovered.
So Moroni kept his armies in place.
11 And now, when Moroni saw that the city of Nephihah was alost he was exceedingly sorrowful, and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the people, whether they should not fall into the hands of their brethren.
When they lost Nephihah he doubted his people’s righteousness.
12 Now this was the case with all his chief captains. They doubted and marveled also because of the wickedness of the people, and this because of the success of the Lamanites over them.
All his captians felt the same way.
13 And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government, because of their aindifference concerning the freedom of their country.
Moroni jumped to a conclusion; he expected government to do its job.
Chapter 60
1 And it came to pass that he wrote aagain to the governor of the land, who was Pahoran, and these are the words which he wrote, saying: Behold, I direct mine epistle to Pahoran, in the city of Zarahemla, who is the chief judge and the bgovernor over the land, and also to all those who have been chosen by this people to govern and manage the affairs of this war.
He starts his next epistle.
2 For behold, I have somewhat to say unto them by the way of acondemnation; for behold, ye yourselves know that ye have been appointed to gather together men, and arm them with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war of every kind, and send forth against the Lamanites, in whatsoever parts they should come into our land.
He misunderstands and accuses the government, but he is wrong.
3 And now behold, I say unto you that myself, and also my men, and also Helaman and his men, have suffered exceedingly great asufferings; yea, even hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and all manner of afflictions of every kind.
He explains his mens’ suffering.
4 But behold, were this all we had suffered we would not murmur nor complain.
He says he wouldn’t complain if it were just physical suffering.
5 But behold, great has been the slaughter among our people; yea, thousands have fallen by the sword, while it might have otherwise been if ye had rendered unto our armies sufficient strength and succor for them. Yea, great has been your neglect towards us.
He does complain over losing life.
6 And now behold, we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect; yea, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state.
They want to know why the government is doing this to them.
7 Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless astupor, while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yea, while they are murdering thousands of your brethren—
He thinks they are not even thinking about helping others.
8 Yea, even they who have looked up to you for protection, yea, have placed you in a situation that ye might have succored them, yea, ye might have sent armies unto them, to have strengthened them, and have saved thousands of them from falling by the sword.
They could be saving many lives.
9 But behold, this is not all—ye have withheld your provisions from them, insomuch that many have fought and bled out their lives because of their great desires which they had for the welfare of this people; yea, and this they have done when they were about to aperish with hunger, because of your exceedingly great neglect towards them.
Not just from battle, but from hunger too.
10 And now, my beloved brethren—for ye ought to be beloved; yea, and ye ought to have stirred yourselves more diligently for the welfare and the freedom of this people; but behold, ye have neglected them insomuch that the blood of thousands shall come upon your heads for vengeance; yea, for aknown unto God were all their cries, and all their sufferings—
He still says they should be beloved.
11 Behold, could ye suppose that ye could sit upon your thrones, and because of the exceeding goodness of God ye could do nothing and he would deliver you? Behold, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain.
He suggests God won’t save them for what he thinks they are doing.
12 Do ye asuppose that, because so many of your brethren have been killed it is because of their wickedness? I say unto you, if ye have supposed this ye have supposed in vain; for I say unto you, there are many who have fallen by the sword; and behold it is to your condemnation;
If his army fails it is their fault.
13 For the Lord suffereth the arighteous to be slain that his justice and bjudgment may come upon the wicked; therefore ye need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain; but behold, they do enter into the rest of the Lord their God.
The righteous need not fear, but they who don’t help them do.
14 And now behold, I say unto you, I fear exceedingly that the judgments of God will come upon this people, because of their exceeding aslothfulness, yea, even the slothfulness of our government, and their exceedingly great neglect towards their brethren, yea, towards those who have been slain.
He fears for the government in this way.
15 For were it not for the wickedness which first commenced at our head, we acould have withstood our enemies that they could have gained no power over us.
He called it a wicked government.
16 Yea, had it not been for the war which broke out aamong ourselves; yea, were it not for these bking-men, who caused so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, at the time we were contending among ourselves, if we had united our strength as we hitherto have done; yea, had it not been for the desire of power and authority which those king-men had over us; had they been true to the cause of our freedom, and united with us, and gone forth against our enemies, instead of taking up their swords against us, which was the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves; yea, if we had gone forth against them in the strength of the Lord, we should have dispersed our enemies, for it would have been done, according to the cfulfilling of his word.
