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39 - Book of Mormon - Joseph Smith Jr · Sacred Texts Archive

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Alma, chapter forty nine. And now it came to pass in the eleventh
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month of the nineteenth year, on the tenth day of the month, the
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armies of the Lamanites were seen approaching towards the land of Ammoniha. And behold,
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the city had been rebuilt, and Moronai had stationed an army by the
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borders of the city, And they had cast up dirt round about to shield
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them from the arrows and the stones of the Lamanites. For behold, they
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fought with stones and arrows. Behold, I said that the city of Ammaniha
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had been rebuilt. I say unto you, yea, that it was in
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part rebuilt. And because the Lamanites had destroyed at once because of the iniquity
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of the people, they supposed that it would again become an easy prey for
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them. But behold, how great was their disappointment. For behold, the
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Nephites had dug up a ridge of earth round about them, which was so
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high that the Lamanites could not cast their stones and their arrows at them,
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that they might effect. Neither could they come upon them, save it was
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by their place of entrance. Now at this time the chief captains of the
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Lamanites were astonished exceedingly because of the wisdom of the Nephites, and preparing their
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places of security. Now, the leaders of the Lamanites had supposed, because
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of the greatness of their numbers. Yea, they supposed that they should be
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privileged to come upon them as they had hitherto done Yea. And they had
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also prepared themselves with shields and with breastplates. And they had also prepared themselves
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with garments of skins yea, very thick garments to cover their nakedness. And
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being thus prepared, they supposed that they should easily overpower and subject their brethren
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to the yoke of bondage or slay and massacre them according to their pleasure.
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But behold to their uttermost astonishment, they were prepared for them in a manner
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which never had been known among the children of Lehi. Now they were prepared
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for the Lamanites to battle after the manner of the instructions of Moroni. And
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it came to pass that the Lamanites or the Amalachiahites, were exceedingly astonished at
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their manner of preparation for war. Now, if King Amalakia had come down
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out of the land of Nephi at the head of his army. Perhaps he
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would have caused the Lamanites to have attacked the Nephites at the city of Emmaniha.
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For behold, he did care not for the blood of his people.
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But behold, Amlachia did not come down himself to battle, And behold,
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his chief captains durst not attack the Nephites at the city of Ammaniha. For
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Morona had altered the management of affairs among the Nephites insomuch that the Lamanites were
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disappointed in their places of retreat, and they could not come upon them.
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Therefore, they retreated into the wilderness and took their camp, and marched towards
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the land of Noah, supposing that to be the next best place for them
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to come against the Nephites. For they knew not that Morona had fortified or
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had built forts of security for every city in all the life land round about.
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Therefore they marched forward to the land of Noah with a firm determination.
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Yea, their chief captains came forward and took an oath that they would destroy
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the people of that city. But behold, to their astonishment, the city
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of Noah, which had hitherto been a weak place, had now, by
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the means of Moroney, become strong, yea, even to exceed the strength
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of the city Ameniha. And now behold, this was wisdom in Morone,
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for he had supposed that they would be frightened at the city Ammoniha, And
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as the city of Noah had hitherto been the weakest part of the land,
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therefore they would march thither to battle. And thus it was according to his
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desires. And behold, Moroni had appointed Lehigh to be chief captain over the
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men of that city. And it was that same Lehigh who fought with the
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Lamanites in the valley on the east of the river Sidon. And now behold
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it came to pass that when the Lamanites had found that Lehi commanded the city,
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they were again disappointed, for they feared lehighks eceedingly. Nevertheless, their
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chief captains had sworn with an oath to attack the city. Therefore they brought
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up their armies. Now behold, the Lamanites could not get into their forts
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of security by any other way save by the entrance, because of the highness
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of the bank which had been thrown up, and the depth of the ditch,
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which had been dug round about save it were by the entrance. And
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thus were the Nephites prepared to destroy all such as should attempt to climb up
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to enter the fort by any other way, by casting over stones and arrows
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at them. Thus they were prepared, yea a body of their strongest men,
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with their swords and their slings, to smite down all who should attempt
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to come into their place of security by the place of entrance. And thus
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were they prepared to defend themselves against the Lamanites. And it came to pass
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that the captains of the Lamanites brought up their armies before the place of entrance
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and began to contend with the Nephites to get into their place of security.
