Unit 64

of

168 occurrences in 69 verses

Alma 43:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 48, 50, 51, 52, 53,

Alma 44:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24

Alma 43:1

And now it came to pass that

the sons of Alma did go forth among the people, to declare the word unto them.

And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, and he also went forth.

Alma 43:2

Now we shall say no more concerning their preaching,

except that they preached the word, and the truth,

according to the spirit of prophecy and revelation;

and they preached after the holy order of God by which they were called.

Alma 43:3

And now I return to an account of the wars

between the Nephites and the Lamanites,

in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges.

Alma 43:4

For behold, it came to pass that the Zoramites became Lamanites;

therefore, in the commencement of the eighteenth year

the people of the Nephites saw that the Lamanites were coming upon them;

therefore they made preparations for war;

yea, they gathered together their armies in the land of Jershon.

Alma 43:5

And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with their thousands;

and they came into the land of Antionum,

which is the land of the Zoramites;

and a man by the name of Zerahemnah was their leader.

Alma 43:6

And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition

than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves,

therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites,

and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites.

Alma 43:7

Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites,

that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs.

Alma 43:9

And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and their houses,

and their wives, and their children,

that they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies;

and also that they might preserve their rights and their privileges,

yea, and also their liberty,

that they might worship God according to their desires.

Alma 43:10

For they knew that if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites,

that whosoever should worship God in spirit and in truth,

the true and the living God,

the Lamanites would destroy.

Alma 43:11

Yea, and they also knew the extreme hatred of the Lamanites

towards their brethren, who were the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi,

who were called the people of Ammon —

and they would not take up arms,

yea, they had entered into a covenant and they would not break it —

therefore, if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites

they would be destroyed.

Alma 43:13

And the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites

a large portion of their substance to support their armies;

and thus the Nephites were compelled, alone, to withstand against the Lamanites,

who were a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael,

and all those who had dissented from the Nephites,

who were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests of Noah.

Alma 43:15

And it came to pass as the armies of the Lamanites

had gathered together in the land of Antionum,

behold, the armies of the Nephites were prepared

to meet them in the land of Jershon.

Alma 43:16

Now, the leader of the Nephites,

or the man who had been appointed to be the chief captain over the Nephites —

now the chief captain took the command of all the armies of the Nephites —

and his name was Moroni;

Alma 43:17

And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their wars.

And he was only twenty and five years old

when he was appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites.

Alma 43:18

And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of Jershon,

and his people were armed with swords,

and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war.

Alma 43:19

And when the armies of the Lamanites saw

that the people of Nephi,

or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields,

yea, and also shields to defend their heads,

and also they were dressed with thick clothing —

Alma 43:20

Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing;

they had only their swords and their cimeters,

their bows and their arrows,

their stones and their slings;

and they were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins;

yea, all were naked, save it were the Zoramites and the Amalekites;

Alma 43:21

But they were not armed with breastplates, nor shields —

therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of the Nephites

because of their armor,

notwithstanding their number being so much greater than the Nephites.

Alma 43:22

Behold, now it came to pass that

they durst not come against the Nephites in the borders of Jershon;

therefore they departed out of the land of Antionum into the wilderness,

and took their journey round about in the wilderness,

away by the head of the river Sidon,

that they might come into the land of Manti and take possession of the land;

for they did not suppose

that the armies of Moroni would know whither they had gone.

Alma 43:23

But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the wilderness

Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp;

and Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him,

desiring him that he should inquire of the Lord

whither the armies of the Nephites should go

to defend themselves against the Lamanites.

Alma 43:24

And it came to pass that the word of the Lord came unto Alma,

and Alma informed the messengers of Moroni,

that the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness,

that they might come over into the land of Manti,

that they might commence an attack upon the weaker part of the people.

And those messengers went and delivered the message unto Moroni.

Alma 43:25

Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon,

lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come into that land

and take possession of the city,

took the remaining part of his army

and marched over into the land of Manti.

Alma 43:26

And he caused that all the people in that quarter of the land

should gather themselves together to battle against the Lamanites,

to defend their lands and their country, their rights and their liberties;

therefore they were prepared against the time of the coming of the Lamanites.

Alma 43:27

And it came to pass that Moroni caused

that his army should be secreted in the valley

which was near the bank of the river Sidon,

which was on the west of the river Sidon in the wilderness.

Alma 43:28

And Moroni placed spies round about,

that he might know when the camp of the Lamanites should come.

