Scriptural Text [& Editorial]
Commentary & Explanation
Footnotes ~ References ~ JST
CHAPTER 43
Alma and his sons preach the word—The Zoramites and other Nephites
dissenters become Lamanites—The Lamanites come against the Nephites in
war—Moroni arms the Nephites with defensive armor—The Lord
reveals to Alma the strategy of the Lamanites—The Nephites defend their
homes, liberties, families, and religion—The armies of Moroni and Lehi
surround the Lamanites.
Alma and his sons continue to preach the gospel in the land—The
Zoramites and their land of Antionum become one with the Lamanites—Other
Nephites also become dissenters over to the Lamanites—They come against
the Nephites in war—Recently appointed Chief Captian Moroni prepares
the Nephites with weapons and
defensive armor—The Nephites defend their homes, liberties, families
and religion—The armies of Moroni and Lehi surround the Lamanites.
1 AND now it came to pass that the sons of
Alma did go forth
among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also,
himself, could not arest, and he also went forth.
2 Now awe shall say no more concerning their
preaching, except that they preached the word, and the truth,
according to the spirit of prophecy and
revelationa; and they
preached after the bholy order of God by which they were
calledb.
He Could Not Rest
When one is about the Lord's work the Holy Spirit which attends him serves
to motivate that man's energy. The Spirit of the Holy Ghost, the Spirit of
Continuous Revelation, the Spirit by which Angels and Prophets of God do
speak is He who suports, sustains and moves the priesthood of God to the
end of not letting men rest while there is yet work to be done. It is the
reason that 90 year old prophets continue on in the administration of God's
Kingdom on earth. Alma had this mantle and spirit upon him and he could not
rest but could only continue in the ministry of God in preaching the Gospel
throughout the land of Zarahemla.
2a according to the spirit of prophecy
and revelation This is the key to the Fullness of the Gospel.
Often we hear in the scriptures that we are to teach nothing but repentance
and baptism. But that is not well understood, for when it speaks of baptism
it not only means by water but also to be born of the spirit. And that spirit
is the Holy Ghost, which is the spirit of revelation. Certainly there is more
to the gospel than just faith, repentance and baptism for is one does not
preach concerning the fall and the atonement of Christ the what need is there
of faith, repentance and baptism? And certainly there is more to the kingdom
of heaven then just this to understand. But with the concept of baptism of
the Spirit, of that constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, then God is
able to continue to reveal all things to men. All the books in the world
could not hold all the information about the Kingdom of God. This is the
importance of continuous revelation, that the cannon of scripture is NOT
closed. For we do not only believe all that God has revealed nor just that
which he has now revealed. But be believe that God will yet reveal many
important things pertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven for us to obtain and
understand. This is the spirit of prophecy and revelation that comes by way
of the Holy Ghost and the Ministering of Angels which traditional Christianity
has rejected and turned their backs upon. And how else is man to prepare for
the Second Coming and the Kingdom of God without it?
2b they preached after the holy order of
God by which they were called In concert with the guidance of the
'spirit' it is significant that a 'true minister' of God must have both the
'authority' or proper priesthood and the 'calling' or the direction from God
to perform as they do. No man takes this honor unto himself except he who is
called and ordained of God to do so. Thus this added point is here stressed,
that they did go forth with authority and authorization from God as well as
being guided and effected by the spirit of God.
1a
Ether 12:2 (2-3)
2a
W of M 1:9 (1-9)
b
Alma 30:20 (20-23, 31);
Alma 46:38;
TG
Priesthood
Holy Order of God
The whole of Heaven is ordered after the Holy Order of God. It is the Order
of Truth and Righteousness and is after the Order of the Son of God, the
Son of God being the one from among us who was selected by the Father to
stand in his stead over this Second Estate in all things. Thus pertaining
to this Second Estate, Christ is our God, our only God and the only means
by which we may come to and enter Heaven and the Holy Order of God. The
Father bestowed the fulness of his priesthood and power upon Jehovah his
Firstborn Son, and all who hold the priesthood of God hold it after the
Order of the Son for there is none else by whom it comes to this Second
Estate. He being its creator and redeemer. And according to the order of
heaven, it must needs be so for only those who pertain to this Second Estate
do minister unto it (D&C 130:5). Thus the Son, being but spirit like all of
the Father's spirit children is he upon whom this position was given, to Him
and none else.
