AlmaChapter46
And it came to pass that as many as would not hearken to the words of Helaman and his brethren were gathered together against their brethren.
And now behold, they were exceedingly wroth, insomuch that they were determined to slay them.
Now the leader of those who were wroth against their brethren was a large and a strong man; and his name was Amalickiah.
And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their king; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for power.
And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalickiah, that if they would support him and establish him to be their king that he would make them rulers over the people.
Thus they were led away by Amalickiah to dissensions, notwithstanding the preaching of Helaman and his brethren, yea, notwithstanding their exceedingly great care over the church, for they were high priests over the church.
And there were many in the church who believed in the flattering words of Amalickiah, therefore they dissented even from the church; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi exceedingly precarious and dangerous, notwithstanding their great victory which they had had over the Lamanites, and their great rejoicings which they had had because of their deliverance by the hand of the Lord.
Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one.
Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men.
Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous’ sake.
And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah.
And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—
For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church.
And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.
And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south—A chosen land, and the land of liberty.
And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.
And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:
Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.
And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.
Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression.
Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.
Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.
Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because of that part of his seed which shall be taken unto God.
Now behold, this was the language of Jacob.
And now who knoweth but what the remnant of the seed of Joseph, which shall perish as his garment, are those who have dissented from us? Yea, and even it shall be ourselves if we do not stand fast in the faith of Christ.
And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words he went forth, and also sent forth in all the parts of the land where there were dissensions, and gathered together all the people who were desirous to maintain their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had dissented, who were called Amalickiahites.
And it came to pass that when Amalickiah saw that the people of Moroni were more numerous than the Amalickiahites—and he also saw that his people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause in which they had undertaken—therefore, fearing that he should not gain the point, he took those of his people who would and departed into the land of Nephi.
Now Moroni thought it was not expedient that the Lamanites should have any more strength; therefore he thought to cut off the people of Amalickiah, or to take them and bring them back, and put Amalickiah to death; yea, for he knew that he would stir up the Lamanites to anger against them, and cause them to come to battle against them; and this he knew that Amalickiah would do that he might obtain his purposes.
Therefore Moroni thought it was expedient that he should take his armies, who had gathered themselves together, and armed themselves, and entered into a covenant to keep the peace—and it came to pass that he took his army and marched out with his tents into the wilderness, to cut off the course of Amalickiah in the wilderness.
And it came to pass that he did according to his desires, and marched forth into the wilderness, and headed the armies of Amalickiah.
And it came to pass that Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men, and the remainder were delivered up into the hands of Moroni and were taken back into the land of Zarahemla.
Now, Moroni being a man who was appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, therefore he had power according to his will with the armies of the Nephites, to establish and to exercise authority over them.
And it came to pass that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, he caused to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom.
And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.
And they began to have peace again in the land; and thus they did maintain peace in the land until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges.
And Helaman and the high priests did also maintain order in the church; yea, even for the space of four years did they have much peace and rejoicing in the church.
And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing.
And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land—but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate—
But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose.
All those who wouldn't listen to the words of Helaman and his fellow leaders gathered together against their fellow church members. They were so furious that they were determined to kill them.
Now the leader of those who were angry with their fellow members was a large, strong man named Amalickiah. Amalickiah wanted to be king, and the people who were angry wanted him to be their king too. Most of them were the lower judges of the land, and they wanted power. Amalickiah's flattery had won them over: if they would support him and make him their king, he would make them rulers over the people.
So Amalickiah led them away into division, despite the preaching of Helaman and his fellow leaders, and despite their great care for the church, because they were the high priests over the church. Many in the church believed Amalickiah's flattering words, so they broke away from the church itself. And so the situation of the people of Nephi became very unstable and dangerous, despite the great victory they had won over the Lamanites and all their rejoicing over how the Lord had delivered them.
And so we see how quickly people forget the Lord their God, how quickly they turn to sin and are led away by the evil one. We also see the great wickedness that one very wicked man can bring about among the people. We see that Amalickiah, a man of cunning schemes and many flattering words, led the hearts of many people away to do wickedly, to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted them, the very blessing God had sent upon this land for the righteous' sake.
