Alma 52:1

And now, it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year

of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi,

behold, when the Lamanites awoke on the first morning of the first month,

behold, they found Amalickiah was dead in his own tent;

and they also saw that Teancum was ready to give them battle on that day.

Alma 52:2

And now, when the Lamanites saw this they were affrighted;

and they abandoned their design in marching into the land northward,

and retreated with all their army into the city of Mulek,

and sought protection in their fortifications.

Alma 52:3

And it came to pass that

the brother of Amalickiah was appointed king over the people;

and his name was Ammoron;

thus king Ammoron, the brother of king Amalickiah,

was appointed to reign in his stead.

Alma 52:4

And it came to pass that

he did command that his people should maintain those cities,

which they had taken by the shedding of blood;

for they had not taken any cities save they had lost much blood.

Alma 52:5

And now, Teancum saw that the Lamanites were determined

to maintain those cities which they had taken,

and those parts of the land which they had obtained possession of;

and also seeing the enormity of their number,

Teancum thought it was not expedient

that he should attempt to attack them in their forts.

Alma 52:6

But he kept his men round about,

as if making preparations for war;

yea, and truly he was preparing to defend himself against them,

by casting up walls round about and preparing places of resort.

Alma 52:7

And it came to pass that he kept thus preparing for war

until Moroni had sent a large number of men to strengthen his army.

Alma 52:8

And Moroni also sent orders unto him

that he should retain all the prisoners who fell into his hands;

for as the Lamanites had taken many prisoners,

that he should retain all the prisoners of the Lamanites

as a ransom for those whom the Lamanites had taken.

Alma 52:9

And he also sent orders unto him that he should fortify the land Bountiful,

and secure the narrow pass which led into the land northward,

lest the Lamanites should obtain that point

and should have power to harass them on every side.

Alma 52:10

And Moroni also sent unto him, desiring him

that he would be faithful in maintaining that quarter of the land,

and that he would seek every opportunity

to scourge the Lamanites in that quarter, as much as was in his power,

that perhaps he might take again by stratagem or some other way

those cities which had been taken out of their hands;

and that he also would fortify and strengthen the cities round about,

which had not fallen into the hands of the Lamanites.

Alma 52:11

And he also said unto him,

I would come unto you,

but behold, the Lamanites are upon us

in the borders of the land by the west sea;

and behold, I go against them,

therefore I cannot come unto you.

Alma 52:12

Now, the king (Ammoron) had departed out of the land of Zarahemla,

and had made known unto the queen concerning the death of his brother,

and had gathered together a large number of men,

and had marched forth against the Nephites on the borders by the west sea.

Alma 52:13

And thus he was endeavoring to harass the Nephites,

and to draw away a part of their forces to that part of the land,

while he had commanded those whom he had left

to possess the cities which he had taken,

that they should also harass the Nephites on the borders by the east sea,

and should take possession of their lands

as much as it was in their power,

according to the power of their armies.

Alma 52:14

And thus were the Nephites in those dangerous circumstances

in the ending of the twenty and sixth year

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