AlmaChapter50

v1.10

And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities.

And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.

And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them.

And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city.

Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land.

And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And thus ended the twentieth year.

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.

And they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceedingly rich; yea, and they did multiply and wax strong in the land.

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.

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.

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.

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.

For behold, the people who possessed the land of Morianton did claim a part of the land of Lehi; therefore there began to be a warm contention between them, insomuch that the people of Morianton took up arms against their brethren, and they were determined by the sword to slay them.

But behold, the people who possessed the land of Lehi fled to the camp of Moroni, and appealed unto him for assistance; for behold they were not in the wrong.

Therefore, Morianton put it into their hearts that they should flee to the land which was northward, which was covered with large bodies of water, and take possession of the land which was northward.

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.

Therefore Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Morianton, to stop their flight into the land northward.

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.

And thus were the people of Morianton brought back. And upon their covenanting to keep the peace they were restored to the land of Morianton, and a union took place between them and the people of Lehi; and they were also restored to their lands.

Nevertheless, he had refused Alma to take possession of those records and those things which were esteemed by Alma and his fathers to be most sacred; therefore Alma had conferred them upon his son, Helaman.

Behold, it came to pass that the son of Nephihah was appointed to fill the judgment-seat, in the stead of his father; yea, he was appointed chief judge and governor over the people, with an oath and sacred ordinance to judge righteously, and to keep the peace and the freedom of the people, and to grant unto them their sacred privileges to worship the Lord their God, yea, to support and maintain the cause of God all his days, and to bring the wicked to justice according to their crime.

Now behold, his name was Pahoran. And Pahoran did fill the seat of his father, and did commence his reign in the end of the twenty and fourth year, over the people of Nephi.

Moroni didn't stop preparing for war, or for defending his people against the Lamanites. At the beginning of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, he had his armies start digging up heaps of earth around all the cities, throughout all the land the Nephites held. On top of these ridges of earth he had timbers set up, works of timber as high as a man, around the cities. And on those timber works he had a frame of pickets built all around, and they were strong and high. He had towers built that overlooked those picket works, and he had places of safety built on the towers, so that the Lamanites' stones and arrows couldn't hurt them. And they were built so that men could throw stones down from the top of them, as they pleased and as their strength allowed, and kill anyone who tried to come near the city walls. So Moroni prepared strongholds against the coming of their enemies, around every city in all the land.

Then Moroni sent his armies out into the east wilderness, and they drove all the Lamanites who were there into their own lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla. And the land of Nephi ran in a straight line from the east sea to the west. After Moroni had driven all the Lamanites out of the east wilderness, which was north of the lands they held, he had the people living in the land of Zarahemla and the land around it go out into that wilderness, all the way to the borders by the seashore, and take possession of the land.

He also placed armies on the south, at the borders of their lands, and had them build fortifications to keep their armies and their people safe from their enemies. And so he cut off all the Lamanite strongholds in the east wilderness, and on the west as well, 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 headwaters of the Sidon. The Nephites held all the land northward, all the land north of Bountiful, as much of it as they pleased. So Moroni, with his armies, which grew larger every day because of the assurance of protection his works gave them, tried to cut off the Lamanites' strength and power from the lands they held, so that they would have no power over those lands.

Then the Nephites laid the foundation of a city, and they named the city Moroni. It was by the east sea, and on the south it ran along the line of the Lamanites' lands. They also laid a foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni, and they named the city, or the land, Nephihah. And that same year they began building many cities in the north, one in particular that they called Lehi, which was in the north by the borders of the seashore. And so ended the twentieth year.

And this was how prosperous the people of Nephi were at the beginning of the twenty-first year of the reign of the judges. They prospered greatly and became very rich, and they grew in numbers and became strong in the land.

And so we see how merciful and just all the dealings of the Lord are, in fulfilling all his words to humankind. We see that even now his words are proved true, the words he spoke to Lehi: You and your children are blessed, and they will be blessed. If you keep my commandments, you will prosper in the land; but remember, if you do not keep my commandments, you will be cut off from my presence.

And we see that these promises have been proved true to the people of Nephi. It was their quarrels, contentions, murders, plunderings, idolatry, whoredoms, and abominations among themselves that brought their wars and destructions on them. And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were always delivered, while thousands of their wicked brothers have been consigned to slavery, or to perish by the sword, or to fade away in unbelief and mingle with the Lamanites. But there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, at this very time, in the twenty-first year of the reign of the judges.

The twenty-second year of the reign of the judges also ended in peace, and so did the twenty-third.

