ALMA 50
6 Thus
Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land.
7 And
it came to pass that Moroni caused that his armies should go forth into the east wilderness; yea, and they went forth
and drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their own
lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla.
9 And it came to pass that when
Moroni had driven all the Lamanites out of the east
wilderness, which was north of the lands of
their own possessions, he caused that the inhabitants who were in the land of Zarahemla and in the land round about should go forth into the east wilderness, even to the borders by the
seashore, and possess the land.
10 And he also placed armies on the south, in the borders of their
possessions, and caused them to erect fortifications that they might
secure their armies and their people from the hands of their enemies.
11 And thus he cut off all the
strongholds of the Lamanites in the east wilderness,
yea, and also on the west, fortifying the line between
the Nephites and the Lamanites, between the land of Zarahemla and the land of
Nephi, from the west sea, running by the head
of the river Sidon—the Nephites possessing
all the land northward, yea, even all the land which was northward of the land Bountiful,
according to their pleasure.
12 Thus Moroni, with his armies,
which did increase daily because of the assurance of protection which his works
did bring forth unto them, did seek to cut off the strength and the power of
the Lamanites from off the lands of their possessions, that they should have no
power upon the lands of their possession.
13 And it came to pass that the
Nephites began the foundation of a city, and they called the name of the city Moroni; and it was by the east sea; and it
was on the south by the line of the possessions of
the Lamanites.
14 And they also began a
foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and
the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni; and
they called the name of the city, or the land, Nephihah.
15 And
they also began in that same year to build many cities on the north, one in a
particular manner which they called Lehi,
which was in the north by the borders of the seashore.
17 And
in these prosperous circumstances were the people of Nephi in the commencement
of the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi.
18 And
they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceedingly rich; yea, and they
did multiply and wax strong in the land.
19 And
thus we see how merciful and just are all the dealings of the Lord, to the
fulfilling of all his words unto the children of men; yea, we can behold that
his words are verified, even at this time, which he spake unto Lehi, saying:
20 Blessed
art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall
keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as
they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of
the Lord.
21 And
we see that these promises have been verified to the people of Nephi; for it
has been their quarrelings and their contentions, yea, their murderings, and
their plunderings, their idolatry, their whoredoms, and their abominations,
which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars and their
destructions.
22 And
those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered
at all times, whilst thousands of their wicked brethren have been consigned to
bondage, or to perish by the sword, or to dwindle in unbelief, and mingle with
the Lamanites.
23 But
behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days
of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and
first year of the reign of the judges.
24 And
it came to pass that the twenty and second year of the reign of the judges also
ended in peace; yea, and also the twenty and third year.
25 And it came to pass that in the
commencement of the twenty and fourth year of the reign of the judges, there
would also have been peace among the people of Nephi had it not been for a
contention which took place among them concerning the land
of Lehi, and the land of Morianton,
which joined upon the borders of Lehi; both
of which were on the borders by the seashore.
31 And
it came to pass that she fled, and came over to the camp of Moroni, and told
Moroni all things concerning the matter, and also concerning their intentions
to flee into the land northward.
32 Now
behold, the people who were in the land Bountiful, or rather Moroni, feared
that they would hearken to the words of Morianton and unite with his people,
and thus he would obtain possession of those parts of the land, which would lay
a foundation for serious consequences among the people of Nephi, yea, which
consequences would lead to the overthrow of their liberty.
33 Therefore
Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Morianton, to stop
their flight into the land northward.
34 And
it came to pass that they did not head them until they had come to the borders of the land Desolation; and
there they did head them, by the narrow pass which
led by the sea into the land northward, yea, by the
sea, on the west and on the east.
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.
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.
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.
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 at the feet of Moroni, and also commanded their men that they should do
the same.
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.
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.
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