The Book of Mormon Part 88

Alma 55:19 19 But behold, this was not the desire of Moroni; he did not delight 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.

Alma 55:20 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.

Alma 55:21 21 And then he caused the men who were with him to withdraw a pace from them, and surround the armies of the Lamanites.

Alma 55:22 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.

Alma 55:23 23 And thus they saw that the Nephites had power over them; and in these circ.u.mstances they found that it was not expedient that they should fight with the Nephites; therefore their chief captains demanded their weapons of war, and they brought them forth and cast them at the feet of the Nephites, pleading for mercy.

Alma 55:24 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.

Alma 55:25 25 And it came to pa.s.s that he did cause the Lamanites, whom he had taken prisoners, that they should commence a labor in strengthening the fortifications round about the city Gid.

Alma 55:26 26 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 55:27 27 And it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 55:28 28 And it came to pa.s.s that the Nephites began again to be victorious, and to reclaim their rights and their privileges.

Alma 55:29 29 Many time did the Lamanites attempt to encircle them about by night, but in these attempts they did lose many prisoners.

Alma 55:30 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.

Alma 55:31 31 But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their G.o.d 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.

Alma 55:32 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.

Alma 55:33 33 And now it came to pa.s.s that it was expedient for Moroni to make preparations to attack the city Morianton; for behold, the Lamanites had, by their labors, fortified the city Morianton until it had become an exceeding stronghold.

Alma 55:34 34 And they were continually bringing new forces into that city, and also new supplies of provisions.

Alma 55:35 35 And thus ended the twenty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

Alma 56 Chapter 56

Alma 56:1 1 And now it came to pa.s.s in the commencement of the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges, on the second day in the first month, Moroni received an epistle from Helaman, stating the affairs of the people in that quarter of the land.

Alma 56:2 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.

Alma 56:3 3 Behold, two 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;

Alma 56:4 4 Now I need not rehea.r.s.e unto you concerning their traditions or their unbelief, for thou knowest concerning all these things--

Alma 56:5 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.

Alma 56:6 6 And now ye also know concerning the covenant which their fathers made, that they would not take up their weapons of war against their brethren to shed blood.

Alma 56:7 7 But in the twenty and sixth year, when they saw our afflictions and our tribulations for them, they were about to break the covenant which they had made and take up their weapons of war in our defence.

Alma 56:8 8 But I would not suffer them that they should break this covenant which they had made, supposing that G.o.d would strengthen us, insomuch that we should not suffer more because of the fulfilling the oath which they had taken.

Alma 56:9 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 two thousand young men to the city of Judea, to a.s.sist Antipus, whom ye had appointed a leader over the people of that part of the land.

Alma 56:10 10 And I did join my two thousand sons, (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.

Alma 56:11 11 Nevertheless, we may console ourselves in this point, that they have died in the cause of their country and of their G.o.d, yea, and they are happy.

Alma 56:12 12 And the Lamanites had also retained many prisoners, all of whom are chief captains, 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.

Alma 56:13 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:

Alma 56:14 14 The land of Manti, or the city of Manti, and the city of Zeezrom, and the city of c.u.meni, and the city of Antiparah.

Alma 56:15 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.

Alma 56:16 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.

Alma 56:17 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 sons of mine, gave them great hopes and much joy.

Alma 56:18 18 And now it came to pa.s.s 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.

Alma 56:19 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.

Alma 56:20 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.

Alma 56:21 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.

Alma 56:22 22 And it came to pa.s.s that we kept spies out round about, to watch the movements of the Lamanites, that they might not pa.s.s us by night nor by day to make an attack upon our other cities which were on the northward.

Alma 56:23 23 For we knew in those cities they were not sufficiently strong to meet them; therefore we were desirous, if they should pa.s.s 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.

Alma 56:24 24 They durst not pa.s.s by us with their whole army, neither durst they with a part, lest they should not be sufficiently strong and they should fall.

Alma 56:25 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.

Alma 56:26 26 And thus, with their forces, they were determined to maintain those cities which they had taken.

Alma 56:27 27 And now it came to pa.s.s in the second month of this year, there was brought unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my two thousand sons.

Alma 56:28 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.

Alma 56:29 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.

Alma 56:30 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, as if we were carrying provisions to a neighboring city.

Alma 56:31 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 seash.o.r.e.