Latest / Philosophy and Faith / 41 - Book of Mormon - Joseph Smith Jr

Transcript

41 - Book of Mormon - Joseph Smith Jr · Philosophy and Faith

• 0:00
  Speaker 1: Almah, chapter fifty six. And now it came to pass
• 0:04
  Speaker 1: in the commencement of the thirtieth year of the reign
• 0:06
  Speaker 1: of the Judges. On the second day in the first month,
• 0:09
  Speaker 1: Moroni received an epistle from Heliman stating the affairs of
• 0:13
  Speaker 1: the people in that quarter of the land. And these
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: are the words which he wrote, saying, my dearly beloved
• 0:19
  Speaker 1: brother Moroni, as well in the Lord as in the
• 0:22
  Speaker 1: tribulations of our warfare. Behold, my beloved brother, I have
• 0:26
  Speaker 1: somewhat to tell you concerning our warfare in this part
• 0:29
  Speaker 1: of the land. Behold two thousand of the sons of
• 0:32
  Speaker 1: those men whom Ammon brought down out of the land
• 0:34
  Speaker 1: of Nephi. Now ye have known that these were descendants
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: of Layman, who was the eldest son of our father Lehi.
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: Now I need not rehearse unto you concerning their traditions
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: or their unbelief, for thou knowest concerning all these things.
• 0:49
  Speaker 1: Therefore it sufficeth me that I tell you that two
• 0:52
  Speaker 1: thousand of these young men have taken their weapons of war,
• 0:56
  Speaker 1: and would that I should be their leader. And we
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: have come for to defend our country. And now ye
• 1:02
  Speaker 1: also know concerning the covenant which their fathers made, that
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: they would not take up their weapons of war against
• 1:09
  Speaker 1: their brethren to shed blood. But in the twenty and
• 1:13
  Speaker 1: sixth year, when they saw our afflictions and our tribulations
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: for them, they were about to break the covenant which
• 1:19
  Speaker 1: they had made and take up their weapons of war
• 1:21
  Speaker 1: in our defense. But I would not suffer them that
• 1:25
  Speaker 1: they should break this covenant which they had made, supposing
• 1:28
  Speaker 1: that God would strengthen us insomuch that we should not
• 1:32
  Speaker 1: suffer more because of the fulfilling the oath which they
• 1:34
  Speaker 1: had taken. But behold, here is one thing in which
• 1:37
  Speaker 1: we may have great joy. For behold, in the twenty
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: and sixth year, I he lamented march at the head
• 1:42
  Speaker 1: of these two thousand young men to the city of
• 1:44
  Speaker 1: Judea to assist Antipus, whom ye had appointed a leader
• 1:48
  Speaker 1: over the people of that part of the land. And
• 1:52
  Speaker 1: I did join my two thousand sons, for they are
• 1:54
  Speaker 1: worthy to be called sons to the army of Antipus,
• 1:58
  Speaker 1: in which strength. Antipus did rejoice excess eagerly, For behold,
• 2:01
  Speaker 1: his army had been reduced by the Lamanites, because their
• 2:04
  Speaker 1: forces had slain a vast number of our men, for
• 2:08
  Speaker 1: which cause we have to mourn. Nevertheless, we may console
• 2:12
  Speaker 1: ourselves in this point that they have died in the
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: cause of their country and of their God Yea, and
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: they are happy. And the Lamanites had also retained many prisoners,
• 2:22
  Speaker 1: all of whom are chief captains. For none other have
• 2:25
  Speaker 1: they spared alive. And we suppose that they are now
• 2:28
  Speaker 1: at this time in the land of Nephi. It is
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: so if they are not slain. And now these are
• 2:34
  Speaker 1: the cities of which the Lamanites have obtained possession by
• 2:37
  Speaker 1: the shedding of the blood of so many of our
• 2:40
  Speaker 1: valiant men. The land of Manti, or the city of Manti,
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: in the city of Zzram, in the city of Cumenai,
• 2:48
  Speaker 1: in the city of Antipara, and these are the cities
• 2:51
  Speaker 1: which they possessed. When I arrived at the city of Judea,
• 2:54
  Speaker 1: and I found Antipas and his men toiling with their
• 2:57
  Speaker 1: might to fortify the city. Yea. And they were depressed
• 3:00
  Speaker 1: in body as well as in spirit, for they had
• 3:03
  Speaker 1: fought valiantly by day and toiled by night to maintain
• 3:06
  Speaker 1: their cities. And thus they had suffered great afflictions of
• 3:09
  Speaker 1: every kind, and now they were determined to conquer in
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: this place or die. Therefore, ye may well suppose that
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: this little force which I brought with me, yea, those
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: sons of mine, gave them great hopes and much joy.
• 3:24
  Speaker 1: And now it came to pass that when the Lamanites
• 3:26
  Speaker 1: saw that Antipus had received greater strength to his army,
• 3:30
  Speaker 1: they were compelled by the orders of Amoron to not
• 3:32
  Speaker 1: come against the city of Judea or against us to battle.
