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

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Alma, chapter forty six. And it came to pass that as many as
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would not hearken to the words of Heliman and his brethren were gathered together against
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their brethren. And now behold, they were exceedingly wroth, insomuch that they
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were determined to slay them. Now the leader of those who were wroth against
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their brethren was a large and a strong man, and his name was Amalachiah.
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And Amlachia was desirous to be a king. And those people who were
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wroth were also desirous that he should be their king. And they were the
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greater part of them, the lower judges of the land, and they were
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seeking for power. And they had been led by the flatteries of Amalachia that
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if they would support him and establish him to be their king, that he
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would make them rulers over the people. Thus they were led away by Amalachia
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to dissensions, notwithstanding the preaching of Heliman and his brethren, Yea, notwithstanding
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their exceedingly great care over the church, for they were high priests over the
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church, and there were many in the church who believed in the flattering words
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of a Malachiah. Therefore they dissented even from the Church. And thus were
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the affairs of the people of Nephi exceedingly precarious and dangerous, notwithstanding their great
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victory which they had had over the Lamanites, and their great rejoicings which they
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had had because of their deliverance by the hand of the Lord. Thus we
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see how quick the children of men do forget the Lord their God, yea,
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how quick to do iniquity and to be led away by the evil one,
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yea. And we also see the great wickedness one very wicked man can
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cause to take place among the children of men. Yea. We see that
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a Malachia, because he was a man of cunning device and a man of
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many flattering words, that he led away the hearts of many people to do
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wickedly yea, and to seek to destroy the Church of God, and to
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destroy the foundation of liberty which God had granted unto them, or which blessing
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God had sent upon the face of the land for the righteous's sake. And
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now it came to pass that when Moroni, who was the chief commander of
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the armies of the Nephites, had heard of these dissensions, he was angry
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with the Melachiah and it came to pass that he rent his coat, and
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he took a piece thereof and wrote upon it in memory of our God,
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our religion and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children.
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And he fastened it upon the end of a pole. And he fastened
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on his head plate and his breastplate, and his shields, and girded on
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his armor about his loins. And he took the pole which had on the
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end thereof his rent coat, and he called it the title of Liberty.
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And he bowed himself to the earth, and he prayed mightily unto his God,
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for the blessings of liberty to rest upon his brethren, so long as
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there should a band of Christians remain to possess the land. For thus were
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all the true believers of Christ who belonged to the Church of God called by
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those who did not belong to the Church. And those who did belong to
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the Church were faithful. Yea, All those who were true believers in Christ
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took upon them gladly the name of Christ, or Christians, as they were
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called, because of their belief in Christ. Who should come. And therefore,
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at this time Marona prayed that the cause of the Christians and the freedom
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of the land might be favored. And it came to pass that, when
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he had poured out his soul to God, he named all the land which
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was south of the land desolation Yea, and in fine all the land,
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both on the north and on the south, a chosen land and a land
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of liberty. And he said, surely, God shall not suffer that we
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who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be
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trodden down and destroyed until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions.
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And when Marona had said these words, he went forth among the people,
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waving the rent part of his garment in the air that all might see the
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writing which he had written upon the rent part, and crying with a loud
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voice, saying, behold, whosoever will maintain this title upon the land,
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let them come forth in the strength of the Lord and enter into a covenant,
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that they will maintain their rights and their religion, that the Lord God
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may bless them. And it came to pass that when Marona had proclaimed these
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words, behold, the people came running together with their armor girded about their
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loins, rending their garments in token or as a covenant that they would not
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forsake the Lord their God. Or, in other words, if they should
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transgress the commandments of God, or fall into transgression and be ashamed to take
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upon them the name of Christ, the Lord should rend them, even as
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they had rent their garments. Now this was the covenant which they made,
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and they cast their garments at the feet of Morona, saying, we covenant
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with our God that we shall be destroyed even as our brethren the land northward.
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If we shall fall into transgression, yea, he may cast us at
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the feet of our enemies, even as we have cast our garments at the
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feet, to be trodden underfoot, if we shall fall into transgression, Morona
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said unto them, behold, we are a remnant of the seed of Jacob.