Alma 43:29

And now, as Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites,

that it was their intention to destroy their brethren,

or to subject them and bring them into bondage

that they might establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land;

Alma 43:30

And he also knowing that it was the only desire of the Nephites

to preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their church,

therefore he thought it no sin that he should defend them by stratagem;

therefore, he found by his spies which course the Lamanites were to take.

Alma 43:31

Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the valley,

and concealed them on the east, and on the south of the hill Riplah;

Alma 43:32

And the remainder he concealed in the west valley,

on the west of the river Sidon,

and so down into the borders of the land Manti.

Alma 43:34

And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north of the hill,

where a part of the army of Moroni was concealed.

Alma 43:35

And as the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah,

and came into the valley, and began to cross the river Sidon,

the army which was concealed on the south of the hill,

which was led by a man whose name was Lehi,

and he led his army forth

and encircled the Lamanites about on the east in their rear.

Alma 43:36

And it came to pass that the Lamanites,

when they saw the Nephites coming upon them in their rear,

turned them about and began to contend with the army of Lehi.

Alma 43:37

And the work of death commenced on both sides,

but it was more dreadful on the part of the Lamanites,

for their nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites

with their swords and their cimeters,

which brought death almost at every stroke.

Alma 43:38

While on the other hand,

there was now and then a man fell among the Nephites,

by their swords and the loss of blood,

they being shielded from the more vital parts of the body,

or the more vital parts of the body being shielded

from the strokes of the Lamanites,

by their breastplates, and their armshields, and their head-plates;

and thus the Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites.

Alma 43:39

And it came to pass that the Lamanites became frightened,

because of the great destruction among them,

even until they began to flee towards the river Sidon.

Alma 43:40

And they were pursued by Lehi and his men;

and they were driven by Lehi into the waters of Sidon,

and they crossed the waters of Sidon.

And Lehi retained his armies upon the bank of the river Sidon

that they should not cross.

Alma 43:41

And it came to pass that

Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in the valley,

on the other side of the river Sidon,

and began to fall upon them and to slay them.

Alma 43:42

And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of Manti;

and they were met again by the armies of Moroni.

Alma 43:44

And they were inspired by the Zoramites and the Amalekites,

who were their chief captains and leaders,

and by Zerahemnah,

who was their chief captain, or their chief leader and commander;

yea, they did fight like dragons,

and many of the Nephites were slain by their hands,

yea, for they did smite in two many of their head-plates,

and they did pierce many of their breastplates,

and they did smite off many of their arms;

and thus the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger.

Alma 43:45

Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause,

for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power

but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties,

their wives and their children, and their all,

yea, for their rites of worship and their church.

Alma 43:46

And they were doing that which they felt

was the duty which they owed to their God;

for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers,

that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second,

ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.

Alma 43:48

And it came to pass that

when the men of Moroni saw the fierceness and the anger of the Lamanites,

they were about to shrink and flee from them.

And Moroni, perceiving their intent,

sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts —

yea, the thoughts of their lands, their liberty,

yea, their freedom from bondage.

Alma 43:50

And they began to stand against the Lamanites with power;

and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom,

the Lamanites began to flee before them;

and they fled even to the waters of Sidon.

Alma 43:51

Now, the Lamanites were more numerous,

yea, by more than double the number of the Nephites;

nevertheless, they were driven

insomuch that they were gathered together in one body in the valley,

upon the bank by the river Sidon.

Alma 43:52

Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about,

yea, even on both sides of the river,

for behold, on the east were the men of Lehi.

Alma 43:53

Therefore when Zerahemnah saw the men of Lehi on the east of the river Sidon,

and the armies of Moroni on the west of the river Sidon,

that they were encircled about by the Nephites,

they were struck with terror.

Alma 44:1

And it came to pass that they did stop and withdrew a pace from them.

And Moroni said unto Zerahemnah:

Behold, Zerahemnah, that we do not desire to be men of blood.

Ye know that ye are in our hands,

yet we do not desire to slay you.

Alma 44:2

Behold, we have not come out to battle against you

that we might shed your blood for power;

neither do we desire to bring any one to the yoke of bondage.

But this is the very cause for which ye have come against us;

yea, and ye are angry with us because of our religion.

Alma 44:3

But now, ye behold that the Lord is with us;

and ye behold that he has delivered you into our hands.

And now I would that ye should understand

that this is done unto us because of our religion and our faith in Christ.

And now ye see that ye cannot destroy this our faith.

Alma 44:4

Now ye see that this is the true faith of God;

yea, ye see that God will support, and keep, and preserve us,

so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion;

and never will the Lord suffer that we shall be destroyed

except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith.