He’s getting warmer with kingmen as that is the problem.
17 But behold, now the Lamanites are coming upon us, taking apossession of our lands, and they are murdering our people with the sword, yea, our women and our children, and also carrying them away captive, causing them that they should suffer all manner of afflictions, and this because of the great wickedness of those who are seeking for power and authority, yea, even those king-men.
They are losing the battle.
18 But why should I say much concerning this matter? For we know not but what ye yourselves are seeking for authority. We know not but what ye are also atraitors to your country.
He says he knows the government is power-hungry traitors.
19 Or is it that ye have neglected us because ye are in the heart of our country and ye are asurrounded by security, that ye do not cause food to be sent unto us, and also men to strengthen our armies?
Does government not care as long as its protected?
20 Have ye forgotten the commandments of the Lord your God? Yea, have ye forgotten the captivity of our fathers? Have ye forgotten the many times we have been delivered out of the hands of our enemies?
Have you forgotten how ancestors went through tough times and needed help from God?
21 Or do ye suppose that the Lord awill still deliver us, while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which the Lord has provided for us?
Do you think the Lord takes care of people when government doesn’t help?
22 Yea, will ye sit in idleness while ye are surrounded with thousands of those, yea, and tens of thousands, who do also sit in idleness, while there are thousands round about in the borders of the land who are falling by the sword, yea, wounded and bleeding?
Will tens of thousands in government sit idle while Moroni’s men bleed?
23 Do ye suppose that God will look upon you as guiltless while ye sit still and behold these things? Behold I say unto you, Nay. Now I would that ye should remember that God has said that the ainward vessel shall be bcleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also.
God would hold government accountable. The inward vessel must be cleansed first.
24 And now, except ye do repent of that which ye have done, and begin to be up and doing, and send forth food and men unto us, and also unto Helaman, that he may support those parts of our country which he has regained, and that we may also recover the remainder of our possessions in these parts, behold it will be expedient that we contend no more with the Lamanites until we have first cleansed our inward vessel, yea, even the great head of our government.
Moroni says he may have to go after his own government before the Lamanites.
25 And except ye grant mine epistle, and come out and show unto me a true aspirit of freedom, and strive to strengthen and fortify our armies, and grant unto them food for their support, behold I will leave a part of my freemen to maintain this part of our land, and I will leave the strength and the blessings of God upon them, that none other power can operate against them—
He will depend on his army if he doesn’t get help.
26 And this because of their exceeding faith, and their patience in their atribulations—
They have power becasue of exceeding faith and patience.
27 And I will come unto you, and if there be any among you that has a desire for freedom, yea, if there be even a spark of freedom remaining, behold I will stir up insurrections among you, even until those who have desires to usurp power and authority shall become extinct.
He will wipe out the bad government with encouraging the good to fight against them.
28 Yea, behold I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my aGod whom I fear; and it is according to his commandments that I do take my sword to defend the cause of my country, and it is because of your iniquity that we have suffered so much loss.
He doesn’t fear the government; he only wants to defend it and he blames the government.
29 Behold it is time, yea, the time is now at hand, that except ye do bestir yourselves in the defence of your country and your little ones, the asword of justice doth hang over you; yea, and it shall fall upon you and visit you even to your utter destruction.
They will be punished if they don’t help.
30 Behold, I wait for assistance from you; and, except ye do administer unto our relief, behold, I come unto you, even in the land of Zarahemla, and smite you with the sword, insomuch that ye can have no more power to impede the progress of this people in the cause of our freedom.
If they don’t get assistance they will be killed so the Nephites can have progress in the cause of freedom. “Progress of this people in the cause of our freedom” sounds like “in order to form a better union.”
31 For behold, the Lord will not suffer that ye shall live and wax strong in your iniquities to destroy his righteous people.
The Lord would protect them and not suffer the government to live that badly.
32 Behold, can you suppose that the Lord will spare you and come out in judgment against the Lamanites, when it is the atradition of their fathers that has caused their hatred, yea, and it has been redoubled by those who have dissented from us, while your iniquity is for the cause of your love of glory and the vain things of the world?
The Lamanites were taught wrongly; the government should know better.
33 Ye know that ye do transgress the laws of God, and ye do know that ye do trample them under your feet. Behold, the Lord saith unto me: If those whom ye have appointed your governors do not repent of their sins and ainiquities, ye shall bgo up to battle against them.