Now when Moroni, the chief commander of the Nephite armies, heard about these divisions, he was angry with Amalickiah. He tore his coat, took a piece of it, and wrote on it: "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children." Then he fastened it to the end of a pole. He fastened on his head-plate, breastplate, and shields, and strapped his armor around his waist. Then he took the pole with his torn coat on the end, which he called the title of liberty, and bowed to the ground, praying with all his might to his God that the blessings of liberty would rest on his people as long as a band of Christians remained to hold the land.
That is what all the true believers in Christ, who belonged to the church of God, were called by those who didn't belong to it. And those who did belong to the church were faithful. All those who were true believers in Christ gladly took the name of Christ upon themselves, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in the Christ who was to come. So at this time Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians and the freedom of the land would be favored.
After he had poured out his soul to God, he gave a name to all the land south of Desolation, in short, to all the land both north and south: a chosen land, and the land of liberty. And he said: "God certainly won't allow us, who are despised because we take the name of Christ upon us, to be trampled down and destroyed, unless we bring it on ourselves by our own sins."
When Moroni said this, he went out among the people, waving the torn piece of his coat in the air so everyone could see what he had written on it, and shouting: "Whoever will uphold this title in the land, let them come forward in the Lord's strength and enter into a covenant to defend their rights and religion, so that the Lord God may bless them."
When Moroni proclaimed this, the people came running together with their armor strapped on, tearing their clothes as a sign, or as a covenant, that they would not abandon the Lord their God. In other words, if they broke the commandments of God or fell into sin and were ashamed to take the name of Christ upon them, the Lord would tear them just as they had torn their clothes. Now this was the covenant they made. They threw their clothes at Moroni's feet, saying: "We covenant with our God that we will be destroyed, just like our brothers in the land to the north, if we fall into sin. He may cast us at the feet of our enemies, just as we have cast our clothes at your feet to be trampled underfoot, if we fall into sin."
Moroni said to them: We are a remnant of Jacob's posterity. We are a remnant of Joseph's posterity, whose coat was torn into many pieces by his brothers. And now let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our clothes will be torn by our brothers, and we will be thrown into prison, sold, or killed.
Let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph. Let us remember the words of Jacob before his death, because he saw that part of the remnant of Joseph's coat was preserved and had not decayed. And he said, "Just as this remnant of my son's garment has been preserved, so will a remnant of my son's posterity be preserved by the hand of God and taken to God himself, while the remainder of Joseph's posterity will perish, just as the remnant of his garment did. This gives my soul sorrow. Even so, my soul has joy in my son, because of that part of his posterity that will be taken to God."
Now, these were Jacob's own words. And now, who knows whether the remnant of Joseph's posterity that will perish like his garment are those who have broken away from us? And it will even be ourselves, if we don't stand firm in the faith of Christ.
When Moroni said this, he went out, sent word into every part of the land where there were divisions, and gathered all the people who wanted to keep their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had broken away, who were called Amalickiahites.
When Amalickiah saw that Moroni's people outnumbered the Amalickiahites, and that his own people had doubts about the justice of the cause they had taken up, he was afraid he would not win his point. So he took those of his people who would go and left for the land of Nephi. Now Moroni thought it was not wise to let the Lamanites gain any more strength. So he planned to cut off Amalickiah's people, or to capture them and bring them back and put Amalickiah to death, because he knew Amalickiah would stir the Lamanites up to anger against them and bring them out to battle against them. He knew Amalickiah would do this to get what he wanted. So Moroni thought it was wise to take his armies, who had gathered together, armed themselves, and entered into a covenant to keep the peace. He took his army and marched out with his tents into the wilderness to cut off Amalickiah's course.
He did what he intended. He marched out into the wilderness and headed off Amalickiah's armies. Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men, and the rest were handed over to Moroni and taken back to the land of Zarahemla.
Now, Moroni had been appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, so he had power to act as he saw fit with the Nephite armies, to establish and exercise authority over them. Any of the Amalickiahites who would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, so that they could keep a free government, he had put to death. And there were only a few who refused the covenant of freedom.