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But behold, they were driven back from time to time insomuch that they were
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slain with an immense slaughter. And when they found that they could not obtain
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power over the Nephites by the pass, they began to dig down their banks
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of earth that they might obtain a pass to their armies, that they might
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have an equal chance to fight. But behold, in these attempts they were
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swept off by the stones and arrows which were thrown at them, and instead
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of filling up their ditches by pulling down the banks of earth, they were
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filled up in a mesure with their dead and wounded bodies. Thus the Nephites
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had all power over their enemies, and thus the Lamanites did attempt to destroy
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the Nephytes until their chief captains were all slain yea, and more than a
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thousand of the Lamanites were slain, while on the other hand, there was
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not a single soul of the Nephites which was slain. There were about fifty
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who were wounded, who had been exposed to the arrows of the Lamanites through
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the pass, but they were shielded by their ship fields and their breastplates and
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their head plates, insomuch that their wounds were upon their legs, many of
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which were very severe. And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw
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that their chief captains were all slain, they fled into the wilderness, and
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it came to pass that they returned to the land of Nephi to inform their
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king Malachia, who was a Nephite by birth, concerning their great loss.
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And it came to pass that he was exceedingly angry with his people, because
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he had not obtained his desire over the Nephites, he had not subjected them
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to the yoke of bondage. Yea, he was exceedingly wroth, and he
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did curse God, and also Moroni, swearing with an oath that he would
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drink his blood. And this because Moroni had kept the commandments of God in
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preparing for the safety of his people. And it came to pass that,
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on the other hand, the people of Nephi did thank the Lord their God,
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because of his matchless power in delivering them from the hands of their enemies.
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And thus under the nineteenth year of the reign of the Judges over the
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people of Nephi Yea, and there was continual peace among them, and exceeding
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the great prosperity in the Church, because of their heed and diligence which they
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gave unto the word of God, which was declared unto them by Heliman and
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Shiblon and Coriantin and Ammon and his brethren Yea, and by all those who
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had been ordained by the Holy Order of God being baptized unto repentance and sent
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forth to preach among the people Elma, chapter fifty. And now it came
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to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war or to defend his
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people against the Lamanites. For he caused that his armies should commence, in
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the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the Judges, that they
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should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout
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all the land which was possessed by the Nephites. And upon the top of
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these ridges of earth, he caused that there should be timbers, yea works
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of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities.
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And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame
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of pickets built upon the timbers round about, and they were strong and high.
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And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets,
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and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the
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stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them. And they were
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prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof according to their pleasure and
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their strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the walls of
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the city. Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies round
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about every city and all the land. And it came to pass that Morone
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caused that his armies should go forth into the east wilderness Yea, And they
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went forth and drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their
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own lands, which were south of the land Zarahemla and the land of Nephi
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did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west. And
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it came to pass that when were Rona had driven all the Lamanites out of
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the East wilderness, which was north of the lands of their own possessions,
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he caused that the inhabitants who were in the land of Sarahemla and in the
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land roundabout, should go forth into the east wilderness, even to the borders
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by the seashore, and possess the land. And he also placed armies on
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the south in the borders of their possessions, and caused them to erect fortifications,
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that they might secure their armies and their people from the hands of their
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enemies. And thus he cut off all the strongholds of the Lamanites in the
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east wilderness Yea, and also on the west, fortifying the line between the
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Nephites and the Lamanites between the land of Sarahemla and the land of Nephi from
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the west sea, running by the head of the river Sidon, the Nephites
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possessing all the land northward Yea, even all the land which was northward of
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the land bountiful, according to their pleasure. Thus Morona, with his armies,
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which did increase daily because of the assurance of protection which his works did
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bring forth unto them, did seek to cut off the strength and the power
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of the Lamanites from off the lands of their possessions, that they should have
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no power upon the lands of their possession. And it came to pass that
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the Nephites began the foundation of a city, and they called the name of
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the city Moroni. And it was by the east sea, and it was
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on the south by the line of the possessions of the Lamanites. And they
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also began a foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and the city
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of Erin, joining the borders of Erin and Moroni. And they called the
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name of the city or the land Nephiha and they also began in that same
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year to build many cities on the north, one in a particular manner,
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which they called Lehi, which was in the north by the borders of the
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seashore. And thus end of the twentieth year, and in these prosperous circumstances
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were the people of Nephi and the commencement of the twenty and first year of
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the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. And they did prosper
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exceedingly, and they became exceed eadingly rich, Yea, and they did multiply
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and wax strong in the land. And thus we see how merciful and just
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are all the dealings of the Lord, to the fulfilling of all his words
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unto the children of men, Yea, we can behold that his words are
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verified, even at this time which he spake unto Lehi, saying, blessed
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art thou and thy children. And they shall be blessed inasmuch as they shall
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keep my commandments, they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch
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as they will not keep my commandments, they shall be cut off from the
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presence of the Lord. And we see that these promises have been verified to
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the people of Nephi. For it has been their quarrelings and their contentions Yea,
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their murderings and their plunderings, their idolatry, their hortoms, and their
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abominations which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars and their destructions.