• 3:36
  Speaker 1: And thus were we favored of the Lord, For had
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: they come upon us in this our weakness, they might
• 3:41
  Speaker 1: have perhaps destroyed our little army. But thus were we preserved.
• 3:47
  Speaker 1: They were commanded by Amoron to maintain those cities which
• 3:50
  Speaker 1: they had taken. And thus ended the twenty and sixth year.
• 3:54
  Speaker 1: And in the commencement of the twenty and seventh year,
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: we had prepared our city and ourselves for defense. Now
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: we were desirous that the Lamanites should come upon us,
• 4:03
  Speaker 1: for we were not desirous to make an attack upon
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: them their strongholds. And it came to pass that we
• 4:08
  Speaker 1: kept spies out round about to watch the movements of
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: the Lamanites, that they might not pass us by night
• 4:15
  Speaker 1: nor by day to make an attack upon our other
• 4:17
  Speaker 1: cities which were on the northward. For we knew in
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: those cities they were not sufficiently strong to meet them. Therefore,
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: we were desirous, if they should pass by us, to
• 4:26
  Speaker 1: fall upon them in their rear, and thus bring them
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: up in the rear at the same time they were
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: met in the front. We supposed that we could overpower them.
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: But behold, we were disappointed in this our desire. They
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: durst not pass by us with their whole army. Neither
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: durst they with apart, lest they should not be sufficiently strong,
• 4:45
  Speaker 1: and they should fall. Neither durst they marched down against
• 4:48
  Speaker 1: the city of Zarahemla. Neither durst they crossed the head
• 4:52
  Speaker 1: of Sidon over to the city of Nephaiha. And thus
• 4:55
  Speaker 1: with their forces they were determined to maintain those cities
• 4:58
  Speaker 1: which they had taken. And now it came to pass
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: in the second month of this year there was brought
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: unto us many provisions from the fathers of those my
• 5:07
  Speaker 1: two thousand sons. And also there were sent two thousand
• 5:10
  Speaker 1: men unto us from the land of Zarahemla. And thus
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: we were prepared with ten thousand men in provisions for them,
• 5:16
  Speaker 1: and also for their wives and their children. And the
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: Lamanites thus seen our forces increased daily, and provisions arrived
• 5:24
  Speaker 1: for our support, they began to be fearful and began
• 5:27
  Speaker 1: to sally forth if it were possible to put an
• 5:29
  Speaker 1: end to our receiving provisions and strength. Now, when we
• 5:34
  Speaker 1: saw that the Lamanites began to grow uneasy on this wise,
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: we were desirous to bring a stratagem into effect upon them. Therefore,
• 5:41
  Speaker 1: Antipus ordered that I should march forth with my little
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: sons to a neighboring city, as if we were carrying
• 5:47
  Speaker 1: provisions to a neighboring city. And we were to march
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: near the city of Antipara, as if we were going
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: to the city beyond in the borders by the sea shore.
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: And it came to pass that we did march forth
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: as if with our visions to go to that city.
• 6:02
  Speaker 1: And it came to pass that Antipus did march forth
• 6:04
  Speaker 1: with a part of his army, leaving the remainder to
• 6:07
  Speaker 1: maintain the city. But he did not march forth until
• 6:10
  Speaker 1: I had gone forth with my little army, and came
• 6:12
  Speaker 1: near the city Antipara. And now in the city Antipara
• 6:16
  Speaker 1: were stationed the strongest army of the Lamanites Yea, the
• 6:19
  Speaker 1: most numerous. And it came to pass that, when they
• 6:22
  Speaker 1: had been informed by their spies, they came forth with
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: their army and marched against us. And it came to
• 6:28
  Speaker 1: pass that we did flee before them northward, and thus
• 6:32
  Speaker 1: we did lead away the most powerful army of the
• 6:34
  Speaker 1: Lamanites Yea, even to a considerable distance, insomuch that when
• 6:39
  Speaker 1: they saw the army of Antipus pursuing them with their might,
• 6:42
  Speaker 1: they did not turn to the right nor to the left,
• 6:45
  Speaker 1: but pursued their march in a straight course after us.
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: And as we suppose, it was their intent to slay
• 6:52
  Speaker 1: us before Antipus could overtake them, in this that they
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: might not be surrounded by our people. And now Antipus,
• 7:01
  Speaker 1: beholding our danger, did speed the march of his army.
• 7:03
  Speaker 1: But behold, it was night. Therefore they did not overtake us,
• 7:07
  Speaker 1: neither did Antipus overtake them. Therefore we did camp for
• 7:10
  Speaker 1: the night, and it came to pass that before the
• 7:13
  Speaker 1: dawn of the morning. Behold, the Lamanites were pursuing us.