At the beginning of the twenty-fourth year of the reign of the judges, there would have been peace among the people of Nephi too, if it hadn't been for a dispute that came up among them over the land of Lehi and the land of Morianton, which bordered on Lehi. Both were on the borders by the seashore. The people who held the land of Morianton claimed part of the land of Lehi, so a heated dispute broke out between them, until the people of Morianton took up arms against their brothers, determined to kill them with the sword. But the people who held the land of Lehi fled to Moroni's camp and appealed to him for help because they weren't in the wrong.

When the people of Morianton, who were led by a man named Morianton, found out that the people of Lehi had fled there, they were terrified that Moroni's army would come after them and destroy them. So Morianton put it into their hearts to flee to the land northward, which was covered with large bodies of water, and take possession of it.

And they would have carried this plan out, which would have been a cause for grief, but Morianton was a man of great passion, so he got angry with one of his maidservants, fell on her, and beat her badly. So she ran away, came over to Moroni's camp, and told him everything about the matter and their plan to flee to the land northward.

Now, Moroni feared that the people in Bountiful would listen to Morianton's words and join with his people, and that Morianton would then take possession of those parts of the land, which would lay a foundation for serious consequences among the people of Nephi, consequences that would lead to the overthrow of their liberty. So Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head off the people of Morianton and stop their flight to the land northward. They didn't head them off until they had come to the borders of Desolation. And there they headed them off, by the narrow pass that led by the sea into the land northward, by the sea on the west and on the east.

The army Moroni had sent, led by a man named Teancum, met the people of Morianton. And they were so stubborn, stirred up by Morianton's wickedness and his flattering words, that a battle broke out between them, in which Teancum killed him, defeated his army, took them prisoner, and returned to Moroni's camp. And so ended the twenty-fourth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. And so the people of Morianton were brought back. When they covenanted to keep the peace, they were restored to the land of Morianton, and a union took place between them and the people of Lehi, who were also restored to their lands.

That same year, when the people of Nephi had peace restored to them, Nephihah, the second chief judge, died, having filled the judgment seat with perfect uprightness before God. Even so, he had refused Alma's request to take charge of the records and the things that Alma and his fathers valued as most sacred, so Alma had given them to his son Helaman.

The son of Nephihah was appointed to fill the judgment seat in place of his father. He was appointed chief judge and governor over the people, with an oath and sacred ordinance to judge righteously, to keep the peace and freedom of the people, to grant them their sacred privileges to worship the Lord their God, to support and maintain the cause of God all his days, and to bring the wicked to justice according to their crime. Now, his name was Pahoran. He filled his father's seat and began his reign at the end of the twenty-fourth year, over the people of Nephi.

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OriginalModern English

And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities.

On top of these ridges of earth he had timbers set up, works of timber as high as a man, around the cities.

And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.

And on those timber works he had a frame of pickets built all around, and they were strong and high.

He had towers built that overlooked those picket works, and he had places of safety built on the towers, so that the Lamanites' stones and arrows couldn't hurt them.

And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city.

And they were built so that men could throw stones down from the top of them, as they pleased and as their strength allowed, and kill anyone who tried to come near the city walls.

Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land.

So Moroni prepared strongholds against the coming of their enemies, around every city in all the land.

Then Moroni sent his armies out into the east wilderness, and they drove all the Lamanites who were there into their own lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla.

And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west.

And the land of Nephi ran in a straight line from the east sea to the west.

After Moroni had driven all the Lamanites out of the east wilderness, which was north of the lands they held, he had the people living in the land of Zarahemla and the land around it go out into that wilderness, all the way to the borders by the seashore, and take possession of the land.

He also placed armies on the south, at the borders of their lands, and had them build fortifications to keep their armies and their people safe from their enemies.

And so he cut off all the Lamanite strongholds in the east wilderness, and on the west as well, 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 headwaters of the Sidon. The Nephites held all the land northward, all the land north of Bountiful, as much of it as they pleased.

So Moroni, with his armies, which grew larger every day because of the assurance of protection his works gave them, tried to cut off the Lamanites' strength and power from the lands they held, so that they would have no power over those lands.

Then the Nephites laid the foundation of a city, and they named the city Moroni. It was by the east sea, and on the south it ran along the line of the Lamanites' lands.

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.

They also laid a foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni, and they named the city, or the land, Nephihah.

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.

And that same year they began building many cities in the north, one in particular that they called Lehi, which was in the north by the borders of the seashore.

And thus ended the twentieth year.

And so ended the twentieth year.

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.

And this was how prosperous the people of Nephi were at the beginning of the twenty-first year of the reign of the judges.

And they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceedingly rich; yea, and they did multiply and wax strong in the land.

They prospered greatly and became very rich, and they grew in numbers and became strong in the land.