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And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered
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at all times, whilst thousands of their wicked breath and have been consigned to
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bondage, or to perish by the sword, or to dwindle an unbelief,
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and to mingle with the Lamanites. But behold, there never was a happier
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time among the people of Nephi since the days of Nephi than in the days
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of Moronai Yea, even at this time in the twenty and first year of
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the reign of the Judges, and it came to pass that the twenty and
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second year of the reign of the Judges also ended in peace Yea, and
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also the twenty and third year, And it came to pass that in the
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commencement of the twenty and fourth year of the reign of the Judges, there
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would also have been peace among the people of Nephi, had it not been
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for a contention which took place among them concerning the land of Lehi and the
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land of Morientin, which joined upon the borders of Lehigh, both of which
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were on the borders by the seashore. For behold, the people who possessed
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the land of Oriantin did claim a part of the land of Lehi. Therefore
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there began to be a warm contention between them, in so much that the
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people of Moriantin took up arms against their brethren, and they were determined by
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the sword to slay them. But behold, the people who possessed the land
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of Lehi fled to the camp of Morone and appealed unto him for assistance.
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For behold, they were not in the wrong. And it came to pass
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that when the people of Morianton, who were led by a man whose name
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was Moriantin, found that the people of Lehi had fled to the camp of
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Moroni, they were exceedingly fearful lest the army of Moroni should come upon them
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and destroy them. Therefore, Morianton put it into their hearts that they should
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flee to the land which was northward, which was covered with large bodies of
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water, and take possession of the land which was northward. And behold,
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they would have carried this plan into effect, which would have been a cause
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to have been lamented. But behold, Morianton, being a man of much
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passion. Therefore, he was angry with one of his maid serpents, and
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he fell upon her and beat her much, And it came to that she
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fled and came over to the camp of Moroni, and told Moroni all things
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concerning the matter, and also concerning their intentions to flee into the land northward.
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Now behold the people who were in the land bountiful, or rather,
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Moroni feared that they would hearken to the words of Moriantin and unite with his
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people, and thus he would obtain possession of those parts of the land,
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which would lay a foundation for serious consequences among the people of nephi Yea,
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which consequences would lead to the overthrow of their liberty. Therefore, Moronay sent
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an army with their camp to head the people of Moriantin to stop their flight
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into the land northward. And it came to pass that they did not head
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them until they had come to the borders of the land Desolation, and there
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they did head them by the narrow pass which led by the sea into the
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land northward Yea by the sea on the west and on the east. And
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it came to pass that the army which was sent by Moroni, which was
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led by a man whose name was Tiankam, did meet the people of Morientin.