• 7:17
  Speaker 1: Now we were not sufficiently strong to contend with them. Yea,
• 7:20
  Speaker 1: I would not suffer that my little sons should fall
• 7:22
  Speaker 1: into their hands. Therefore we did continue our march, and
• 7:26
  Speaker 1: we took our march into the wilderness. Now they durst
• 7:30
  Speaker 1: not turn to the right nor to the left, lest
• 7:33
  Speaker 1: they should be surrounded. Neither would I turn to the
• 7:36
  Speaker 1: right nor to the left, lest they should overtake me.
• 7:40
  Speaker 1: And we could not stand against them but be slain,
• 7:42
  Speaker 1: and they would make their escape. And thus we did
• 7:45
  Speaker 1: flee all that day into the wilderness, even until it
• 7:48
  Speaker 1: was dark. And it came to pass that again, when
• 7:51
  Speaker 1: the light of the morning came, we saw the Lamanites
• 7:53
  Speaker 1: upon us, and we did flee before them. But it
• 7:56
  Speaker 1: came to pass that they did not pursue us far
• 7:59
  Speaker 1: before they halted. And it was in the morning of
• 8:01
  Speaker 1: the third day of the seventh month. And now whether
• 8:05
  Speaker 1: they were overtaken by Antipus, we knew not, But I
• 8:08
  Speaker 1: said unto my men, behold, we know not, but they
• 8:12
  Speaker 1: have halted for the purpose that we should come against them,
• 8:15
  Speaker 1: that they might catch us in their snare. Therefore, what
• 8:19
  Speaker 1: say ye, my sons, will ye go against them to battle?
• 8:24
  Speaker 1: And now I say, unto you, my beloved brother Moroni,
• 8:27
  Speaker 1: that never had I seen so great courage, Nay, not
• 8:31
  Speaker 1: amongst all the Nephites, for as I have ever called
• 8:34
  Speaker 1: them my sons, for they were all of them very young.
• 8:38
  Speaker 1: Even so they said unto me, Father, behold, our God
• 8:42
  Speaker 1: is with us, and he will not suffer that we
• 8:44
  Speaker 1: should fall. Then let us go forth. We would not
• 8:48
  Speaker 1: slay our brethren if they would let us alone. Therefore,
• 8:52
  Speaker 1: let us go, lest they should overpower the army of Antipas.
• 8:57
  Speaker 1: Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death,
• 9:01
  Speaker 1: and they did think more upon the liberty of their
• 9:04
  Speaker 1: fathers than they did upon their lives. Yea, they had
• 9:07
  Speaker 1: been taught by their mothers that if they did not doubt,
• 9:10
  Speaker 1: God would deliver them. And they rehearsed unto me the
• 9:15
  Speaker 1: words of their mothers, saying, we do not doubt our
• 9:18
  Speaker 1: mothers knew it. And it came to pass that I
• 9:21
  Speaker 1: did return with my two thousand against these Lamanites who
• 9:24
  Speaker 1: had pursued us. And now behold, the armies of Antipus
• 9:28
  Speaker 1: had overtaken them, and a terrible battle had commenced, the
• 9:33
  Speaker 1: army of Antipus being weary because of their long march
• 9:36
  Speaker 1: in so short a space of time were about to
• 9:39
  Speaker 1: fall into the hands of the Lamanites. And had I
• 9:43
  Speaker 1: not returned with my two thousand, they would have obtained
• 9:45
  Speaker 1: their purpose. For Antipus had fallen by the sword, and
• 9:50
  Speaker 1: many of his leaders because of their weariness, which was
• 9:53
  Speaker 1: occasioned by the speed of their march. Therefore, the men
• 9:56
  Speaker 1: of Antipus, being confused because of the fall of their leaders,
• 10:00
  Speaker 1: began to give way before the Lamanites. And it came
• 10:03
  Speaker 1: to pass that the Lamanites took courage and began to
• 10:06
  Speaker 1: pursue them. And thus were the Lamanites pursuing them with
• 10:09
  Speaker 1: great vigor, when Helimin came upon their rear with his
• 10:13
  Speaker 1: two thousand and began to slay them exceedingly, insomuch that
• 10:16
  Speaker 1: the whole army of the Lamanites halted and turned upon Helimin. Now,
• 10:21
  Speaker 1: when the people of Antipus saw that the Lamanites had
• 10:23
  Speaker 1: turned them about, they gathered together their men and came
• 10:27
  Speaker 1: again upon the rear of the Lamanites. And now it
• 10:30
  Speaker 1: came to pass that we the people of Nephi, the
• 10:33
  Speaker 1: people of Antipus, and I with my two thousand, did
• 10:36
  Speaker 1: surround the Lamanites and did slay them yea, insomuch that
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: they were compelled to deliver up their weapons of war
• 10:43
  Speaker 1: and also themselves as prisoners of war. And now it
• 10:47
  Speaker 1: came to pass that when they had surrendered themselves up
• 10:50
  Speaker 1: unto us, Behold, I numbered those young men who had
• 10:53
  Speaker 1: fought with me, fearing lest there were many of them slain.