And so we see how merciful and just all the dealings of the Lord are, in fulfilling all his words to humankind. We see that even now his words are proved true, the words he spoke to Lehi:

You and your children are blessed, and they will be blessed. If you keep my commandments, you will prosper in the land; but remember, if you do not keep my commandments, you will be cut off from my presence.

And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were always delivered, while thousands of their wicked brothers have been consigned to slavery, or to perish by the sword, or to fade away in unbelief and mingle with the Lamanites.

But there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, at this very time, in the twenty-first year of the reign of the judges.

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.

The twenty-second year of the reign of the judges also ended in peace, and so did the twenty-third.

The people who held the land of Morianton claimed part of the land of Lehi, so a heated dispute broke out between them, until the people of Morianton took up arms against their brothers, determined to kill them with the sword.

But behold, the people who possessed the land of Lehi fled to the camp of Moroni, and appealed unto him for assistance; for behold they were not in the wrong.

But the people who held the land of Lehi fled to Moroni's camp and appealed to him for help because they weren't in the wrong.

When the people of Morianton, who were led by a man named Morianton, found out that the people of Lehi had fled there, they were terrified that Moroni's army would come after them and destroy them.

Therefore, Morianton put it into their hearts that they should flee to the land which was northward, which was covered with large bodies of water, and take possession of the land which was northward.

So Morianton put it into their hearts to flee to the land northward, which was covered with large bodies of water, and take possession of it.

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.

So she ran away, came over to Moroni's camp, and told him everything about the matter and their plan to flee to the land northward.

Therefore Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Morianton, to stop their flight into the land northward.

So Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head off the people of Morianton and stop their flight to the land northward.

They didn't head them off until they had come to the borders of Desolation. And there they headed them off, by the narrow pass that led by the sea into the land northward, by the sea on the west and on the east.

And so the people of Morianton were brought back. When they covenanted to keep the peace, they were restored to the land of Morianton, and a union took place between them and the people of Lehi, who were also restored to their lands.

That same year, when the people of Nephi had peace restored to them, Nephihah, the second chief judge, died, having filled the judgment seat with perfect uprightness before God.

Even so, he had refused Alma's request to take charge of the records and the things that Alma and his fathers valued as most sacred, so Alma had given them to his son Helaman.

Now behold, his name was Pahoran. And Pahoran did fill the seat of his father, and did commence his reign in the end of the twenty and fourth year, over the people of Nephi.

Now, his name was Pahoran. He filled his father's seat and began his reign at the end of the twenty-fourth year, over the people of Nephi.

OriginalModern English

And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites. And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities. And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high. And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them. And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city. Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land.

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. And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west. 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.

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. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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. And thus ended the twentieth year.

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. And they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceedingly rich; yea, and they did multiply and wax strong in the land.

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: 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.

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. 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. 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.

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.

The twenty-second year of the reign of the judges also ended in peace, and so did the twenty-third.

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. For behold, the people who possessed the land of Morianton did claim a part of the land of Lehi; therefore there began to be a warm contention between them, insomuch that the people of Morianton took up arms against their brethren, and they were determined by the sword to slay them. But behold, the people who possessed the land of Lehi fled to the camp of Moroni, and appealed unto him for assistance; for behold they were not in the wrong.

And it came to pass that when the people of Morianton, who were led by a man whose name was Morianton, found that the people of Lehi had fled to the camp of Moroni, they were exceedingly fearful lest the army of Moroni should come upon them and destroy them. Therefore, Morianton put it into their hearts that they should flee to the land which was northward, which was covered with large bodies of water, and take possession of the land which was northward.

And behold, they would have carried this plan into effect, (which would have been a cause to have been lamented) but behold, Morianton being a man of much passion, therefore he was angry with one of his maid servants, and he fell upon her and beat her much. 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.

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. Therefore Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Morianton, to stop their flight into the land northward. 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.

And it came to pass that the army which was sent by Moroni, which was led by a man whose name was Teancum, did meet the people of Morianton; and so stubborn were the people of Morianton, (being inspired by his wickedness and his flattering words) that a battle commenced between them, in the which Teancum did slay Morianton and defeat his army, and took them prisoners, and returned to the camp of Moroni. And thus ended the twenty and fourth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. And thus were the people of Morianton brought back. And upon their covenanting to keep the peace they were restored to the land of Morianton, and a union took place between them and the people of Lehi; and they were also restored to their lands.

And it came to pass that in the same year that the people of Nephi had peace restored unto them, that Nephihah, the second chief judge, died, having filled the judgment-seat with perfect uprightness before God. Nevertheless, he had refused Alma to take possession of those records and those things which were esteemed by Alma and his fathers to be most sacred; therefore Alma had conferred them upon his son, Helaman.