They are anti-God and God said to go up against them if they don’t help.
34 And now behold, I, Moroni, am constrained, according to the covenant which I have made to keep the commandments of my God; therefore I would that ye should adhere to the word of God, and send speedily unto me of your provisions and of your men, and also to Helaman.
Therefore send aid.
35 And behold, if ye will not do this I come unto you speedily; for behold, God will not suffer that we should perish with hunger; therefore he will give unto us of your food, even if it must be by the sword. Now see that ye fulfil the word of God.
Or else they will come after the government instead of starving.
36 Behold, I am Moroni, your chief captain. I aseek not for power, but to pull it down. I bseek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my God, and the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I close mine epistle.
Moroni is humble.
Chapter 61
1 Behold, now it came to pass that soon after Moroni had sent his epistle unto the chief governor, he received an epistle from aPahoran, the chief governor. And these are the words which he received:
Pahoran wrote back, with the following notes:
2 I, Pahoran, who am the chief governor of this land, do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army. Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great aafflictions, yea, it grieves my soul.
He starts by saying he is sad for Moroni, not happy.
3 But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions, yea, insomuch that they have risen up in arebellion against me, and also those of my people who are bfreemen, yea, and those who have risen up are exceedingly numerous.
There is a coup in his government.
4 And it is those who have sought to take away the judgment-seat from me that have been the cause of this great iniquity; for they have used great aflattery, and they have bled away the hearts of many people, which will be the cause of sore affliction among us; they have withheld our provisions, and have daunted our cfreemen that they have not come unto you.
People used flattery to destroy the government.
5 And behold, they have driven me out before them, and I have fled to the land of Gideon, with as many men as it were possible that I could get.
He had to flee to Gideon with those he could get.
6 And behold, I have sent a proclamation throughout this part of the land; and behold, they are aflocking to us bdaily, to their arms, in the defence of their country and their cfreedom, and to avenge our dwrongs.
He is getting fortified himself.
7 And they have come unto us, insomuch that those who have risen up in rebellion against us are set at defiance, yea, insomuch that they do fear us and durst not come out against us to battle.
The help their getting is detering the Lamanites.
8 They have agot possession of the land, or the city, of Zarahemla; they have appointed a bking over them, and he hath written unto the king of the Lamanites, in the which he hath joined an alliance with him; in the which alliance he hath agreed to maintain the city of Zarahemla, which maintenance he supposeth will enable the Lamanites to conquer the remainder of the land, and he shall be placed king over this people when they shall be conquered cunder the Lamanites.
The Lamanites are trying to take over everything.
9 And now, in your epistle you have acensured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not bseek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us cfree.
He doesn’t mind Moroni’s words. He is happy for liberty.
10 And now, behold, we will resist wickedness even unto bloodshed. We would anot shed the blood of the Lamanites if they would stay in their own land.
They would not kill Lamanites if Lamanites stayed in their own land.
11 We would not shed the blood of our brethren if they would not rise up in rebellion and take the sword against us.
They would not kill them if they did not raise up the sword against them.
12 We would subject ourselves to the ayoke of bondage if it were requisite with the justice of God, or if he should command us so to do.
They would be enslaved if justice demanded it or God said so, making their consciouses clean.
13 But behold he doth not command us that we shall subject ourselves to our enemies, but that we should put our atrust in him, and he will deliver us.
However they don’t find it necessary, putting trust in God that it will work without that.
14 Therefore, my beloved brother, Moroni, let us resist evil, and whatsoever evil we cannot resist with our awords, yea, such as rebellions and dissensions, let us bresist them with our swords, that we may retain our freedom, that we may rejoice in the great privilege of our church, and in the cause of our Redeemer and our God.
So resist evil with words and then swords.
15 Therefore, come unto me speedily with a few of your men, and leave the remainder in the charge of Lehi and Teancum; give unto them power to conduct the awar in that part of the land, according to the bSpirit of God, which is also the cspirit of freedom which is in them.
Therefore, Moroni come help.
16 Behold I have sent a few provisions unto them, that they may not perish until ye can come unto me.
He had sent them a few provisions until Moroni came to Pahoran.
17 Gather together whatsoever force ye can upon your march hither, and we will go speedily against those dissenters, in the strength of our God according to the faith which is in us.