He also had the title of liberty hoisted on every tower in all the land held by the Nephites. And so Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites. And peace returned to the land, and they kept it until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges. Helaman and the high priests also kept order in the church, and for four years they had much peace and rejoicing there.
Many died firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ, and so they left this world rejoicing. And some died of fevers, which at certain seasons of the year were very common in the land. But not so many died of fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots that God had prepared to take away the cause of the diseases people were subject to because of the climate. But many died of old age. And those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must believe.
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And it came to pass that as many as would not hearken to the words of Helaman and his brethren were gathered together against their brethren.
All those who wouldn't listen to the words of Helaman and his fellow leaders gathered together against their fellow church members.
And now behold, they were exceedingly wroth, insomuch that they were determined to slay them.
They were so furious that they were determined to kill them.
Now the leader of those who were wroth against their brethren was a large and a strong man; and his name was Amalickiah.
Now the leader of those who were angry with their fellow members was a large, strong man named Amalickiah.
And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their king; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for power.
Amalickiah wanted to be king, and the people who were angry wanted him to be their king too. Most of them were the lower judges of the land, and they wanted power.
And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalickiah, that if they would support him and establish him to be their king that he would make them rulers over the people.
Amalickiah's flattery had won them over: if they would support him and make him their king, he would make them rulers over the people.
Thus they were led away by Amalickiah to dissensions, notwithstanding the preaching of Helaman and his brethren, yea, notwithstanding their exceedingly great care over the church, for they were high priests over the church.
So Amalickiah led them away into division, despite the preaching of Helaman and his fellow leaders, and despite their great care for the church, because they were the high priests over the church.
And there were many in the church who believed in the flattering words of Amalickiah, therefore they dissented even from the church; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi exceedingly precarious and dangerous, notwithstanding their great victory which they had had over the Lamanites, and their great rejoicings which they had had because of their deliverance by the hand of the Lord.
Many in the church believed Amalickiah's flattering words, so they broke away from the church itself. And so the situation of the people of Nephi became very unstable and dangerous, despite the great victory they had won over the Lamanites and all their rejoicing over how the Lord had delivered them.
Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one.
And so we see how quickly people forget the Lord their God, how quickly they turn to sin and are led away by the evil one.
Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men.
We also see the great wickedness that one very wicked man can bring about among the people.
Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous’ sake.
We see that Amalickiah, a man of cunning schemes and many flattering words, led the hearts of many people away to do wickedly, to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted them, the very blessing God had sent upon this land for the righteous' sake.
And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah.
Now when Moroni, the chief commander of the Nephite armies, heard about these divisions, he was angry with Amalickiah.
And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
He tore his coat, took a piece of it, and wrote on it: "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children." Then he fastened it to the end of a pole.
And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—
He fastened on his head-plate, breastplate, and shields, and strapped his armor around his waist. Then he took the pole with his torn coat on the end, which he called the title of liberty, and bowed to the ground, praying with all his might to his God that the blessings of liberty would rest on his people as long as a band of Christians remained to hold the land.
For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church.
That is what all the true believers in Christ, who belonged to the church of God, were called by those who didn't belong to it.
And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
And those who did belong to the church were faithful. All those who were true believers in Christ gladly took the name of Christ upon themselves, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in the Christ who was to come.
And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.
So at this time Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians and the freedom of the land would be favored.
And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south—A chosen land, and the land of liberty.
After he had poured out his soul to God, he gave a name to all the land south of Desolation, in short, to all the land both north and south: a chosen land, and the land of liberty.
And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.
And he said: "God certainly won't allow us, who are despised because we take the name of Christ upon us, to be trampled down and destroyed, unless we bring it on ourselves by our own sins."
And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:
When Moroni said this, he went out among the people, waving the torn piece of his coat in the air so everyone could see what he had written on it, and shouting:
Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.
"Whoever will uphold this title in the land, let them come forward in the Lord's strength and enter into a covenant to defend their rights and religion, so that the Lord God may bless them."
And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.
