Alma
23 verses
Overview
Moroni fortifies Nephite cities using Lamanite prisoners and strengthens defenses, while Helaman leads 2,000 young Ammonite men—who had not taken the oath against fighting—to support the Nephite armies.
They set guards over the Lamanite prisoners and forced them to go out and bury their dead, as well as the dead Nephites who had been killed. Moroni assigned men to guard them while they did their work.
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.
Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, took command of the city, and gave it to Lehi. Lehi had been with Moroni in most of his battles; he was a man like Moroni, and they were glad for each other's safety. They cared deeply for each other and were also loved by all the people of Nephi.
And Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, and took command of the city and gave it unto Lehi. Now behold, this Lehi was a man who had been with Moroni in the more part of all his battles; and he was a man like unto Moroni, and they rejoiced in each other’s safety; yea, they were beloved by each other, and also beloved by all the people of Nephi.
After the Lamanites finished burying their dead and also the dead of the Nephites, they were marched back into the land Bountiful. Teancum, following Moroni's orders, had them start working to dig a ditch around the land, or the city, Bountiful.
And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had finished burying their dead and also the dead of the Nephites, they were marched back into the land Bountiful; and Teancum, by the orders of Moroni, caused that they should commence laboring in digging a ditch round about the land, or the city, Bountiful.
He had them build a timber breastwork on the inner bank of the ditch, and they piled dirt from the ditch against the timber breastwork. In this way, he made the Lamanites work until they had surrounded the city of Bountiful with a strong wall of timbers and earth, built to a great height.
And he caused that they should build a breastwork of timbers upon the inner bank of the ditch; and they cast up dirt out of the ditch against the breastwork of timbers; and thus they did cause the Lamanites to labor until they had encircled the city of Bountiful round about with a strong wall of timbers and earth, to an exceeding height.
This city became a very strong fortress from then on, and they guarded the Lamanite prisoners there, even inside a wall the prisoners had built with their own hands. Moroni had to make the Lamanites work, because it was easy to guard them while they worked, and he wanted all his forces available when he attacked the Lamanites.
And this city became an exceeding stronghold ever after; and in this city they did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites; yea, even within a wall which they had caused them to build with their own hands. Now Moroni was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to guard them while at their labor; and he desired all his forces when he should make an attack upon the Lamanites.
Moroni gained a victory over one of the largest Lamanite armies and took control of the city of Mulek, which was one of the strongest Lamanite fortresses in the land of Nephi. He also built a stronghold to keep his prisoners.
And it came to pass that Moroni had thus gained a victory over one of the greatest of the armies of the Lamanites, and had obtained possession of the city of Mulek, which was one of the strongest holds of the Lamanites in the land of Nephi; and thus he had also built a stronghold to retain his prisoners.
He didn't attempt any more battles with the Lamanites that year, but instead used his men to prepare for war and build fortifications to protect against the Lamanites. He also helped deliver their women and children from famine and hardship, and provided food for their armies.
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.
At that time, the Lamanite armies by the west sea, in the south, took advantage of Moroni's absence—since he was dealing with some intrigue and dissension among the Nephites—and managed to gain ground over the Nephites, even capturing several of their cities in that area.
And now it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites, on the west sea, south, while in the absence of Moroni on account of some intrigue amongst the Nephites, which caused dissensions amongst them, had gained some ground over the Nephites, yea, insomuch that they had obtained possession of a number of their cities in that part of the land.
Because of their own sin, and because of disagreements and intrigue among themselves, they ended up in very dangerous situations.
And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances.
Now I have something to say about the people of Ammon, who were originally Lamanites. Through Ammon and his brothers, or rather through the power and word of God, they were converted to the Lord. They were brought to the land of Zarahemla, and since then they have been protected by the Nephites.
And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the people of Ammon, who in the beginning, were Lamanites; but by Ammon and his brethren, or rather by the power and word of God, they had been converted unto the Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites.
Because of their oath, they were kept from taking up arms against their brothers, since they had promised never to shed blood again. According to their oath, they would have died—they would have let themselves fall into the hands of their brothers—if it hadn't been for the compassion and great love that Ammon and his brothers had for them.
And because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath that they never would shed blood more; and according to their oath they would have perished; yea, they would have suffered themselves to have fallen into the hands of their brethren, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammon and his brethren had had for them.
For this reason, they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and they had always been protected by the Nephites.
And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites.
When they saw the danger and the many hardships and troubles the Nephites endured for them, they were moved with compassion and wanted to take up arms to defend their country.
But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compassion and were desirous to take up arms in the defence of their country.
As they were about to take up their weapons of war, they were persuaded by Helaman and his brothers, because they were about to break the oath they had made.
But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Helaman and his brethren, for they were about to break the oath which they had made.
Helaman was afraid that if they did this, they would lose their souls. So everyone who had made this covenant was required to watch their brothers go through their struggles in these dangerous circumstances.
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.
They had many sons who had not made a covenant to never take up weapons to defend themselves against their enemies. So, at this time, all who were able to fight gathered together and called themselves Nephites.
But behold, it came to pass they had many sons, who had not entered into a covenant that they would not take their weapons of war to defend themselves against their enemies; therefore they did assemble themselves together at this time, as many as were able to take up arms, and they called themselves Nephites.
They made a covenant to fight for the freedom of the Nephites, to protect the land even if it meant giving their lives. They promised that they would never give up their liberty, but would always fight to protect the Nephites and themselves from being taken into bondage.
And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.
There were two thousand of those young men who entered into this covenant and took up their weapons of war to defend their country.
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.
Up to this point, they had never been a disadvantage to the Nephites, and now they became a great support; they took up their weapons of war and wanted Helaman to be their leader.
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.
They were all young men, and they were extremely brave, strong, and energetic. But that's not all—they were always trustworthy in everything they were given to do.
And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
They were men of truth and seriousness, because they had been taught to keep God's commandments and to live uprightly before Him.
Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.
Helaman marched at the head of his two thousand young soldiers to support the people living on the southern border by the west sea.
And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea.
This is how the twenty-eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi ended.
And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.