ALMA 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 traitor to the freedom and
cause of his country.
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.
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.
4 And
he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and
gained whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon.
5 And
it came to pass that thousands did flock unto his standard, and did take up
their swords in the defence of their freedom, that they might not come into
bondage.
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 king of those dissenters who had
driven the freemen out of the land of Zarahemla and
had taken possession of the land.
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.
8 And
behold, Pachus was slain and his men were taken prisoners, and Pahoran was
restored to his judgment-seat.
9 And
the men of Pachus received their trial, according to the law, and also those
king-men who had been taken and cast into prison; and they were executed
according to the law; yea, those men of Pachus and those king-men, whosoever
would not take up arms in the defence of their country, but would fight against
it, were put to death.
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 executed according to the law.
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 inflicted death
upon all those who were not true to the cause of freedom.
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.
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.
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 overthrow the
Lamanites in that city.
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.
16 And
it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a
covenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the
Nephites.
17 And
when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to dwell with the
people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been
slain.
18 And
it came to pass that when they had sent them away they pursued their march
towards the land of Nephihah. 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.
26 Thus
had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the possession of the city of Nephihah without
the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain.
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 Lehi.
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.
32 And
it came to pass that Moroni 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.
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.
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.
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 cause 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.
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 cast 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.
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 fought 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.
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.
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.
40 And
there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of
iniquity among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the righteous’ sake, yea,
because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared.
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 afflictions,
insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of
humility.
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.
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 prosper in the land.
52 And it came to pass that all these
things were done. And Helaman died, in the thirty and fifth year of the reign
of the judges over the people of Nephi.
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