When Moroni proclaimed this, the people came running together with their armor strapped on, tearing their clothes as a sign, or as a covenant, that they would not abandon the Lord their God. In other words, if they broke the commandments of God or fell into sin and were ashamed to take the name of Christ upon them, the Lord would tear them just as they had torn their clothes.
Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression.
Now this was the covenant they made. They threw their clothes at Moroni's feet, saying: "We covenant with our God that we will be destroyed, just like our brothers in the land to the north, if we fall into sin. He may cast us at the feet of our enemies, just as we have cast our clothes at your feet to be trampled underfoot, if we fall into sin."
Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.
Moroni said to them: We are a remnant of Jacob's posterity. We are a remnant of Joseph's posterity, whose coat was torn into many pieces by his brothers. And now let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our clothes will be torn by our brothers, and we will be thrown into prison, sold, or killed.
Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.
Let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph. Let us remember the words of Jacob before his death, because he saw that part of the remnant of Joseph's coat was preserved and had not decayed. And he said, "Just as this remnant of my son's garment has been preserved, so will a remnant of my son's posterity be preserved by the hand of God and taken to God himself, while the remainder of Joseph's posterity will perish, just as the remnant of his garment did.
Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because of that part of his seed which shall be taken unto God.
This gives my soul sorrow. Even so, my soul has joy in my son, because of that part of his posterity that will be taken to God."
Now behold, this was the language of Jacob.
Now, these were Jacob's own words.
And now who knoweth but what the remnant of the seed of Joseph, which shall perish as his garment, are those who have dissented from us? Yea, and even it shall be ourselves if we do not stand fast in the faith of Christ.
And now, who knows whether the remnant of Joseph's posterity that will perish like his garment are those who have broken away from us? And it will even be ourselves, if we don't stand firm in the faith of Christ.
And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words he went forth, and also sent forth in all the parts of the land where there were dissensions, and gathered together all the people who were desirous to maintain their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had dissented, who were called Amalickiahites.
When Moroni said this, he went out, sent word into every part of the land where there were divisions, and gathered all the people who wanted to keep their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had broken away, who were called Amalickiahites.
And it came to pass that when Amalickiah saw that the people of Moroni were more numerous than the Amalickiahites—and he also saw that his people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause in which they had undertaken—therefore, fearing that he should not gain the point, he took those of his people who would and departed into the land of Nephi.
When Amalickiah saw that Moroni's people outnumbered the Amalickiahites, and that his own people had doubts about the justice of the cause they had taken up, he was afraid he would not win his point. So he took those of his people who would go and left for the land of Nephi.
Now Moroni thought it was not expedient that the Lamanites should have any more strength; therefore he thought to cut off the people of Amalickiah, or to take them and bring them back, and put Amalickiah to death; yea, for he knew that he would stir up the Lamanites to anger against them, and cause them to come to battle against them; and this he knew that Amalickiah would do that he might obtain his purposes.
Now Moroni thought it was not wise to let the Lamanites gain any more strength. So he planned to cut off Amalickiah's people, or to capture them and bring them back and put Amalickiah to death, because he knew Amalickiah would stir the Lamanites up to anger against them and bring them out to battle against them. He knew Amalickiah would do this to get what he wanted.
Therefore Moroni thought it was expedient that he should take his armies, who had gathered themselves together, and armed themselves, and entered into a covenant to keep the peace—and it came to pass that he took his army and marched out with his tents into the wilderness, to cut off the course of Amalickiah in the wilderness.
So Moroni thought it was wise to take his armies, who had gathered together, armed themselves, and entered into a covenant to keep the peace. He took his army and marched out with his tents into the wilderness to cut off Amalickiah's course.
And it came to pass that he did according to his desires, and marched forth into the wilderness, and headed the armies of Amalickiah.
He did what he intended. He marched out into the wilderness and headed off Amalickiah's armies.
And it came to pass that Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men, and the remainder were delivered up into the hands of Moroni and were taken back into the land of Zarahemla.
Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men, and the rest were handed over to Moroni and taken back to the land of Zarahemla.