• 10:56
  Speaker 1: But behold, to my great joy, there was not one
• 11:00
  Speaker 1: soul of them fallen to the earth Yea. And they
• 11:03
  Speaker 1: had fought as if with the strength of God. Yea.
• 11:06
  Speaker 1: Never were men known to have fought with such miraculous
• 11:09
  Speaker 1: strength and with such mighty power did they fall upon
• 11:12
  Speaker 1: the Lamanites that they did frighten them. And for this
• 11:16
  Speaker 1: cause did the Lamanites deliver themselves up as prisoners of war.
• 11:20
  Speaker 1: And as we had no place for our prisoners that
• 11:22
  Speaker 1: we could guard them, to keep them from the armies
• 11:24
  Speaker 1: of the Lamanites, therefore we sent them to the land
• 11:27
  Speaker 1: of Zarahemla, and a part of those men who were
• 11:30
  Speaker 1: not slain of Antipas with them, and the remainder I
• 11:34
  Speaker 1: took and joined them to my Strictlanammonites, and took our
• 11:37
  Speaker 1: march back to the city of Judea Alma, chapter fifty seven.
• 11:44
  Speaker 1: And now it came to pass that I received an
• 11:46
  Speaker 1: epistle from amar On the King, stating that if I
• 11:49
  Speaker 1: would deliver up those prisoners of war whom we had taken,
• 11:52
  Speaker 1: that he would deliver up the city of Antipara unto us.
• 11:56
  Speaker 1: But I sent an epistle unto the King that we
• 11:58
  Speaker 1: were sure our forces were sufficient to take the city
• 12:00
  Speaker 1: of Antepara by our force, and by delivering up the
• 12:04
  Speaker 1: prisoners for that city, we should suppose ourselves unwise, and
• 12:08
  Speaker 1: that we would only deliver up our prisoners on exchange.
• 12:12
  Speaker 1: And Amaron refused an epistle, for he would not exchange prisoners.
• 12:16
  Speaker 1: Therefore we began to make preparations to go against the
• 12:19
  Speaker 1: city of Antipara. But the people of Antipara did leave
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: the city and fled to their other cities which they
• 12:25
  Speaker 1: had possession of to fortify them. And thus the city
• 12:28
  Speaker 1: of Antipara fell into our hands, and thus ended the
• 12:32
  Speaker 1: twenty and eighth year of the reign of the Judges.
• 12:36
  Speaker 1: And it came to pass that in the commencement of
• 12:38
  Speaker 1: the twenty and ninth year, we received a supply of provisions,
• 12:41
  Speaker 1: and also in addition to our army from the land
• 12:44
  Speaker 1: of Sarahemla, and from the land round about to the
• 12:46
  Speaker 1: number of six thousand men, beside sixty of the sons
• 12:49
  Speaker 1: of the Ammonites who had come to join their brethren,
• 12:52
  Speaker 1: my little band of two thousand, and now behold, we
• 12:55
  Speaker 1: were strong, Yea, and we had also plenty of provisions
• 12:58
  Speaker 1: brought unto us. And it came to pass that it
• 13:02
  Speaker 1: was our desire to wage a battle with the army
• 13:05
  Speaker 1: which was placed to protect the city Cumenai. And now behold,
• 13:08
  Speaker 1: I will show unto you that we soon accomplished our desire, Yea.
• 13:12
  Speaker 1: With our strong force, or with a part of our
• 13:15
  Speaker 1: strong force, we did surround by night the city Cumenai,
• 13:18
  Speaker 1: a little before they were to receive a supply of provisions.
• 13:21
  Speaker 1: And it came to pass that we did camp round
• 13:23
  Speaker 1: about the city for many knights, but we did sleep
• 13:26
  Speaker 1: upon our swords and keep guards, that the Lamanites could
• 13:29
  Speaker 1: not come upon us by night and slay us, which
• 13:32
  Speaker 1: they attempted many times. But as many times as they
• 13:35
  Speaker 1: attempted this, their blood was spilt. At length. Their provisions
• 13:39
  Speaker 1: did arrive, and they were about to enter the city
• 13:41
  Speaker 1: by night, and we, instead of being Lamanites, were nephytes.
• 13:46
  Speaker 1: Therefore we did take them and their provisions. And notwithstanding
• 13:49
  Speaker 1: the Lamanites being cut off from their support after this manner,
• 13:52
  Speaker 1: they were still determined to maintain the city. Therefore, it
• 13:55
  Speaker 1: became expedient that we should take those provisions and send
• 13:58
  Speaker 1: them to Judea, and our prisoners to the land of Zaraheimla.
• 14:02
  Speaker 1: And it came to pass that not many days had
• 14:05
  Speaker 1: passed away before the Lamanites began to lose all hopes
• 14:07
  Speaker 1: of succor. Therefore they yielded up the city unto our hands.
