Alma 61:1

Behold, now it came to pass that

soon after Moroni had sent his epistle unto the chief governor,

he received an epistle from Pahoran, the chief governor.

And these are the words which he received:

Alma 61:2

I, Pahoran, who am the chief governor of this land,

do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army.

Behold, I say unto you, Moroni,

that I do not joy in your great afflictions,

yea, it grieves my soul.

Alma 61:3

But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions,

yea, insomuch that they have risen up in rebellion against me,

and also those of my people who are freemen,

yea, and those who have risen up are exceedingly numerous.

Alma 61:4

And it is those who have sought to take away the judgment-seat from me

that have been the cause of this great iniquity;

for they have used great flattery,

and they have led away the hearts of many people,

which will be the cause of sore affliction among us;

they have withheld our provisions, and have daunted our freemen

that they have not come unto you.

Alma 61:5

And behold, they have driven me out before them,

and I have fled to the land of Gideon,

with as many men as it were possible that I could get.

Alma 61:6

And behold, I have sent a proclamation throughout this part of the land;

and behold, they are flocking to us daily, to their arms,

in the defence of their country and their freedom,

and to avenge our wrongs.

Alma 61:7

And they have come unto us,

insomuch that those who have risen up in rebellion against us

are set at defiance,

yea, insomuch that they do fear us

and durst not come out against us to battle.

Alma 61:8

They have got possession of the land, or the city, of Zarahemla;

they have appointed a king over them,

and he hath written unto the king of the Lamanites,

in the which he hath joined an alliance with him;

in the which alliance he hath agreed to maintain the city of Zarahemla,

which maintenance he supposeth will enable

the Lamanites to conquer the remainder of the land,

and he shall be placed king over this people

when they shall be conquered under the Lamanites.