Now, Moroni being a man who was appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, therefore he had power according to his will with the armies of the Nephites, to establish and to exercise authority over them.
Now, Moroni had been appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, so he had power to act as he saw fit with the Nephite armies, to establish and exercise authority over them.
And it came to pass that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, he caused to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom.
Any of the Amalickiahites who would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, so that they could keep a free government, he had put to death. And there were only a few who refused the covenant of freedom.
And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.
He also had the title of liberty hoisted on every tower in all the land held by the Nephites. And so Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.
And they began to have peace again in the land; and thus they did maintain peace in the land until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges.
And peace returned to the land, and they kept it until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges.
And Helaman and the high priests did also maintain order in the church; yea, even for the space of four years did they have much peace and rejoicing in the church.
Helaman and the high priests also kept order in the church, and for four years they had much peace and rejoicing there.
And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing.
Many died firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ, and so they left this world rejoicing.
And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land—but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate—
And some died of fevers, which at certain seasons of the year were very common in the land. But not so many died of fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots that God had prepared to take away the cause of the diseases people were subject to because of the climate.
But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose.
But many died of old age. And those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must believe.
And it came to pass that as many as would not hearken to the words of Helaman and his brethren were gathered together against their brethren.
All those who wouldn't listen to the words of Helaman and his fellow leaders gathered together against their fellow church members.
And now behold, they were exceedingly wroth, insomuch that they were determined to slay them.
They were so furious that they were determined to kill them.
Now the leader of those who were wroth against their brethren was a large and a strong man; and his name was Amalickiah.
Now the leader of those who were angry with their fellow members was a large, strong man named Amalickiah.
And Amalickiah was desirous to be a king; and those people who were wroth were also desirous that he should be their king; and they were the greater part of them the lower judges of the land, and they were seeking for power.
Amalickiah wanted to be king, and the people who were angry wanted him to be their king too. Most of them were the lower judges of the land, and they wanted power.
And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalickiah, that if they would support him and establish him to be their king that he would make them rulers over the people.
Amalickiah's flattery had won them over: if they would support him and make him their king, he would make them rulers over the people.
Thus they were led away by Amalickiah to dissensions, notwithstanding the preaching of Helaman and his brethren, yea, notwithstanding their exceedingly great care over the church, for they were high priests over the church.
So Amalickiah led them away into division, despite the preaching of Helaman and his fellow leaders, and despite their great care for the church, because they were the high priests over the church.
And there were many in the church who believed in the flattering words of Amalickiah, therefore they dissented even from the church; and thus were the affairs of the people of Nephi exceedingly precarious and dangerous, notwithstanding their great victory which they had had over the Lamanites, and their great rejoicings which they had had because of their deliverance by the hand of the Lord.
Many in the church believed Amalickiah's flattering words, so they broke away from the church itself. And so the situation of the people of Nephi became very unstable and dangerous, despite the great victory they had won over the Lamanites and all their rejoicing over how the Lord had delivered them.
Thus we see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea, how quick to do iniquity, and to be led away by the evil one.
And so we see how quickly people forget the Lord their God, how quickly they turn to sin and are led away by the evil one.
Yea, and we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can cause to take place among the children of men.
We also see the great wickedness that one very wicked man can bring about among the people.
Yea, we see that Amalickiah, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do wickedly; yea, and to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous’ sake.
We see that Amalickiah, a man of cunning schemes and many flattering words, led the hearts of many people away to do wickedly, to seek to destroy the church of God, and to destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted them, the very blessing God had sent upon this land for the righteous' sake.
And now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah.
Now when Moroni, the chief commander of the Nephite armies, heard about these divisions, he was angry with Amalickiah.
And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it—In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children—and he fastened it upon the end of a pole.
He tore his coat, took a piece of it, and wrote on it: "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children." Then he fastened it to the end of a pole.
And he fastened on his head-plate, and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on his armor about his loins; and he took the pole, which had on the end thereof his rent coat, (and he called it the title of liberty) and he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land—
He fastened on his head-plate, breastplate, and shields, and strapped his armor around his waist. Then he took the pole with his torn coat on the end, which he called the title of liberty, and bowed to the ground, praying with all his might to his God that the blessings of liberty would rest on his people as long as a band of Christians remained to hold the land.
