Mosiah 9:1

I, Zeniff, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites,

and having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi,

or of the land of our fathers' first inheritance,

and having been sent as a spy among the Lamanites

that I might spy out their forces,

that our army might come upon them and destroy them —

but when I saw that which was good among them

I was desirous that they should not be destroyed.

Mosiah 9:2

Therefore, I contended with my brethren in the wilderness,

for I would that our ruler should make a treaty with them;

but he being an austere and a blood-thirsty man commanded that I should be slain;

but I was rescued by the shedding of much blood;

for father fought against father, and brother against brother,

until the greater number of our army was destroyed in the wilderness;

and we returned, those of us that were spared, to the land of Zarahemla,

to relate that tale to their wives and their children.