• 14:11
  Speaker 1: And thus we had accomplished our designs in obtaining the
• 14:14
  Speaker 1: city Kumeni. But it came to pass that our prisoners
• 14:18
  Speaker 1: were so numerous that, notwithstanding the enormity of our numbers,
• 14:22
  Speaker 1: we were obliged to employ all our force to keep
• 14:24
  Speaker 1: them or to put them to death. For behold, they
• 14:28
  Speaker 1: would break out in great numbers and would fight with
• 14:30
  Speaker 1: stones and with clubs, or whatsoever thing they could get
• 14:33
  Speaker 1: into their hands, insomuch that we did slay upwards of
• 14:36
  Speaker 1: two thousand of them after they had surrendered themselves prisoners
• 14:39
  Speaker 1: of war. Therefore it became expedient for us that we
• 14:42
  Speaker 1: should put an end to their lives or guard them
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: sword in hand down to the land of Zarahemla. And
• 14:48
  Speaker 1: also our provisions were not any more than sufficient for
• 14:51
  Speaker 1: our own people, notwithstanding that which we had taken from
• 14:55
  Speaker 1: the Lamanites. And now in those critical circumstances, it became
• 14:59
  Speaker 1: a very serious matter to determine concerning these prisoners of war. Nevertheless,
• 15:05
  Speaker 1: we did resolve to send them down to the land
• 15:07
  Speaker 1: of Zarahemla. Therefore, we selected a part of our men
• 15:10
  Speaker 1: and gave them charge over our prisoners to go down
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: to the land of Sarahemla. But it came to pass
• 15:16
  Speaker 1: that on the morrow they did return. And now behold,
• 15:19
  Speaker 1: we did not inquire of them concerning the prisoners. For behold,
• 15:22
  Speaker 1: the Lamanites were upon us, and they returned and season
• 15:26
  Speaker 1: to save us from falling into their hands. For behold,
• 15:29
  Speaker 1: Amaron had sent to their support a new supply of provisions,
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: and also a numerous army of men. And it came
• 15:35
  Speaker 1: to pass that those men whom we sent with the
• 15:37
  Speaker 1: prisoners did arrive in season to check them, as they
• 15:40
  Speaker 1: were about to overpower us. But behold, my little band
• 15:44
  Speaker 1: of two thousand and sixty fought most desperately. Yea. They
• 15:48
  Speaker 1: were firm before the Lamanites, and did administer death unto
• 15:51
  Speaker 1: all those who opposed them. And as the remainder of
• 15:55
  Speaker 1: our army were about to give way before the Lamanites, behold,
• 15:58
  Speaker 1: those two thousand and sixty one were firm and undaunted, Yea.
• 16:02
  Speaker 1: And they did obey and observe to perform every word
• 16:05
  Speaker 1: of command with exactness. Yea. And even according to their faith,
• 16:08
  Speaker 1: it was done unto them. And I did remember the
• 16:11
  Speaker 1: words which they said unto me, that their mothers had
• 16:14
  Speaker 1: taught them. And now behold, it was these my sons
• 16:17
  Speaker 1: and those men who had been selected to convey the prisoners,
• 16:19
  Speaker 1: to whom we owe this great victory, for it was
• 16:23
  Speaker 1: they who did beat the Lamanites. Therefore they were driven
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: back to the city of Manti, and we retained our
• 16:29
  Speaker 1: city Kumenai, and were not all destroyed by the sword. Nevertheless,
• 16:33
  Speaker 1: we had suffered great loss, and it came to pass
• 16:36
  Speaker 1: that after the Lamanites had fled, I immediately gave orders
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: that my men who had been wounded should be taken
• 16:42
  Speaker 1: from among the dead, and caused that their wounds should
• 16:44
  Speaker 1: be dressed. And it came to pass that there were
• 16:47
  Speaker 1: two hundred out of my two thousand and sixty who
• 16:50
  Speaker 1: had fainted because of the loss of blood. Nevertheless, according
• 16:54
  Speaker 1: to the goodness of God, and to our great astonishment
• 16:56
  Speaker 1: and also the joy of our whole army, there was
• 16:59
  Speaker 1: not one soul of them who did perish, Yea. And
• 17:02
  Speaker 1: neither was there one soul among them who had not
• 17:04
  Speaker 1: received many wounds. And now their preservation was astonishing to
• 17:08
  Speaker 1: our whole army. YEA, that they should be spared, while
• 17:11
  Speaker 1: there was a thousand of our brethren who were slain.