For thus were all the true believers of Christ, who belonged to the church of God, called by those who did not belong to the church.
That is what all the true believers in Christ, who belonged to the church of God, were called by those who didn't belong to it.
And those who did belong to the church were faithful; yea, all those who were true believers in Christ took upon them, gladly, the name of Christ, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in Christ who should come.
And those who did belong to the church were faithful. All those who were true believers in Christ gladly took the name of Christ upon themselves, or Christians as they were called, because of their belief in the Christ who was to come.
And therefore, at this time, Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians, and the freedom of the land might be favored.
So at this time Moroni prayed that the cause of the Christians and the freedom of the land would be favored.
And it came to pass that when he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which was south of the land Desolation, yea, and in fine, all the land, both on the north and on the south—A chosen land, and the land of liberty.
After he had poured out his soul to God, he gave a name to all the land south of Desolation, in short, to all the land both north and south: a chosen land, and the land of liberty.
And he said: Surely God shall not suffer that we, who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.
And he said: "God certainly won't allow us, who are despised because we take the name of Christ upon us, to be trampled down and destroyed, unless we bring it on ourselves by our own sins."
And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people, waving the rent part of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud voice, saying:
When Moroni said this, he went out among the people, waving the torn piece of his coat in the air so everyone could see what he had written on it, and shouting:
Behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into a covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them.
"Whoever will uphold this title in the land, let them come forward in the Lord's strength and enter into a covenant to defend their rights and religion, so that the Lord God may bless them."
And it came to pass that when Moroni had proclaimed these words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their loins, rending their garments in token, or as a covenant, that they would not forsake the Lord their God; or, in other words, if they should transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression, and be ashamed to take upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them even as they had rent their garments.
When Moroni proclaimed this, the people came running together with their armor strapped on, tearing their clothes as a sign, or as a covenant, that they would not abandon the Lord their God. In other words, if they broke the commandments of God or fell into sin and were ashamed to take the name of Christ upon them, the Lord would tear them just as they had torn their clothes.
Now this was the covenant which they made, and they cast their garments at the feet of Moroni, saying: We covenant with our God, that we shall be destroyed, even as our brethren in the land northward, if we shall fall into transgression; yea, he may cast us at the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at thy feet to be trodden under foot, if we shall fall into transgression.
Now this was the covenant they made. They threw their clothes at Moroni's feet, saying: "We covenant with our God that we will be destroyed, just like our brothers in the land to the north, if we fall into sin. He may cast us at the feet of our enemies, just as we have cast our clothes at your feet to be trampled underfoot, if we fall into sin."
Moroni said unto them: Behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob; yea, we are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat was rent by his brethren into many pieces; yea, and now behold, let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold, or be slain.
Moroni said to them: We are a remnant of Jacob's posterity. We are a remnant of Joseph's posterity, whose coat was torn into many pieces by his brothers. And now let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our clothes will be torn by our brothers, and we will be thrown into prison, sold, or killed.
Yea, let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph; yea, let us remember the words of Jacob, before his death, for behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said—Even as this remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God, and be taken unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even as the remnant of his garment.
Let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of Joseph. Let us remember the words of Jacob before his death, because he saw that part of the remnant of Joseph's coat was preserved and had not decayed. And he said, "Just as this remnant of my son's garment has been preserved, so will a remnant of my son's posterity be preserved by the hand of God and taken to God himself, while the remainder of Joseph's posterity will perish, just as the remnant of his garment did.
Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow; nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son, because of that part of his seed which shall be taken unto God.
This gives my soul sorrow. Even so, my soul has joy in my son, because of that part of his posterity that will be taken to God."
Now behold, this was the language of Jacob.
Now, these were Jacob's own words.
And now who knoweth but what the remnant of the seed of Joseph, which shall perish as his garment, are those who have dissented from us? Yea, and even it shall be ourselves if we do not stand fast in the faith of Christ.