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Yea. We are a remnant of the seed of Joseph, whose coat
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was rent by his brethren into many pieces. Yea. And now behold,
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let us remember to keep the commandments of God, or our garments shall be
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rent by our brethren, and we be cast into prison, or be sold
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or be slain. YEA. Let us preserve our liberty as a remnant of
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Joseph. YEA, let us remember the words of Jacob before his death.
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For behold, he saw that a part of the remnant of the coat of
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Joseph was preserved and had not decayed. And he said, even as this
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remnant of garment of my son hath been preserved, so shall a remnant of
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the seed of my son be preserved by the hand of God and be taken
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unto himself, while the remainder of the seed of Joseph shall perish, even
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as the remnant of his garment. Now behold, this giveth my soul sorrow.
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Nevertheless, my soul hath joy in my son because of that part of
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his seed which shall be taken unto God. Now behold, this was the
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language of Jacob. And now who knoweth but that the remnant of the seed
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of Joseph which shall perish as his garment, are those who have dissented from
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us? Yea, And even it shall be ourselves if we do not stand
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fast in the faith of Christ. And now it came to pass that when
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Moroni had said these words, he went forth, and also sent forth in
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all the parts of the land where there were dissensions, and gathered together all
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the people who were desirous to maintain their liberty to stand against Amlachiah and those
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who had dissented, who were called Amalachiaides. And it came to pass that
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when Amalachiah saw that the people of Moroni were more numerous than the Amalachia,
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and he also saw that his people were doubtful concerning the justice of the cause
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in which they had undertaken. Therefore, fearing that he should not gain the
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point, he took those of his people who would and departed into the land
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of Nephi. Now Maroni thought it was not expedient that the Lamanites should have
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any more strength. Therefore he thought to cut off the people of Amalachia,
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or to take them and bring them back and put a Malachia to death.
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Yea, for he knew that he would stir up the Lamanites to anger against
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them and cause them to come to battle against them. And this he knew
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that a Malachia would do that he might obtain his purposes. Therefore, Maronai
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thought it was expedient that he should take his armies, who had gathered themselves
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together and armed themselves and entered into a covenant to keep the peace. And
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it came to pass that he took his army and marched out with his tents
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into the wilderness to cut off the course of Amalachia in the wilderness. And
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it came to pass that he did according to his desires, and marched forth
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into the wilderness and headed the armies of a Malachia. And it came to
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pass that a Malachia fled with a small number of his men, and the
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remainder were delivered up into the hands of Moroni, and were taken back into
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the land of Zarahimla now Moronia. Being a man who was appointed by the
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chief judges and the voice of the people, therefore he had power, according
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to his will, with the armies of the Nephites, to establish and to
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exercise authority over them. And it came to pass at whomsoever of the Amalachiaites
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that would not enter into a covenant to support the cause of freedom, that
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they might maintain a free government, he caused to be put to death.
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And there were but few who denied the covenant of freedom. And it came
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to pass also that he caused the title of liberty to be hoisted upon every
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tower which was in all the land which was possessed by the Nephites, and
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Thus Moronai planted the standard of liberty among the Nephies, and they began to
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have peace again in the land. And thus they did maintain peace in the
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land until nearly the end of the nineteenth year of the reign of the Judges,
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and Helamann and the high priests did also maintain order in the church.
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Yea, even for the space of four years did they have much peace and
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rejoicing in the church. And it came to pass that there were many who
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died firmly believing that their souls were redeemed by the Lord Jesus Christ. Thus
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they went out of the world rejoicing. And there were some who died with
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fevers, which some seasons of the year were very frequent in the land,
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but not so much so with fevers, because of the excellent qualities of the
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many plants and roots, which God had prepared to remove the cause of diseases
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to which men were subject by the nature of the climate. But there were
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many who died with old age. And those who died in the faith of
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Christ are happy in Him, as we must needs suppose Alma chapter forty seven.