• 17:15
  Speaker 1: And we do justly ascribe it to the miraculous power
• 17:18
  Speaker 1: of God, because of their exceeding faith and that which
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: they had been taught to believe that there was a
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: just God. And whosoever did not doubt that they should
• 17:27
  Speaker 1: be preserved by His marvelous power. Now this was the
• 17:31
  Speaker 1: faith of these of whom I have spoken. They are young,
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: and their minds are firm, and they do put their
• 17:37
  Speaker 1: trust in God continually. And now it came to pass
• 17:40
  Speaker 1: that after we had thus taken care of our wounded men,
• 17:43
  Speaker 1: and had buried our dead, and also the dead of
• 17:45
  Speaker 1: the Lamanites, who were many. Behold, we did inquire of
• 17:49
  Speaker 1: Gid concerning the prisoners whom they had started to go
• 17:52
  Speaker 1: down to the land of zarah Heimlowyth. Now Gid was
• 17:55
  Speaker 1: the chief captain over the band, who was appointed to
• 17:57
  Speaker 1: guard them down to the land. And now these are
• 18:00
  Speaker 1: the words which Gid set unto me. Behold, we did
• 18:03
  Speaker 1: start to go down to the land of Zarahemla with
• 18:05
  Speaker 1: our prisoners, and it came to pass that we did
• 18:08
  Speaker 1: meet the spies of our armies, who had been sent
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: out to watch the camp of the Lamanites. And they
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: cried unto us, saying, behold, the armies of the Lamanites
• 18:16
  Speaker 1: are marching towards the city of Kumenai. And behold they
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: will fall upon them yea, and will destroy our people.
• 18:23
  Speaker 1: And it came to pass that our prisoners did hear
• 18:25
  Speaker 1: their cries, which caused them to take courage, and they
• 18:28
  Speaker 1: did rise up in rebellion against us. And it came
• 18:31
  Speaker 1: to pass because of their rebellion we did cause that
• 18:33
  Speaker 1: our swords should come upon them, And it came to
• 18:36
  Speaker 1: pass that they did, and a body run upon our swords,
• 18:39
  Speaker 1: in the which the greater number of them were slain,
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: and the remainder of them broke through and fled from us.
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: And behold, when they had fled and we could not
• 18:47
  Speaker 1: overtake them, we took our march with speed towards the
• 18:50
  Speaker 1: city Kumenai. And behold we did arrive in time that
• 18:54
  Speaker 1: we might assist our brethren in preserving the city. And behold,
• 18:58
  Speaker 1: we are again delivered out of the hands of our enemies.
• 19:01
  Speaker 1: And blessed is the name of our God. For behold,
• 19:04
  Speaker 1: it is he that has delivered us, Yea, that has
• 19:07
  Speaker 1: done this great thing for us. Now it came to
• 19:11
  Speaker 1: pass that when I Helimann, had heard these words of Gid,
• 19:14
  Speaker 1: I was fieled with exceeding joy because of the goodness
• 19:17
  Speaker 1: of God in preserving us, that we might not all perish. Yea,
• 19:21
  Speaker 1: and I trust that the souls of them who have
• 19:23
  Speaker 1: been slain have entered into the rest of their God Elma,
• 19:30
  Speaker 1: chapter fifty eight. And behold, now it came to pass
• 19:34
  Speaker 1: that our next object was to obtain the city of Mantai.
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: But behold, there was no way that we could lead
• 19:39
  Speaker 1: them out of the city by our small bands. For behold,
• 19:42
  Speaker 1: they remembered that which we had hitherto done. Therefore we
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: could not decoy them away from their strongholds. And they
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: were so much more numerous than was our army, that
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: we durst not go forth and attack them in their strongholds. Yea.
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: And it became expedient that we should employ our men
• 19:58
  Speaker 1: to the maintaining those parts of the land which we
• 20:00
  Speaker 1: had regained of our possessions. Therefore, it became expedient that
• 20:05
  Speaker 1: we should wait that we might receive more strength from
• 20:08
  Speaker 1: the land of Zarah Hemlan, and also a new supply
• 20:10
  Speaker 1: of provisions. And it came to pass that I thus
• 20:13
  Speaker 1: did send an embassy to the governor of our land
• 20:16
  Speaker 1: to acquaint him concerning the affairs of our people. And
• 20:19
  Speaker 1: it came to pass that we did wait to receive
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: provisions and strength from the land of Zarahemla. But behold,
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: this did profit us but little, for the Lamanites were
• 20:28
  Speaker 1: also receiving great strength from day to day, and also
• 20:30
  Speaker 1: many provisions. And thus were our circumstances at this period
• 20:34
  Speaker 1: of time, and the Lamanites were sallying forth against us
• 20:39
  Speaker 1: from time to time, resolving by stratagem to destroy us. Nevertheless,
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: we could not come out to battle with them because
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: of their retreats and their strongholds. And it came to
• 20:49
  Speaker 1: pass that we did wait in these difficult circumstances for