The Wars Beginning About *74 B.C.
Understanding the national configuration of the lands of Zarahemla
plays an important role in comprehending the logistics and course of the wars of the
Lamanites and Nephites. It is important therefore at this juncture to set
forth a somewhat generalized generic mapping, just how the land was
configured as illustrated by this accompanying map. The nation of the Nephites
was Zarahamela. It consisted of many provincial lands with various chief
cities, towns, villages and farming and grassing land within each province.
Because the Book of Mormon is a highly condensed abridgement, a one hundredeth
part, we do not have a complete listing of all such provinces and cities, etc.
What we do have is certain significant provinces and their general
relationship to each other. Upon this map from top to bottom and from
left to right are the identified provincial lands of Bountiful, Ammonihah,
Jershon, Melek, Zarahemla, Gideon, Antionum and Manti.
The overall geography of the land could be divided into 5
general geographic regions. First the
bulk of the western coast line was mostly a continuous swampy mangrove of
everglades and rivers caused by the torrential rains from the pacific which
would unload upon hitting the first of three parallel north to south running
mountain ranges. This geographic region formed a natural barier against land
travel from the western coast to the mountian heights of the first range or
western cordilleras to the sea west. This is way there is not much in the
Book of Mormon concerning this region and why the Lamanites did not seek to
venture north to the narrow neck of land via that route.
The second geographic land region was that
of the two lengthy mountain drainage systems or valleys running north and
south formed in the interior of the land by the three parallel cordillera or
mountain ranges. The larger western mountain valley or drainage system
consisted of a mid-upper valley which housed the lands of the province of
(M)elek and a lower valley which housed the
province of (A)mmonihah. The main river of this
valley remains unidentified in the Book of Mormon. The even larger eastern
mountain valley and drainage system of the Sidon River formed the heart of
the land with its large middle valley, which held the city and land of
(Z)arahemla, as well as that of
Minon and other unidentified locations. It was bounded by the central
cordillera range and the eastern cordillera range. The eastern range had its
own smaller sub-eastern running valley and river comprising the location
consisting of the valley, land and city of
(G)ideon.
This smaller eastern running valley of Gideon affored a most convient passage
from the city and privence of Zarahemla to he eastern land of the nation.
The third geographic land region
is that of the eastern coast line. It was dominated by it central massive
plains lands, its 'Great Plains', which sloped down from the eastern foot of
the eastern cordilleras and the plateau caused by the upper Gideon Valley to
the sea east and marked the shared border lands of the provinces of
(J)ershon and
(A)ntionum. This would be the
lands in which the very beginnings of the conflicts and wars would begin.
The southern eastern cordillers formed a natural barier into the interior
of the land but by round about routes. The protected protrusion of the
plateau of the upper Gideon valley and the spreading out of the eastern
cordillers in the north force a wide coastal route of passage to the northern
land of the narrow neck.
The
fourth and
fifth geographic land regions are that of
the highlands of the province of
(M)anti where the three codillera
ranges did converage in a maze of upper highland valleys which would tend to
confuse the unwary travelor or explorer and that of the heavilly forested
narrow neck of land with its narrow passages along the coasts of the two
seas, east and west, witht he eastern being most known, accessible and in
need of protection by the location of the city
(B)ountiful. The bulk of the whole
of the land from south to north was that of a forested wilderness filled with
beasts of every kind preserved as such by the Jaredites. Timber or trees was
the primary building material of this nation of Zarahemla. And its provincial
lands with their many cities were carved out of that wilderness with vast
wilderness regions remaining between them and surrounding them at this
juncture of time of the wars of the Lamanites and Nephites.
While the whole of the nation was called Zarahemla,
(Z)arahemla
was also a more localized province in the center or heart of
the land. The primary city of the province was also named Zarahemla or the
City of Zarahemla. It was located on the west bank of the river Sidon about
middle way between the headwaters of the river in extreme southern highlands
of the land, the location of the province of
(M)anti, and the mouth of the river which emptied
into the sea in the north.