They will go together against the dissenters.
18 And we will atake possession of the city of Zarahemla, that we may obtain more food to send forth unto Lehi and Teancum; yea, we will go forth against them in the strength of the Lord, and we will put an end to this great iniquity.
They will get Zarahemla, in the plan.
19 And now, Moroni, I do joy in receiving your epistle, for I was somewhat worried concerning what we should do, whether it should be just in us to go against our brethren.
Thank you Moroni, you helped them decide.
20 But ye have said, except they repent the Lord ahath commanded you that ye should go against them.
So according to Moroni’s words, the factions in Pahorans camp need to repent or they will go against them.
21 See that ye astrengthen Lehi and Teancum in the Lord; tell them to fear not, for God will deliver them, yea, and also all those who bstand fast in that liberty wherewith God hath made them free. And now I close mine epistle to my beloved brother, Moroni.
Strengthen Lehi and Teancum in bravery and liberty.
Chapter 62
1 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle his heart did take courage, and was filled with exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoran, that he was not also a atraitor to the freedom and cause of his country.
Moroni was very happy that the government was good.
2 But he did also mourn exceedingly because of the iniquity of those who had driven Pahoran from the judgment-seat, yea, in fine because of those who had rebelled against their country and also their God.
But he was very sad about those taking over it.
3 And it came to pass that Moroni took a small number of men, according to the desire of Pahoran, and gave Lehi and Teancum command over the remainder of his army, and took his march towards the land of Gideon.
Some of his army went to help.
4 And he did raise the astandard of bliberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon.
He was patriotic.
5 And it came to pass that thousands did aflock unto his standard, and did take up their swords in the defence of their freedom, that they might not come into bondage.
Many people became patriotic.
6 And thus, when Moroni had gathered together whatsoever men he could in all his march, he came to the land of Gideon; and uniting his forces with those of Pahoran they became exceedingly strong, even stronger than the men of Pachus, who was the aking of those dissenters who had driven the bfreemen out of the land of Zarahemla and had taken possession of the land.
The good army was very strong.
7 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran went down with their armies into the land of Zarahemla, and went forth against the city, and did meet the men of Pachus, insomuch that they did come to battle.
They reunited and went to battle against the men of Pachus.
8 And behold, Pachus was slain and his men were taken prisoners, and Pahoran was restored to his judgment-seat.
Pachus was killed, there were POWs and the judgement seat was restored.
9 And the men of Pachus received their trial, according to the law, and also those king-men who had been taken and acast into prison; and they were bexecuted according to the law; yea, those men of Pachus and those cking-men, whosoever would not take up arms in the defence of their country, but would fight against it, were put to death.
They either fought or were killed right there.
10 And thus it became expedient that this law should be strictly observed for the safety of their country; yea, and whosoever was found denying their freedom was speedily aexecuted according to the law.
This being done for the sake of the country.
11 And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; Moroni and Pahoran having restored peace to the land of Zarahemla, among their own people, having ainflicted death upon all those who were not true to the cause of freedom.
Thus they were at peace.
12 And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Moroni immediately caused that provisions should be sent, and also an army of six thousand men should be sent unto Helaman, to assist him in preserving that part of the land.
They sent aid to Helaman.
13 And he also caused that an army of six thousand men, with a sufficient quantity of food, should be sent to the armies of Lehi and Teancum. And it came to pass that this was done to fortify the land against the Lamanites.
They fortified their land everywhere.
14 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran, leaving a large body of men in the land of Zarahemla, took their march with a large body of men towards the land of Nephihah, being determined to aoverthrow the Lamanites in that city.
And they went against the Lamanites in Nephihah.
15 And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war.
On the way they slew Lamanites and took their weapons for themselves!
16 And it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a acovenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites.
They made them covenant not to attack them again.
17 And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to adwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain.
They sent them to Ammons’ people. 4000 had died.
18 And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they pursued their march towards the land of aNephihah. And it came to pass that when they had come to the city of Nephihah, they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near the city of Nephihah.
So they got near Nephihah to get ready.
19 Now Moroni was desirous that the Lamanites should come out to battle against them, upon the plains; but the Lamanites, knowing of their exceedingly great courage, and beholding the greatness of their numbers, therefore they durst not come out against them; therefore they did not come to battle in that day.
The Lamanites remembered how many there were and the valience of the 2000 or some other group.