Alma 44:5

And now, Zerahemnah, I command you,

in the name of that all-powerful God, who has strengthened our arms

that we have gained power over you, by our faith,

by our religion, and by our rites of worship, and by our church,

and by the sacred support which we owe to our wives and our children,

by that liberty which binds us to our lands and our country;

yea, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of God,

to which we owe all our happiness;

and by all that is most dear unto us —

Alma 44:6

Yea, and this is not all;

I command you by all the desires which ye have for life,

that ye deliver up your weapons of war unto us,

and we will seek not your blood,

but we will spare your lives, if ye will go your way

and come not again to war against us.

Alma 44:7

And now, if ye do not this,

behold, ye are in our hands,

and I will command my men that they shall fall upon you,

and inflict the wounds of death in your bodies,

that ye may become extinct;

and then we will see who shall have power over this people;

yea, we will see who shall be brought into bondage.

Alma 44:8

And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had heard these sayings

he came forth and delivered up his sword and his cimeter, and his bow

into the hands of Moroni,

and said unto him:

Behold, here are our weapons of war;

we will deliver them up unto you,

but we will not suffer ourselves to take an oath unto you,

which we know that we shall break, and also our children;

but take our weapons of war,

and suffer that we may depart into the wilderness;

otherwise we will retain our swords,

and we will perish or conquer.

Alma 44:9

Behold, we are not of your faith;

we do not believe that it is God that has delivered us into your hands;

but we believe that it is your cunning that has preserved you from our swords.

Behold, it is your breastplates and your shields that have preserved you.

Alma 44:10

And now when Zerahemnah had made an end of speaking these words,

Moroni returned the sword and the weapons of war, which he had received,

unto Zerahemnah, saying:

Behold, we will end the conflict.

Alma 44:12

And now when Moroni had said these words,

Zerahemnah retained his sword,

and he was angry with Moroni,

and he rushed forward that he might slay Moroni;

but as he raised his sword,

behold, one of Moroni's soldiers smote it even to the earth,

and it broke by the hilt;

and he also smote Zerahemnah

that he took off his scalp and it fell to the earth.

And Zerahemnah withdrew from before them into the midst of his soldiers.

Alma 44:13

And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by,

who smote off the scalp of Zerahemnah,

took up the scalp from off the ground by the hair,

and laid it upon the point of his sword, and stretched it forth unto them,

saying unto them with a loud voice:

Alma 44:14

Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth,

which is the scalp of your chief,

so shall ye fall to the earth

except ye will deliver up your weapons of war

and depart with a covenant of peace.

Alma 44:15

Now there were many, when they heard these words

and saw the scalp which was upon the sword,

that were struck with fear;

and many came forth and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni,

and entered into a covenant of peace.

And as many as entered into a covenant

they suffered to depart into the wilderness.

Alma 44:16

Now it came to pass that Zerahemnah was exceedingly wroth,

and he did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger,

to contend more powerfully against the Nephites.

Alma 44:17

And now Moroni was angry, because of the stubbornness of the Lamanites;

therefore he commanded his people

that they should fall upon them and slay them.

And it came to pass that they began to slay them;

yea, and the Lamanites did contend with their swords and their might.

Alma 44:18

But behold, their naked skins and their bare heads were exposed

to the sharp swords of the Nephites;

yea, behold they were pierced and smitten,

yea, and did fall exceedingly fast before the swords of the Nephites;

and they began to be swept down,

even as the soldier of Moroni had prophesied.

Alma 44:19

Now Zerahemnah, when he saw that they were all about to be destroyed,

cried mightily unto Moroni,

promising that he would covenant and also his people with them,

if they would spare the remainder of their lives,

that they never would come to war again against them.

Alma 44:20

And it came to pass that Moroni caused

that the work of death should cease again among the people.

And he took the weapons of war from the Lamanites;

and after they had entered into a covenant with him of peace

they were suffered to depart into the wilderness.

Alma 44:21

Now the number of their dead was not numbered

because of the greatness of the number;

yea, the number of their dead was exceedingly great,

both on the Nephites and on the Lamanites.

Alma 44:22

And it came to pass that they did cast their dead into the waters of Sidon,

and they have gone forth and are buried in the depths of the sea.

Alma 44:23

And the armies of the Nephites, or of Moroni, returned

and came to their houses and their lands.

Alma 44:24

And thus ended the eighteenth year

of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

And thus ended the record of Alma,

which was written upon the plates of Nephi.