The most northern province of (B)ountiful capped
the the nation as it extended up into the narrow neck of land and extended
from the sea west to the sea east across the upper regions of the land,
sealing off passage from the land southward to the land northward by any
land route. (B)ountiful was both north of the
provincial land of Zarahemla and that of (J)erson,
(J)erson sharing a part of
(B)ountiful's southern border upon its northern
border. (J)ershon was the provincial land which was
given unto the People of Ammon or the Anti-Nephi-Lehis.
Its southern border was upon the northern border of the
provincial land of (A)ntionum of the Zoramites.
That entire southeastern quarter of the land of the Zoramites would 'secede'
from the nation of Zarahemla and become a part of the nation of the
Lamanites as indicated by the yellow
3 And now aI return to an
baccount of the wars between the Nephites and the
Lamanites, in the *eighteenth year of the reign
of the judges.
4 For behold, it came to pass that the
aZoramites became
Lamanitesa; therefore, in the
commencement of the eighteenth year the
people of the Nephites saw that the Lamanites were coming upon them;
therefore they made preparations for war; yea, they gathered together their
armies in the land of Jershon.
5 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with their
thousandsa;
and they came into the land of aAntionum, which is the land
of the Zoramites; and a man by the name of bZerahemnah was
their leader.
4a the Zoramites became
Lamanites Now this was not all of the Zoramites for the poor of
the Zoramites who did believe in Christ and the gospel as preached by Alma
and his companions, were expelled from the land of the Zoramites which was
the land of Antionum. So the Zoramites which became Lamanites where all those
who did remain in the land of Antionum and they were they who were the
wealthy and powerful, the rulers of the land of Antionum. Yet they were also
they who had taken advantage of the poor of their people and when the poor of
their people where gone from them, their society became weakened in that
there was no longer the poor to tread upon and take advantage of. And this
angered those prideful and wicked Zoramites who were left in the land of
Antionum unto themselves, who had raised themselves up upon the backs of the
poor of their people, the meek and the humble. And it did anger them to the
point of war against their departed brethren and against those who had given
them place amoung them, namely the people of Jershon, the Anti-Nephi-Lehis or
people of Ammon.
4a the Lamanites came with their
thousands With the Zoramite secession from the nation of Zarahemla,
the land of Antionum became a part of the Lamanite nation. Thus when the
Lamanite armies came into the land of Antionum to join with the Zoramites to
fight against the Nephites, the would have likely brought their families into
the new land of the Lamanite nation as well. This population movement did not
go unnoticed by the Nephites as they would have most likely kept surveillance
of the land to determine the intend of the Zoramites who had expelled the poor
and humble part of the Lamanite population which accepted the gospel according
to the missionaries of Alma and his brethren.
3a
Morm. 5:9
b
Alma 35:13;
* [About 74 B.C.]
4a
Alma 30:59;
Alma 35:14 (2-14);
Alma 52:33 (20, 33)
5a
Alma 31:3
b
Alma 44:1
6 And now, as the aAmalekites were of a more wicked
and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of
themselvesa,
therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief bcaptains over the
Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and cZoramites.
7 Now this he did that he might preserve their
ahatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into
subjection to the accomplishment of his designs.
8 For behold, his adesigns were to
bstir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this
he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain
power over the Nephites by bringing them into cbondage.
6a in and of themselves The
Ammalkites had once had an understanding of the gospel of Christ and had been
taught according to the things of the spirit, that is they were once Nephites
and members of the church of God. When one such as who has had a testimony
is turned therefrom, the spirit is withdrawn and they are left 'in and of
themselves'. They are left to the natual carnal man and they are more
hardened in their sins. They have rejected the light and are become calloused
against it. And depending upon their degree of previous spiritual exposure,
the harder and greater has become the 'callouse' against the feeling of its
effects. Thus it is harder for one who was once of Christ to become of Christ
again, because they have 'calloused' there nature against him.
6a
Alma 21:4 (2-16)
b
Alma 48:5
c
Alma 43:44
7a
Alma 37:32
8a
Alma 43:29
b
Alma 27:12;
Alma 47:1
c
Alma 44:2
To Usurp Power
To usurp and obtain ultimate power and to bring men into bondage
was the cause that this was was wrought. Yea, in the preexistance was that
great and grand war in heaven also so wrought that Lucifer would usurp the
authority of God and to obtain ultimate power and to bring all the children
of God unto bondage unto himself, that he might reign in heaven. Thus Satan
is the author of such war and ever has been so. And that war which was that
fought with words and thoughts of the mind and spirit is continued in that
added realm of this temporal mortality being waged by the physical means of
this body in this Second Estate. And thus is the pattern of Satan's rule by
blood and horror upon the face of this mortality to that extent to which he
is able to bring men unto subjection to his mind and will, which mind and
will is but echoed and re-echoed throughout the various courses of history
over the entire extent of the natural corruption of this fallen estate.
