Alma 48:21

But, as I have said, in the latter end of the nineteenth year,

yea, notwithstanding their peace amongst themselves,

they were compelled reluctantly to contend with their brethren, the Lamanites.

Alma 48:22

Yea, and in fine, their wars never did cease for the space of many years

with the Lamanites,

notwithstanding their much reluctance.

Alma 48:23

Now, they were sorry to take up arms against the Lamanites,

because they did not delight in the shedding of blood;

yea, and this was not all —

they were sorry to be the means of sending so many of their brethren

out of this world into an eternal world, unprepared to meet their God.

Alma 48:24

Nevertheless, they could not suffer to lay down their lives,

that their wives and their children should be massacred

by the barbarous cruelty of those who were once their brethren,

yea, and had dissented from their church,

and had left them and had gone to destroy them by joining the Lamanites.

Alma 48:25

Yea, they could not bear

that their brethren should rejoice over the blood of the Nephites,

so long as there were any who should keep the commandments of God,

for the promise of the Lord was,

if they should keep his commandments

they should prosper in the land.