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Now we will return in our record to Amalachia and those who had fled
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with him into the wilderness. For behold, he had taken those who went
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with him and went up in the land of Nephi among the Lamanites, and
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did stir up the Lamanites to anger against the people of Nephi. Insomuch that
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the king of the Lamanites sent a proclamation throughout all his land among all his
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people, that they should gather themselves together again to go to battle against the
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Nephites. And it came to pass that when the proclamation had gone forth among
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them, they were exceedingly afraid. Yea, they feared to displease the king,
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and they also feared to go to battle against the Nephites, lest they
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should lose their lives. And it came to pass that they would not,
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or the more part of them, would not obey the commandments of the king.
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And now it came to pass that the king was wroth because of their
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disobedience. Therefore he gave a Malachia the command of that part of his army
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which was obedient unto his commands, and him that he should go forth and
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compel them to arms. Now behold, this was the desire of Amalachia,
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for he being a very subtle man to do evil. Therefore he laid the
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plans in his heart to dethrone the king of the Lamanites. And now he
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had got the command of those parts of the Lamanites who were in favor of
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the king, and he sought to gain favor of those who were not obedient.
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Therefore he went forward to the place which was called Oneida. For thither
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had all the Lamanites fled, for they discovered the army coming, and supposing
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that they were coming to destroy them. Therefore they fled to Oneida, to
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the place of arms. And they had appointed a man to be a king
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and a leader over them, being fixed in their minds with a determined resolution
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that they would not be subjected to go against the Nephites. And it came
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to pass that they had gathered themselves together upon the top of the mount which
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was called Antipas, in preparation to battle. Now it was not a Malachi's
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intention to give them battle according to the commandments of the Suk king. But
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behold, it was his intention to gain favor with the armies of the Lamanites,
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that he might place himself at their head and dethrone the king and take
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possession of the kingdom, and behold, it came to pass that he caused
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his army to pitch their tents in the valley which was near the Mount Antipas,
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and it came to pass that when it was night, he sent a
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secret embassy into the Mount Antipas, desiring that the leader of those who were
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upon the mount, whose name was Lehontai, that he should come down to
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the foot of the mount, for he desired to speak with him. And
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it came to pass that when le Hanti received the message, he durst not
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go down to the foot of the mount. And it came to pass that
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a malachia sent again the second time, desiring him to come down, and
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it came to pass that le Hantai would not, and he sent again the
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third time, and it came to pass that when a malachia found that he
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could not get Lehntai to come down off from the mount, he went up
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into the mount nearly to la Hantai camp, and he sent again the fourth
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time his message unto le Hantai, desiring that he would come down and that
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he would bring his guards with him. And it came to pass that when
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le Hanti had come down with his guards to a Malachia that Amlakiya desired him
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to come down with his army in the night time and surround those men in
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their camps over whom the king had given him command, and that he would
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deliver them up into le Hanta's hands if he would make him a Malakia,
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a second leader over the whole army. And it came to pass that le
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Hantai came down with his men and surrounded the men of Amalachia, so that
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before they awoke at the dawn of day, they were surrounded by the armies
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of Lahntai. And it came to pass that when they saw that they were
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surrounded, they pled with a Malachia that he would suffer them to fall in
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with their brethren, that they might not be destroyed. Now, this was
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the very thing which Amalachia desired, and it came to pass that he delivered
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his men contrary to the commands of the king. This was the thing that
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a Malachia desired, that he might accomplish his designs in dethroning the king.
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Now, it was the custom among the Lamanites if their chief leader was killed,
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to appoint the second leader to be their chief leader, and it came
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to pass that a Malachia caused that one of his servants should administer poison by
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degrees to Lehantai that he died. Now when le Hanti was dead, the
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Lamanites appointed a Malakia to be their leader and their chief commander. And it
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came to pass that a Malachia marched with his armies, for he had gained
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his desires to the land of Nephi, to the city of Nephi, which
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was the chief city. And the king came out to meet him with his
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guards, for he supposed that a Malakia had fulfilled his commands, and that
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a Malakia had gathered together so great an army to go against the Nephites to
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battle. But behold, as the king came out to meet him, a
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Malachia caused that his servants should go forth to meet the king. And they
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went and bowed themselves before the king, as if to reverence him because of
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his greatness. And it came to pass that the king put forth his hand
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to raise them, as was the custom with the Lamanites, as a token
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of peace, which custom they had taken from the Nephites. And it came
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to pass that when he had raised the first from the ground. Behold,
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he stabbed the king to the heart, and he fell to the earth.
