Alma 54:1

And now it came to pass

in the commencement of the twenty and ninth year of the judges,

that Ammoron sent unto Moroni desiring that he would exchange prisoners.

Alma 54:2

And it came to pass that Moroni felt to rejoice exceedingly at this request,

for he desired the provisions

which were imparted for the support of the Lamanite prisoners

for the support of his own people;

and he also desired his own people

for the strengthening of his army.

Alma 54:3

Now the Lamanites had taken many women and children,

and there was not a woman nor a child among all the prisoners of Moroni,

or the prisoners whom Moroni had taken;

therefore Moroni resolved upon a stratagem to obtain

as many prisoners of the Nephites from the Lamanites as it were possible.

Alma 54:4

Therefore he wrote an epistle, and sent it by the servant of Ammoron,

the same who had brought an epistle to Moroni.

Now these are the words which he wrote unto Ammoron, saying:

Alma 54:5

Behold, Ammoron, I have written unto you somewhat

concerning this war which ye have waged against my people,

or rather which thy brother hath waged against them,

and which ye are still determined to carry on after his death.

Alma 54:6

Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice of God,

and the sword of his almighty wrath, which doth hang over you

except ye repent and withdraw your armies into your own lands,

or the land of your possessions, which is the land of Nephi.

Alma 54:7

Yea, I would tell you these things

if ye were capable of hearkening unto them;

yea, I would tell you concerning that awful hell

that awaits to receive such murderers as thou and thy brother have been,

except ye repent and withdraw your murderous purposes,

and return with your armies to your own lands.

Alma 54:8

But as ye have once rejected these things,

and have fought against the people of the Lord,

even so I may expect you will do it again.

Alma 54:9

And now behold, we are prepared to receive you;

yea, and except you withdraw your purposes,

behold, ye will pull down

the wrath of that God whom you have rejected

upon you,

even to your utter destruction.

Alma 54:10

But, as the Lord liveth,

our armies shall come upon you except ye withdraw,

and ye shall soon be visited with death,

for we will retain our cities and our lands;

yea, and we will maintain our religion and the cause of our God.

Alma 54:11

But behold, it supposeth me that I talk to you concerning these things in vain;

or it supposeth me that thou art a child of hell;

therefore I will close my epistle by telling you

that I will not exchange prisoners, save it be on conditions

that ye will deliver up a man and his wife and his children, for one prisoner;

if this be the case that ye will do it, I will exchange.

Alma 54:12

And behold, if ye do not this,

I will come against you with my armies;

yea, even I will arm my women and my children,

and I will come against you,

and I will follow you even into your own land,

which is the land of our first inheritance;

yea, and it shall be blood for blood, yea, life for life;

and I will give you battle

even until you are destroyed from off the face of the earth.

Alma 54:13

Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people;

ye have sought to murder us,

and we have only sought to defend ourselves.

But behold, if ye seek to destroy us more

we will seek to destroy you;

yea, and we will seek our land,

the land of our first inheritance.

Alma 54:14

Now I close my epistle.

I am Moroni;

I am a leader of the people of the Nephites.