And now, who knows whether the remnant of Joseph's posterity that will perish like his garment are those who have broken away from us? And it will even be ourselves, if we don't stand firm in the faith of Christ.
And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words he went forth, and also sent forth in all the parts of the land where there were dissensions, and gathered together all the people who were desirous to maintain their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had dissented, who were called Amalickiahites.
When Moroni said this, he went out, sent word into every part of the land where there were divisions, and gathered all the people who wanted to keep their liberty, to stand against Amalickiah and those who had broken away, who were called Amalickiahites.
And it came to pass that when Amalickiah saw that the people of Moroni were more numerous than the Amalickiahites—and he also saw that his people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause in which they had undertaken—therefore, fearing that he should not gain the point, he took those of his people who would and departed into the land of Nephi.
When Amalickiah saw that Moroni's people outnumbered the Amalickiahites, and that his own people had doubts about the justice of the cause they had taken up, he was afraid he would not win his point. So he took those of his people who would go and left for the land of Nephi.
Now Moroni thought it was not expedient that the Lamanites should have any more strength; therefore he thought to cut off the people of Amalickiah, or to take them and bring them back, and put Amalickiah to death; yea, for he knew that he would stir up the Lamanites to anger against them, and cause them to come to battle against them; and this he knew that Amalickiah would do that he might obtain his purposes.
Now Moroni thought it was not wise to let the Lamanites gain any more strength. So he planned to cut off Amalickiah's people, or to capture them and bring them back and put Amalickiah to death, because he knew Amalickiah would stir the Lamanites up to anger against them and bring them out to battle against them. He knew Amalickiah would do this to get what he wanted.
Therefore Moroni thought it was expedient that he should take his armies, who had gathered themselves together, and armed themselves, and entered into a covenant to keep the peace—and it came to pass that he took his army and marched out with his tents into the wilderness, to cut off the course of Amalickiah in the wilderness.
So Moroni thought it was wise to take his armies, who had gathered together, armed themselves, and entered into a covenant to keep the peace. He took his army and marched out with his tents into the wilderness to cut off Amalickiah's course.
And it came to pass that he did according to his desires, and marched forth into the wilderness, and headed the armies of Amalickiah.
He did what he intended. He marched out into the wilderness and headed off Amalickiah's armies.
And it came to pass that Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men, and the remainder were delivered up into the hands of Moroni and were taken back into the land of Zarahemla.
Amalickiah fled with a small number of his men, and the rest were handed over to Moroni and taken back to the land of Zarahemla.
Now, Moroni being a man who was appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, therefore he had power according to his will with the armies of the Nephites, to establish and to exercise authority over them.
Now, Moroni had been appointed by the chief judges and the voice of the people, so he had power to act as he saw fit with the Nephite armies, to establish and exercise authority over them.
And it came to pass that whomsoever of the Amalickiahites that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that they might maintain a free government, he caused to be put to death; and there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom.
Any of the Amalickiahites who would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, so that they could keep a free government, he had put to death. And there were only a few who refused the covenant of freedom.
And it came to pass also, that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every tower which was in all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites; and thus Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.
He also had the title of liberty hoisted on every tower in all the land held by the Nephites. And so Moroni planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites.
And they began to have peace again in the land; and thus they did maintain peace in the land until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges.
And peace returned to the land, and they kept it until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges.
And Helaman and the high priests did also maintain order in the church; yea, even for the space of four years did they have much peace and rejoicing in the church.
Helaman and the high priests also kept order in the church, and for four years they had much peace and rejoicing there.
And it came to pass that there were many who died, firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ; thus they went out of the world rejoicing.
Many died firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ, and so they left this world rejoicing.
And there were some who died with fevers, which at some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land—but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases, to which men were subject by the nature of the climate—
And some died of fevers, which at certain seasons of the year were very common in the land. But not so many died of fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the many plants and roots that God had prepared to take away the cause of the diseases people were subject to because of the climate.
But there were many who died with old age; and those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must needs suppose.
But many died of old age. And those who died in the faith of Christ are happy in him, as we must believe.
