Alma 52:15

But behold, it came to pass

in the twenty and seventh year of the reign of the judges,

that Teancum, by the command of Moroni —

who had established armies to protect the south and the west borders of the land,

and had begun his march towards the land Bountiful,

that he might assist Teancum with his men

in retaking the cities which they had lost —

Alma 52:16

And it came to pass that Teancum had received orders

to make an attack upon the city of Mulek, and retake it if it were possible.

Alma 52:17

And it came to pass that Teancum made preparations

to make an attack upon the city of Mulek,

and march forth with his army against the Lamanites;

but he saw that it was impossible that he could overpower them

while they were in their fortifications;

therefore he abandoned his designs

and returned again to the city Bountiful,

to wait for the coming of Moroni,

that he might receive strength to his army.

Alma 52:18

And it came to pass that

Moroni did arrive with his army at the land of Bountiful,

in the latter end of the twenty and seventh year

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

Alma 52:19

And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth year,

Moroni and Teancum and many of the chief captains held a council of war —

what they should do to cause the Lamanites to come out against them to battle;

or that they might by some means flatter them out of their strongholds,

that they might gain advantage over them and take again the city of Mulek.

Alma 52:20

And it came to pass they sent embassies to the army of the Lamanites,

which protected the city of Mulek,

to their leader, whose name was Jacob,

desiring him that he would come out with his armies

to meet them upon the plains between the two cities.

But behold, Jacob, who was a Zoramite, would not come out

with his army to meet them upon the plains.

Alma 52:21

And it came to pass that Moroni, h

aving no hopes of meeting them upon fair grounds,

therefore, he resolved upon a plan

that he might decoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds.

Alma 52:22

Therefore he caused that Teancum should take a small number of men

and march down near the seashore;

and Moroni and his army, by night, marched

in the wilderness, on the west of the city Mulek;

and thus, on the morrow,

when the guards of the Lamanites had discovered Teancum,

they ran and told it unto Jacob, their leader.

Alma 52:23

And it came to pass that

the armies of the Lamanites did march forth against Teancum,

supposing by their numbers to overpower Teancum

because of the smallness of his numbers.

And as Teancum saw the armies of the Lamanites coming out against him

he began to retreat down by the seashore, northward.

Alma 52:24

And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that he began to flee,

they took courage and pursued them with vigor.

And while Teancum was thus leading away the Lamanites

who were pursuing them in vain,

behold, Moroni commanded that a part of his army who were with him

should march forth into the city, and take possession of it.

Alma 52:25

And thus they did, and slew all those who had been left to protect the city,

yea, all those who would not yield up their weapons of war.

Alma 52:26

And thus Moroni had obtained possession of the city Mulek

with a part of his army,

while he marched with the remainder to meet the Lamanites

when they should return from the pursuit of Teancum.