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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.

32. And Moroni commanded his men that they should fall upon them, until they had given up their weapons of war.

33. And it came to pass that Jacob, being their leader, being also a Zoramite, and having an unconquerable spirit, he led the Lamanites forth to battle, with exceeding fury against Moroni.

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.

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 whether 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.

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.

2. And Moroni went to the "city of Mulek with Lehi, and

t, see 2j, Alma 30. a, see 2 d, Alma 51.

u, see 2 d, Alma 51.

v, see 2k, Alma 22.

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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.

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 digging a ditch round about the land, or the city Bountiful;

4. 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.

5. And this city became an exceeding strong hold 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 were easy to guard them while at their labor: and he desired all his forces, when he should make an attack upon the Lamanites.

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 Mulek, which was one of the strongest holds of the Lamanites in the Land of Nephi; and thus he had also built a strong hold to retain his prisoners.

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.

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 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;

9. And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves, they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances.

10. And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the people of Ammon, who, in the beginning, were

b, see 2k, Alma 22. c, see c, Alma 48. d, see 2 k, Alma 22. 2d, Alma 51. f, see c, Alma 48. g, Alma 27:26.

e, see

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;

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 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.

12. And for this cause, they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites.

13. 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.

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 break the oath which they had made;

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.

16. 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;

17. 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.

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.

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.

h, Alma 23: 8-13. i, see h, Omni 1. j, Alma 24: 17-19. 24: 17-19. 1, see m, Mos. 29.

k, Alma

20. And they were all young men, and they were exceeding 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;

21. 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.

22. 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.

23. And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi, &c.

CHAPTER 54.

1. AND now it came to pass in the twenty and ninth year of the Judges, that Ammoron sent unto Moroni, desiring that he would exchange prisoners.

2. And it came to pass that Moroni felt to rejoice 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.

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;

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,

5. Behold, Ammoron, I have written unto you somewhat concerning this war which ye have waged against my people, or rather which thy brother hath waged against them, and which ye are still determined to carry on after his death.

6. Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice 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 lands of your possessions, which is the "land of Nephi;

7. Yea, I would tell you these things if ye were capable of hearkening unto them; yea, I would tell you concerning that awful hell that awaits to receive such murderers as thou and thy brother have been, except ye repent and with

a, sec b, 11. Nep. 5.

b, see k, 1. Nep. 15.

c, Alma 47: 18, 22-34.

draw your murderous purposes, and return with your armies to your own lands;

8. But as ye have rejected these things, and have fought against the people of the Lord, even so I may expect you will do it again.

9. And now behold, we are prepared to receive you; yea, and except you withdraw your purposes, behold, ye will pull down the wrath of that God whom you have rejected upon you, even to your utter destruction;

10. But, as the Lord liveth, our armies shall come upon you, except ye withdraw, and ye shall soon be visited with death, for we will retain our cities and our lands; yea, and we will maintain our religion and the cause of our 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 child 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.

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 our 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.

13. Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people; ye have sought to murder 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 of our first inheritance.

14. Now I close my epistle. I am Moroni; I am a leader of the people of the Nephites.

15. Now it came to pass that Ammoron, when he had received this epistle, he was angry; and he wrote another epistle unto Moroni, and these are the words which he wrote, saying,

16. I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites; I am the brother of Amalickiah whom ye have 'murdered. Behold, I will avenge his blood upon you, yea, and I will come upon you with my armies, for I fear not your threatenings;

17. For behold your fathers did wrong their brethren, insomuch that they did rob them of their "right to the government, when it rightly belonged unto them.

and

18. And now behold, if ye will lay down your arms, subject yourselves to be governed by those to whom the government doth rightly belong, then will I cause that my

d, ver. 3. h, u. Nep. 5: 1-4.

e, see b, II. Nep. 5.
See n, Jacob 7.

f, see b, I. Nep. 5. g, Alma 51:34.

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