20 And when the night came, Moroni went forth in the darkness of the night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out in what part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their army.
By night, Moroni spied to determine where their army was.
21 And it came to pass that they were on the east, by the entrance; and they were all asleep. And now Moroni returned to his army, and caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders, to be let down from the top of the awall into the inner part of the wall.
So they used ropes to go down the wall.
22 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his men should march forth and come upon the top of the wall, and let athemselves down into that part of the city, yea, even on the west, where the Lamanites did not camp with their armies.
They came down where the armies weren’t.
23 And it came to pass that they were all let down into the city by night, by the means of their strong cords and their ladders; thus when the morning came they were all within the walls of the city.
At dawn, they were all inside.
24 And now, when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies of Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass.
The Lamanites fleed out of the city by a pass, being startled.
25 And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him, he did cause that his men should march forth against them, and slew many, and surrounded many others, and took them prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore.
Moroni did not want them to get away.
26 Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the apossession of the city of Nephihah without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain.
They got Nephihah without losing one of their lives, but many Lamanites were killed.
27 Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were prisoners were desirous to ajoin the people of Ammon and become a free people.
However Lamanites had had the option of converting to the ways of the people of Ammon.
28 And it came to pass that as many as were desirous, unto them it was granted according to their desires.
If they wanted to they would be allowed, thus trying to prevent unnecessary bloodshed.
29 Therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammon, and did begin to labor exceedingly, tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain, and flocks and herds of every kind; and thus were the Nephites relieved from a great burden; yea, insomuch that they were relieved from all the prisoners of the Lamanites.
The Lamanites still worked hard for the Nephites.
30 Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had obtained possession of the city of Nephihah, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who had been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moroni exceedingly; therefore Moroni went forth from the land of Nephihah to the land of aLehi.
The land of Lehi was next.
31 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Moroni was coming against them, they were again frightened and fled before the army of Moroni.
The Lamanites fled there too.
32 And it came to pass that aMoroni and his army did pursue them from city to city, until they were met by Lehi and Teancum; and the Lamanites fled from Lehi and Teancum, even down upon the borders by the seashore, until they came to the land of Moroni.
They got persued from city to city.
33 And the armies of the Lamanites were all gathered together, insomuch that they were all in one body in the land of Moroni. Now Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites, was also with them.
The Lamanites pooled themselves togehter.
34 And it came to pass that Moroni and Lehi and Teancum did encamp with their armies round about in the borders of the land of Moroni, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about in the borders by the wilderness on the south, and in the borders by the wilderness on the east.
The Nephites surrounded them.
35 And thus they did encamp for the night. For behold, the Nephites and the Lamanites also were weary because of the greatness of the march; therefore they did not resolve upon any stratagem in the night-time, save it were Teancum; for he was exceedingly angry with Ammoron, insomuch that he considered that Ammoron, and Amalickiah his brother, had been the acause of this great and lasting war between them and the Lamanites, which had been the cause of so much war and bloodshed, yea, and so much famine.
They were both tired so they camped.
36 And it came to pass that Teancum in his anger did go forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and did let himself down over the walls of the city. And he went forth with a cord, from place to place, insomuch that he did find the king; and he did acast a javelin at him, which did pierce him near the heart. But behold, the king did awaken his servants before he died, insomuch that they did pursue Teancum, and slew him.
But Teancum stayed up and killed the king! And then Teancum was killed.
37 Now it came to pass that when Lehi and Moroni knew that Teancum was dead they were exceedingly sorrowful; for behold, he had been a man who had afought valiantly for his country, yea, a true friend to liberty; and he had suffered very many exceedingly sore afflictions. But behold, he was dead, and had gone the way of all the earth.
Lehi and Moroni mourned for Teancum.
38 Now it came to pass that Moroni marched forth on the morrow, and came upon the Lamanites, insomuch that they did slay them with a great slaughter; and they did drive them out of the land; and they did flee, even that they did not return at that time against the Nephites.
They killed them in the mourning but they were able to flee.
39 And thus ended the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and thus they had had wars, and bloodsheds, and famine, and affliction, for the space of many years.
There was peace for many years.
40 And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the arighteous’ sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared.
Despite scandals the righteous were kept protected, protecting others in their wake sometimes.
41 But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their aafflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.
Some were hardened by the war; others were softened.