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Now the servants of the king fled, and the servants of a Malachia raised
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a cry, saying, behold, the servants of the king has stabbed him
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to the heart, and he has fallen, and they have fled. Behold,
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come and see. And it came to pass that a Malachia commanded that
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his army should march forth and see what had happened to the king. And
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when they had come to the spot and found the king lying in his gore,
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and Malachia pretended to be wroth, and said, whosoever loved the king,
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let him go forth and pursue his servants, that they may be slain.
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And it came to pass that all they who loved the king, when
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they heard these words, came forth and pursued after the servants of the king.
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Now, when the servants of the king saw an army pursuing after them,
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they were frightened again and fled into the wilderness and came over into the
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land of Zarahemla and joined the people of Ammon. And the army which pursued
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after them returned, having pursued after them in vain. And thus a Malachia,
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by his fraud, gained the hearts of the people. And it came
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to pass on the morrow he entered the city Nephy with his armies and took
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possession of the city. And now it came to pass that the Queen,
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when she had heard that the king was slain for Amalachia, had sent an
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embassy to the Queen informing her that the king had been slain by his servants,
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that he had pursued them with his army, but it was in vain
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and they had made their escape. Therefore, when the Queen had received this
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message, she sent unto Amalachia, desiring him that he would spare the people
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of the city. And she also desired him that he should come in unto
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her. And she also desired him that he should bring witnesses with him to
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testify concerning the death of the king. And it came to pass that a
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Malachia took the same servant who slew the king and all them who were with
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him, and went in unto the Queen unto the place where she sat,
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and they all testified unto her that the king was slain by his own servants,
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and they said, also they have fled, does not this testify against
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them? And thus they satisfied the queen concerning the death of the king.
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And it came to pass that a Malachiah sought the favor of the queen and
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took her unto him to wife. And thus, by his fraud and by
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the assistance of his cunning servants, he obtained the kingdom Yea. He was
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acknowledged king throughout all the land among all the people of the Lamanites, who
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were composed of the Lamanites and the Lemuelites, and the Ishmaelites, and all
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the dissenters of the Nephites from the reign of Nephi down to the present time.
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Now these dissenters having the same instruction, then the same information of the
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Nephites, Yea, having been instructed in the same knowledge of the Lord.
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Nevertheless, it is strange to relate. Not long after their dissensions they became
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more hardened and impenitent, and more wild, wicked and ferocious than the Lamanites,
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drinking in with the traditions of the Lamanites, giving way to indolence in
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all manner of lashiviousness Yea entirely forgetting the Lord their God Alma chapter forty eight.
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And now it came to pass that as soon as a Malachiah had obtained
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the kingdom, he began to inspire the hearts of the Lamanites against the people
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of Nephi Yea. He did appoint men to speak unto the Lamanites from their
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towers against the Nephites, and thus he did inspire their hearts against the Nephites.
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Insomuch that in the latter end of the nineteenth year of the reign of
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the Judges, he having accomplished his designs. Thus far Yea having been made
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king over the Lamanites, he sought also to reign over all the land Yea
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and all the people who were in the land, the Nephytes as well as
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the Lamanites. Therefore he had accomplished his design, for he had hardened the
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hearts of the Lamanites and blinded their minds and stirred them up to anger.
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Insomuch that he had gathered together a numerous host to go to battle against the
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Nephites. For he was determined, because of the greatness of the number of
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his people to overpower the Nephites and to bring them into bondage. And thus
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he did appoint chief captains of the Zoramites, they being the most acquainted with
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the strength of the Nephites and their places of resort, and the weakest parts
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of their cities. Therefore he appointed them to be chief captains over his armies.