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: the space of many months, even until we were about
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: to perish for the want of food. But it came
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: to pass that we did receive food, which was guarded
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: to us by an army of two thousand men to
• 21:02
  Speaker 1: our assistance. And this is all the assistance which we
• 21:05
  Speaker 1: did receive to defend ourselves in our country from falling
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: into the hands of our enemies. Yea, to contend with
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: an enemy which was innumerable. And now the cause of
• 21:15
  Speaker 1: these our embarrassments were the cause why they did not
• 21:18
  Speaker 1: send more strength unto us, we knew not. Therefore we
• 21:22
  Speaker 1: were grieved and also filled with fear lest by any
• 21:24
  Speaker 1: means the judgments of God should come upon our land
• 21:27
  Speaker 1: to our overthrow and utter destruction. Therefore we did pour
• 21:31
  Speaker 1: out our souls in prayer to God that he would
• 21:34
  Speaker 1: strengthen us and deliver us out of the hands of
• 21:36
  Speaker 1: our enemies. Yea, and also give us strengths that we
• 21:39
  Speaker 1: might retain our cities and our lands and our possessions
• 21:42
  Speaker 1: for the support of our people. Yea. And it came
• 21:45
  Speaker 1: to pass that the Lord, our God, did visit us
• 21:48
  Speaker 1: with assurances that he would deliver us yea in so
• 21:51
  Speaker 1: much that he did speak peace to our souls, and
• 21:53
  Speaker 1: did grant unto us great faith, and did cause us
• 21:56
  Speaker 1: that we should hope for our deliverance in him. And
• 22:00
  Speaker 1: we did take courage with our small force which we
• 22:02
  Speaker 1: had received, and were fixed with a determination to conquer
• 22:06
  Speaker 1: our enemies, and to maintain our lands and our possessions,
• 22:09
  Speaker 1: and our wives and our children, and the cause of
• 22:11
  Speaker 1: our liberty. And thus we did go forth with all
• 22:15
  Speaker 1: our might against the Lamanites who were in the city
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: of Mantai. And we did pitch our tents by the
• 22:20
  Speaker 1: wilderness side, which was near to the city. And it
• 22:23
  Speaker 1: came to pass that on the morrow that when the
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: Lamanites saw that we were in the borders by the
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: wilderness which was near the city, that they sent out
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: their spies round about us, that they might discover the
• 22:32
  Speaker 1: number and the strength of our army. And it came
• 22:35
  Speaker 1: to pass that when they saw that we were not
• 22:38
  Speaker 1: strong according to our numbers, and fearing that we should
• 22:41
  Speaker 1: cut them off from their support, except they should come
• 22:44
  Speaker 1: out to battle against us and kill us. And also
• 22:47
  Speaker 1: supposing that they could easily destroy us with their numerous hosts. Therefore,
• 22:51
  Speaker 1: they began to make preparations to come out against us
• 22:54
  Speaker 1: to battle. And when we saw that they were making
• 22:57
  Speaker 1: preparations to come out against us, behold, I cause that Gid,
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: with a small number of men, should secrete himself in
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: the wilderness, and also that Teamner and a small number
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: of men, should secrete themselves also in the wilderness. Now
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: Gid and his men were on the right, and the
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: others on the left. And when they had thus secreted themselves, behold,
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: I remained with the remainder of my army in that
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: same place where we had first pitched our tents, against
• 23:22
  Speaker 1: the time that the Lamanites should come out to battle.
• 23:26
  Speaker 1: And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: out with their numerous army against us. And when they
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: had come and were about to fall upon us with
• 23:33
  Speaker 1: the sword, I caused that my men, those who were
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: with me, should retreat into the wilderness. And it came
• 23:40
  Speaker 1: to pass that the Lamanites did follow after us with
• 23:42
  Speaker 1: great speed, for they were exceedingly desirous to overtake us,
• 23:46
  Speaker 1: that they might slay us. Therefore, they did follow us
• 23:49
  Speaker 1: into the wilderness, and we did pass by in the
• 23:51
  Speaker 1: midst of Ged and Teomner, insomuch that they were not
• 23:54
  Speaker 1: discovered by the Lamanites. And it came to pass that
• 23:58
  Speaker 1: when the Lamanites had passed by, or when the army
• 24:01
  Speaker 1: had passed by, Gid and Teomner did rise up from
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: their secret places and had cut off the spies of
• 24:06
  Speaker 1: the Lamanites, that they should not return to the city.
• 24:10
  Speaker 1: And it came to pass that when they had cut
• 24:12
  Speaker 1: them off, they ran to the city and fell upon
• 24:14
  Speaker 1: the guards who were left to guard the city, insomuch
• 24:17
  Speaker 1: that they destroy them and did take possession of the city.