9 And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and
their houses, and their awives, and their children, that
they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies; and also that they
might preserve their brights and their privileges, yea, and
also their cliberty, that they might worship God according
to their desires.
10 For they knew that if they should fall into the hands of the
Lamanites, that whosoever should aworship God in
bspirit and in truth, the true and the living God, the
Lamanites would
cdestroya.
10a whosoever should worship God in
spirit and in truth, the true and the living God, the Lamanites would
destory This was the relationship between those who were of God
and those who were not. The same is today. The goal of those who are against
God is to destroy all things which pertain unto God. This is the goal and
purpose of Satan. And this is wha eventually happened to the Nephites society
and why there is 'nothing Nephite' remaining among the historical inhabitates
of America today. All things pertaining unto God were purposefully destroyed.
9a
Alma 44:5;
Alma 46:12;
Alma 48:10, 24
b
TG
Citizenship
c
TG
Liberty
10a
TG
Worship
b
John 4:23-24
c
Dan. 6:7 (4-17)
11 Yea, and they also knew the extreme hatred of the Lamanites
towards their abrethren, who were the
bpeople of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, who were called the people of
Ammon—and they would not take up arms, yea, they had entered into a
covenant and they would not break it—therefore, if they should fall
into the hands of the Lamanites they would be destroyed.
12 And the Nephites would not suffer that they should be
destroyed; therefore they gave them lands for their
inheritancea.
12a they gave them lands for their
inheritance Since the Lamanite threat was upon the land of Jershon
upon the eastern plains and round about to the land of Bountiful, it was
expediant that the People of Ammon be removed from that sector of the land
upon the east. They were removed from the east all the way over to the west
in the land of Melek, two mountain valleys over from the east coast and in
the heart of the western valley, where they were protected and surrounded by
'defending' Nephite lands. In fact the Book of Mormon had never recorded an
attack upon the land of Melek. And though the evetual fall of the nation of
Zarahela after 340 A.D. must imply it, at this juncture in time, the land of
Melek had never been afflicted by Lamanite invasion. It was the safest and
likely the most well protected sector of the land of Zarahamla.
11a
Alma 23:17;
Alma 24:1-3, 5 20;
Alma 25:13 (1, 13);
Alma 27:2, 21-26
b
Alma 47:29
13 And the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites a large portion
of their substance to asupport their armies; and thus the
Nephites were compelled, alone, to withstand against the Lamanites, who were
a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, and all those who
had dissented from the Nephites, who were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the
bdescendants of the priests of Noah.
14 Now those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as were the
Nephitesa; and thus the Nephites
were obliged to contend with their brethren, even unto bloodshed.
14a those descendants were as numerous,
nearly, as were the Nephites The descendants being spoken of would
seem to be those of the Nephite dissenters. That is, the population of the
Zormanites, Amalekites and descendants of the priests of Noah, all who had
once been Nephites, was approximately equal to the population of the remaining
Nephites in the land of Zarahemla. And counted with the Lamanites themselves,
they would have greatly out numbered the Nephite population. Thus the threat
was very real and of the Nephites having to face almost overwheling odds
against them.
13a
Alma 57:27
b
Alma 25:4
After All We Can Do
This first principle or concept of waging righteous war has
been expressed in many different ways. 'Work as though all depends upon
yourself but pray and have faith as though all depends upon the Lord.' This is
one way in which this principle has been stated. We must work and do all that
we can do. Certain Captain Moroni's efforts are a prime example of this. He
always did all that he could do and many of his war preparations were quite
'revolutionary' during his time and day. But this effort of doing all that
one could do themselves was always coupled with a full dependence and full
giving credit unto the Lord for what the Lord would do for the Nephites.
Captain Moroni never took glory unto himself but always gave the credit for
the successful defense of the Nephites to the Lord their God.