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And so stubborn were the people of Morientin, being inspired by his wickedness
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and his flattering words, that a battle commenced between them, in the which
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Tiancum did slay Moriantin and defeat his army, and took them prisoners, and
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returned to the camp of Moronai. And thus ended the twenty and fourth year
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of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. And thus were
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the people of Moriantin brought back, and upon their covenanting to keep the peace,
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they were restored to the land of Morientin, and a union took place
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between them and the people of Lehi, and they were also restored to their
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lands. And it came to pass that in the same year that the people
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of Nephi had peace restored unto them, that Nephaiha, the second Chief judge
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died, having filled the judgment seat with perfect uprightness before God. Nevertheless,
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he had refused Alma to take the bozzession of those records and those things which
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were esteemed by Alma and his fathers to be most sacred. Therefore Almah had
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conferred them upon his son Heliman. Behold, it came to pass that the
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son of Nephiha was appointed to feel the judgment seat in the stead of his
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father Yea. He was appointed chief judge and governor over the people, with
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an oath and sacred ordinance to judge righteously and to keep the peace and the
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freedom of the people, and to grant to them their sacred privileges to worship
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the Lord their God Yea, to support and maintain the cause of God all
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his days, and to bring the wicked to justice according to their crime.
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Now behold, his name was Peihoran, and Pehoran did filled the seat of
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his father, and did commence his reign in the end of the twenty and
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fourth year over the people of nephi Alma, Chapter fifty one. And now
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it came to pass in the commencement of the twenty and fifth year of the
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reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. They have an established peace
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between the people of Lehi and the people of Morienton concerning their laws, and
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having commenced the twenty and fifth year in peace. Nevertheless, they did not
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long maintain an entire peace in the land, for there began to be a
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contention among the people concerning the Chief Judge Pihoran. For behold, there were
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a part of the people who desired that a few particular points of the law
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should be altered. But behold, Peihoran would not alter nor suffer the law
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to be altered. Therefore he did not hearken to those who had sent in
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their voices with their petitions concerning the altering of the law. Therefore, those
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who were desirous that the law should be altered were angry with him and desired
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that he should no longer be chief judge over the land. Therefore, there
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arose a warm dispute concerning the matter, but not unto bloodshed. And it
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came to pass that those who were desirous that Pehoran should be dethroned from the
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judgeudgment seat were called king men, for they were desirous that the law should
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be altered in a manner to overthrow the free government and to establish a king
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over the land. And those who were desirous that Peihoran should remain chief judge
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over the land took upon them the name of freemen, and thus was the
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division among them. For the freemen had sworn or covenanted to maintain their rights
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and the privileges of their religion by a free government. And it came to
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pass that this matter of their contention was settled by the voice of the people.
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And it came to pass that the voice of the people came in favor
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of the freemen, and Peihoran retained the judgment seat, which caused much rejoicing
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among the brethren of Pehoran, and also many of the people of liberty,
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who also put the king men to silence, that they durst not oppose,
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but were obliged to maintain the cause of freedom. Now, those who were
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in favor of kings were those of high birth, and they sought to be
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kings, and they were supported by those who sought power and authority over the
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people. But behold, this was a critical time for such contentions to be
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among the people of Nephi. For behold, a Malachia had again stirred up
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the hearts of the people of the Lamanites against the people of the Nephites.
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And he was gathering together soldiers from all parts of his land and arming them,
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and preparing for war with all diligence. For he had sworn to drink
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the blood of Moroni. But behold, we shall see that his promise which
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he made was rash. Nevertheless, he did prepare himself and his armies to
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come to battle against the Nephites. Now his armies were not so great as
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they had hitherto been, because of the many thousands who had been slain by
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the hand of the Nephites. But notwithstanding their great loss, A Malachiya had
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gathered together a wonderfully great army, in so much that he feared not to
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come down to the land of Zarahemla. Yea, even a Malachia did himself
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come down at the head of the Lamanites. And it was in the twenty
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and fifth year of the reign of the Judges, And it was at the
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same time that they had begun to settle the affairs of their contentions concerning the
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chief judge Pehorn and it came to pass that when the men who were called
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king men had heard that the Lamanites were coming down to battle against them,
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they were glad in their hearts, and they refused to take up arms,
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for they were so wroth with the chief judge and also with the people of
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liberty, that they would not take up arms to defend their country. And
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it came to pass that when Moroni saw this, and also saw that the
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Lamanites were coming into the borders of the land, he was exceedingly wroth.