• 24:21
  Speaker 1: Now this was done because the Lamanites did suffer their
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: whole army, save a few guards, only to be led
• 24:26
  Speaker 1: away into the wilderness. And it came to pass that
• 24:29
  Speaker 1: Gid and Teomner by this means, had obtained possession of
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: their strongholds. And it came to pass that we took
• 24:35
  Speaker 1: our course, after having traveled much in the wilderness, towards
• 24:38
  Speaker 1: the land of Zarahemla. And when the Lamanites saw that
• 24:42
  Speaker 1: they were marching towards the land of Zarahemla, they were
• 24:45
  Speaker 1: exceedingly afraid lest there was a plan laid to lead
• 24:48
  Speaker 1: them on to destruction. Therefore they began to retreat back
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: into the wilderness again, yea, even back by the same
• 24:55
  Speaker 1: way which they had come. And to behold, it was night,
• 24:58
  Speaker 1: and they did pitch their tents. For the chief captains
• 25:00
  Speaker 1: of the Lamanites had supposed that the Nephites were weary
• 25:03
  Speaker 1: because of their march, and supposing that they had driven
• 25:06
  Speaker 1: their whole army. Therefore they took no thought concerning the
• 25:09
  Speaker 1: city of Mantai. Now it came to pass that, when
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: it was night, I caused that my men should not sleep,
• 25:15
  Speaker 1: but that they should march forward by another way towards
• 25:18
  Speaker 1: the land of Mantai. And because of this our march
• 25:21
  Speaker 1: and the night time behold, on the morrow we were
• 25:24
  Speaker 1: beyond the Lamanites, insomuch that we did arrive before them
• 25:27
  Speaker 1: at the city of Mantai. And thus it came to
• 25:30
  Speaker 1: pass that by this stratagem we did take possession of
• 25:32
  Speaker 1: the city of Mantai without the shedding of blood. And
• 25:35
  Speaker 1: it came to pass that when the armies of the
• 25:37
  Speaker 1: Lamanites did arrive near the city and saw that we
• 25:40
  Speaker 1: were prepared to meet them, they were astonished exceedingly and
• 25:43
  Speaker 1: struck with great fear, insomuch that they did flee into
• 25:46
  Speaker 1: the wilderness. Yea, and it came to pass that the
• 25:49
  Speaker 1: armies of the Lamanites did flee out of all this
• 25:52
  Speaker 1: quarter of the land. But behold, they have carried with
• 25:55
  Speaker 1: them many women and children out of the land, and
• 25:59
  Speaker 1: those cities which had been taken by the Lamanites. All
• 26:01
  Speaker 1: of them are at this period of time in our possession,
• 26:04
  Speaker 1: and our fathers, and our women, and our children are
• 26:07
  Speaker 1: returning to their homes. All say that be those who
• 26:10
  Speaker 1: have been taken prisoners and carried off by the Lamanites.
• 26:14
  Speaker 1: But behold, our armies are small to maintain so great
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: a number of cities and so great possessions. But behold,
• 26:21
  Speaker 1: we trust in our God, who has given us victory
• 26:23
  Speaker 1: over those lands, insomuch that we have obtained those cities
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: and those lands which were our own. Now we do
• 26:31
  Speaker 1: not know the cause that the government does not grant
• 26:33
  Speaker 1: us more strength. Neither do those men who came up
• 26:36
  Speaker 1: unto us know why we have not received greater strength. Behold,
• 26:40
  Speaker 1: we do not know, but what ye are unsuccessful? And
• 26:42
  Speaker 1: ye have drawn away the forces into that quarter of
• 26:45
  Speaker 1: the land. If so, we do not desire to murmur.
• 26:49
  Speaker 1: And if it is not so, behold, we fear that
• 26:51
  Speaker 1: there is some faction in the government, that they do
• 26:54
  Speaker 1: not send more men to our assistants, for we know
• 26:57
  Speaker 1: that they are more numerous than that which they have.
• 27:01
  Speaker 1: But behold it mattereth not. We trust God will deliver
• 27:05
  Speaker 1: us notwithstanding the weakness of our armies, Yea, and deliver
• 27:09
  Speaker 1: us out of the hands of our enemies. Behold, this
• 27:12
  Speaker 1: is the twenty and ninth year in the latter end,
• 27:15
  Speaker 1: and we are in the possession of our lands. And
• 27:18
  Speaker 1: the Lamanites have fled to the land of Nephi. And
• 27:21
  Speaker 1: those sons of the people of Ammon, of whom I
• 27:24
  Speaker 1: have so highly spoken, are with me in the city
• 27:26
  Speaker 1: of Manti. And the Lord had supported them, Yea, and
• 27:30
  Speaker 1: kept them from falling by the sword, insomuch that even
• 27:34
  Speaker 1: one soul has not been slain. But behold, they have
• 27:38
  Speaker 1: received many wounds. Nevertheless, they stand fast in that liberty
• 27:43
  Speaker 1: wherewith God has made them free. And they are strict
• 27:47
  Speaker 1: to remember the Lord their God from day to day. Yea,
• 27:49
  Speaker 1: they do observe to keep his statutes and his judgments
• 27:52
  Speaker 1: and his commandments continually, and their faith is strong in
• 27:56
  Speaker 1: the prophecies concerning that which is to come. And now,
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: my beloved brother Morone, may the Lord our God, who
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: has redeemed us and made us free, keep you continually
• 28:05
  Speaker 1: in his presence, yea, and may he favor this people,
• 28:10
  Speaker 1: even that ye may have success in obtaining the possession
• 28:13
  Speaker 1: of all that which the Lamanites have taken from us,
• 28:16
  Speaker 1: which was for our support. And now behold I close
• 28:20
  Speaker 1: mine epistle. I am Heliman, the son of Alma and
• 28:25
  Speaker 1: of Alma, chapters fifty six through fifty eight,