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And it came to pass that they took their camp and moved forth toward
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the land of Zarahemla in the wilderness. Now it came to pass that while
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a Malachia had thus been obtaining power by fraud and deceit, Morona, on
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the other hand, had been preparing the minds of the people to be faithful
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unto the Lord their god Yea. He had been strengthening the armies of the
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Nephites, and erected in small forts or places of resort, throwing up banks
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of earth round about to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone
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to encircle them about round about their cities and the borders of their lands Yea,
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all round about the land, and in their weakest fortifications he did place
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the greater number of men, And thus he did fortify and strengthen the land
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which was possessed by the Nephites. And thus he was preparing to support their
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liberty, their lands, their wives, and their children, and their peace,
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that they might live unto the Lord, their God, and that they
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might maintain that which was called by their enemies the cause of Christians. And
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Marona was a strong and a mighty man. He was a man of a
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perfect understanding, yea. A man that did not delight in bloodshed, a
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man whose soul did joy in the liberty and the freedom of his country and
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his brethren from bondage and slavery. Yea. A man whose heart did swell
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with thanksgiving to his God for the many privileges and blessings which he bestowed upon
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his people. A man who did labor exceedingly for the welfare and safety of
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his people. Yea. And he was a man who was firm in the
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faith of Christ. And he had sworn with an oath to defend his people,
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his rights, and his country, and his religion, even to the
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loss of his blood. Now, the Nephites were taught to defend themselves against
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their enemies, even to the shedding of blood if it were necessary. Yea.
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And they were also taught never to give an offense, yea, and
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never to raise the sword, except it were against an enemy. Accept it
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were to preserve their lives. And this was their faith, that by so
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doing God would prosper them in the land. Or in other words, if
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they were faithful in keeping the commandments of God, that He would prosper them
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in the land. Yea. Warned them to flee or to prepare for war
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according to their danger, and also that God would make it known unto them
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whither they should go to defend themselves against their enemies, and by so doing
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the Lord would deliver them. And this was the faith of Morona, and
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his heart did glory in it, not in the shedding of blood, but
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in doing good, in preserving his people yea, in keeping the commandments of
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God, yea, and resisting iniquity, yea. Verily, verily, I
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say unto you. If all men had been, and were, and ever
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would be likened to Moronai, behold, the very powers of Hell would have
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been shaken forever. Yea. The devil would never have power over the hearts
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of the children of men. Behold, he was a man likened to Amon,
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the son of Mosiah. Yea. And even the other sons of Mosiah
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Yea, and also Almand his sons, for they were all men of God.
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Now behold, Helimann and his brethren were no less serviceable unto the people
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than was Moronai. For they did preach the word of God, and they
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did baptize unto repentance all men whosoever would hearken unto their words. And thus
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they went forth, and the people did humble themselves because of their words,
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insomuch that they were highly favored of the Lord. And thus they were free
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from wars and contents among themselves Yea, even for the space of four years.
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But as I have said, in the latter end of the nineteenth year,
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Yea, notwithstanding their peace amongst themselves, they were compelled reluctantly to contend
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with their brethren, the Lamanites. Yea. And in fine, their wars
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never did cease for the space of many years with the Lamanites, notwithstanding their
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much reluctance. Now they were sorry to take up arms against the Lamanites,
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because they did not delight in the shedding of blood, Yea. And this
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was not all they were sorry to be the means of sending so many of
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their brethren out of this world into an eternal world, unprepared to meet their
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God. Nevertheless, they could not suffer to lay down their lives that their
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wives and their children should be massacreed by the barbarous cruelty of those who were
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once their brethren Yea, and had dissented from their church and had left them,
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and had gone to destroy them by joining the Lamanites. Yea, they
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could not bear that their brethren should rejoice over the blood of the Nephites,
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so long as there were any who should keep the commandments of God. For
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the promise of the Lord was if they should keep his commandments, they would
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prosper in the land and of Alma, chapters forty six through forty eight.