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Because of the stubbornness of those people whom he had labored with so much diligence
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to preserve Yea. He was exceedingly wroth. His soul was filled with anger
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against them. And it came to pass that he sent a petition with the
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voice of the people unto the governor of the land, desiring that he should
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read it and give him Moroni power to compel those dissenters to defend their country
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or to put them to death, For it was his first care to put
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an end to such contentions and dissensions among the people, For behold, this
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had been hitherto a cause of all their destruction. And it came to pass
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that it was granted according to the voice of the people. And it came
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to pass that Moroni commanded that his army should go against those king men,
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to pull down their pride and their nobility and level them with the earth,
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or they should take up arms and support the cause of liberty. And it
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came to pass that the armies did march forth against them, and they did
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pull down their pride and their nobility, insomuch that as they did lift their
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weapons of war to fight against the men of Moroni, they were hewn down
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and leveled to the earth. And it came to pass that there were four
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thousand of those dissenters who were hewn down by the sword, and those of
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their leaders who were not slain in battle were taken and cast into prison,
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for there was no time for their trials at this period. And the remainder
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of those dissenters, rather than be smitten down to the earth by the sword,
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yielded to the standard of liberty and were compelled to hoist the title of
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liberty upon their towers and in their cities, and to take up arms in
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defense of their country. And thus Maroni put an end to those kingmen that
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there were not any known by the appellation of king men. And thus he
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put an end to the stubbornness and the pride of those people who professed the
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blood of nobility. But they were brought down to humble themselves, liken to
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their brethren, and to fight valiantly for their freedom from bondage. Behold,
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it came to pass that while Morona was thus breaking down the wars and contentions
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among his own people and subjecting them to peace and civilization, and making regulations
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to prepare for war against the Lamanites. Behold, the Lamanites had come into
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the land Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore, and it
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came to pass that the Nephites were not sufficiently strong in the city of Moroni.
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Therefore Amalachaia did drive them, slaying many. And it came to pass
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that a Malachia took possession of the city Yea a possession of all their fortifications.
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And those who fled out of the city of Moronai came to the city
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of Nephaiha. And also the people of the city of Lehi gathered themselves together
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and made preparations and were ready to receive the Lamanites to battle. But it
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came to pass that Amalachiya would not suffer the Lamanites to go against the city
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of Nephaiha to battle, but kept them down by the sea shore, leaving
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men in every city to maintain and defend it. And thus he went on,
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taking possession of many cities, the city of Nephaiha, and the city
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of Lehigh, and the city of Morianton, and the city of Omner,
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and the city of Ghid, and the city of Mulik, all of which
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were on the east borders by the sea shore. And thus had the Lamanites
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obtained by the cunning of Malachia, so many cities by their numberless hosts,
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all of which were strongly fortified after the manner of the fortifications of Moroni,
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all of which afforded strongholds for the Lamanites. And it came to pass that
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they marched through the borders of the land bountiful, driving the Nephites before them
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and slaying many. But it came to pass that they were met by Tiancum,
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who had slain Morianton and had headed his people in his flight, And
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it came to pass that he headed Amalakia also as he was marching forth with
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his numerous army, that he might take possession of the land bountiful, and
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also the land northward. But behold, he met with a disappointment by being
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repulsed by Tiankam and his men. For they were great warriors. For every
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man of Tiancum did exceed the Lamanites in their strength and in their skill of
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war, insomuch that they did gain advantage over the Lamanites. And it came
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to pass that they did harass them, insomuch that they did slay them even
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until it was dark. And it came to pass that Tiankum and his men
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did pitch their tents in the borders of the land Bountiful, and Malakia did
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pitch his tents in the borders on the beach by the sea shore. And
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after this manner were they driven. And it came to pass that when the
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knight had come, Tiancum and his servant stole forth and went out by night
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and went into the camp of a Malachia. And behold, sleep had overpowered
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them because of their much fatigue, which was caused by the labors and heat
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of the day. And it came to pass that Tiancum stole privily into the
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tent of the king and put a javelin to his heart, and he did
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cause the death of the king immediately that he did not awake his servants.
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And he returned again privily to his own camp. And behold, his men
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were asleep, and he awoke them and told them all the things which he
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had done. And he caused that his armies should stand in readiness lest the
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Lamanites had awakened and should come upon them. And thus ended the twenty and
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fifth year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi. And
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thus endeth the days of a Malachiah and of Alma, chapters forty nine through
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fifty one.