42 And it came to pass that after Moroni had fortified those parts of the land which were most exposed to the Lamanites, until they were sufficiently strong, he returned to the city of Zarahemla; and also Helaman returned to the place of his inheritance; and there was once more peace established among the people of Nephi.
After fortifying they went home.
43 And Moroni yielded up the acommand of his armies into the hands of his son, whose name was bMoronihah; and he retired to his own house that he might spend the remainder of his days in peace.
Sometimes people feel satisfied with what they’ve done and want to live a simple life.
44 And Pahoran did return to his judgment-seat; and Helaman did take upon him again to preach unto the people the word of God; for because of so many wars and contentions it had become expedient that a aregulation should be made again in the church.
Pahoran was the judge and Helaman the preacher.
45 Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth, and did declare the word of God with much power unto the aconvincing of many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins and to be baptized unto the Lord their God.
They got many to repent.
46 And it came to pass that they did establish again the church of God, throughout all the land.
The church of God was throughout the land.
47 Yea, and regulations were made concerning the law. And their ajudges, and their chief judges were chosen.
Something happened to their laws being restricted.
48 And the people of Nephi began to aprosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land. And they began to grow exceedingly rich.
They got very powerful and rich.
49 But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they aslow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him.
The riches didn’t go to their head… what a feat! The church helped with that.
50 Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had adelivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of bafflictions, and he had cdelivered them out of the hands of their enemies.
Remembering the Lord’s hand helped!
51 And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and aprosper in the land.
Praying helped!
52 And it came to pass that all these things were done. And aHelaman died, in the thirty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Narrative.
Chapter 63
1 And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, that aShiblon took possession of those bsacred things which had been delivered unto Helaman by Alma.
The book and such were passed down from Helaman to Shiblon.
2 And he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God; and also did his brother.
Shiblon was upright.
3 And it came to pass that aMoroni died also. And thus ended the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the judges.
Moroni died and another year.
4 And it came to pass that in the thirty and seventh year of the reign of the judges, there was a large company of men, even to the amount of five thousand and four hundred men, with their wives and their children, departed out of the land of Zarahemla into the land which was anorthward.
Some men and their families immigrated northwards
5 And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an aexceedingly curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an exceedingly large ship, on the borders of the land bBountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea, by the cnarrow neck which led into the land northward.
Hagoth launched a huge ship. Showing that technology matters.
6 And behold, there were many of the Nephites who did enter therein and did sail forth with much provisions, and also many women and children; and they took their course northward. And thus ended the thirty and seventh year.
Many went with them.
7 And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built aother ships. And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land northward.
Ships returned and a system of travel was established.
8 And it came to pass that they were never heard of more. And we suppose that they were drowned in the depths of the sea. And it came to pass that one other ship also did sail forth; and whither she did go we know not.
But eventually they lost connection on their end.
9 And it came to pass that in this year there were many people who went forth into the land anorthward. And thus ended the thirty and eighth year.
Many people went North though.
10 And it came to pass in the thirty and ninth year of the reign of the judges, aShiblon died also, and Corianton had gone forth to the land northward in a ship, to carry forth provisions unto the people who had gone forth into that land.
Shiblon dies. Coriatnton sent a ship to help those up north.
11 Therefore it became expedient for aShiblon to confer those sacred things, before his death, upon the son of bHelaman, who was called cHelaman, being called after the name of his father.
The sacred things went to Helaman’s son Helaman Jr.
12 Now behold, all those aengravings which were in the possession of Helaman were written and sent forth among the children of men throughout all the land, save it were those parts which had been commanded by Alma should bnot go forth.
All that was spiritually allowed went forth to the people.
13 Nevertheless, these things were to be kept sacred, and ahanded down from one generation to another; therefore, in this year, they had been conferred upon Helaman, before the death of Shiblon.
Helaman had the sacred parts.
14 And it came to pass also in this year that there were some dissenters who had gone forth unto the Lamanites; and they were astirred up again to anger against the Nephites.
Some people dissented to the Lamanites.
15 And also in this same year they came down with a numerous army to war against the people of aMoronihah, or against the army of Moronihah, in the which they were beaten and driven back again to their own lands, suffering great loss.
There was a great war.
16 And thus ended the thirty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
Narrative.
17 And thus ended the account of aAlma, and Helaman his son, and also Shiblon, who was his son.
Narrative.