15 And it came to pass as the armies of the Lamanites had gathered
together in the land of Antionum, behold, the armies of the Nephites
were prepared to meet thema in the
aland of Jershon.
16 Now, the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had been
aappointed to be the bchief captain over
the Nephites—now the chief captain took the command of all the armies
of the Nephites—and his name was
Moronia;
17 And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their
wars. And he was only twenty and five years old when he was
appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites.
15a the armies of the Nephites were
prepared to meet them Despite the overwhelming odds, the Nephites
armies had been prepared to meet and contend against the Lamanites hoards
lead by their Nephite captians, those numerous Nephite dissenters. In defense
of his people the Lord will raise up men of greatness. As one reads Mormon's
abridged account of these wars that follows, there is not question that the
man the Lord raised up was an all time Nephite hero and Mormon's own personal
source of inspiration in defending the Nephites as their chief captain in his
own day. Who was this man. Mormon presents him in almost a theatrical manner
with this initial build up that the Nephite armies under him, though out
numbered were ready and prepared to meet the armies of the Lamanites.
16a his name was Moroni Chief
Captian Moroni was the man responsible for the preparation of the Nephite
armies. He was in all likelihood a man of stature both physically and
spiritually. A true hero. A man for the time and the season of war which was
ahead and which would rage for a number of years to come.
15a
Alma 27:26
16a
Alma 46:34
b
Alma 46:11
Upon the Plains of Nephihah
The Lamamites had moved in their strength from the lands of the Lamanites,
the old Land of Nephi, through the Land of Siron and north into the land of
Antionum. There they joined with the forces of the Zoramites vastly
out numbering the Nephites, as the Nephite dissenters alone were matched of
equal number to the Nephite army. From thence they marched forth to take
possesion of the land of Jershon where they supposed the expelled of the
Zoramites and the people of Ammon to be. To their surprise they were
confronted by a well prepared army of Nephites under the command of Moroni
which had been assembled out of the lands of the Nephites and gathered to
the southern border of Jershon through the Gideon Valley passage.
Moroni would have placed his troops in the most advantageous position
on the plain that would come to known as the plains of Nephihah. Marshalled
upon a prominant lengthy ridge stood the sholdiers of the Nephties ready for
war, not only with their weapons, but with shields, and helmets and
heavy clothing as defensive protection. Upon seeing the Nephite armies so
briliantly displayed, the Lamanite armies and their captains did shrink from
the battle in retreat.
18 And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of
Jershon, and his people were armed with swords, and with cimeters, and all
manner of aweapons of war.
19 And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi,
or that Moroni, had aprepared his people with
bbreastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields
to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick
clothinga—
19a they were dressed with thick
clothing Unlike the Lamanites who would come to battle scantily
clothed unto nakedness, the Nephites were fully clothed in battle. And in
this particullar instance their clothing was event more thick and layered to
pad against the blows and arrows of the Lamamites. Some modern scholars set
upon their own determination have contrived that the Nephites of Mormon's day
and that even Mormon would be dressed as the classic 'naked' Mayan warrior
with satanic jaguar cult symbols upon his dress of bare legs, bare arms,
exposed chest, back and rib sides. Mormon was a Nephite Prophet of Jesus
Christ, the head of the Chruch of Christ and a student of Moroni, No where in
the Book of Mormon does it ever state that the Nephites would come into
battle 'naked' as was the habit of the Lamanties. Too many quick study
artists with personal interpretations with motive seem today to distort the image of the Nephites into that
of what since about 385 A.D. has become the Lamanite Mayan image to the ends
of their own interpretation and dissected opinions.
18a
TG
Weapon
19a
TG
Skill
b
Alma 49:24
Choose Your Nephite Prophet
Some Mesoamerican enthusaists and artists portary the Nephite
prophet Mormon as a Mayan warrior of the jaguar order. Ignoring all
Book of Mormon texts which stipulate it was the Lamanite warriors
who would enter into battle 'naked' with scanty clothing and the Nephites
just the opposite being dressed.
Today's furver for Mayan Nephites would
associate that culture as being Nephite rather than that of the Lamanites
since 385 A.D. The intent of the Lamanite was to destory everything Nephite,
which they pretty much did.
A Nephite Prophet Priest?
If one associates the Prophet of Jesus Christ, Mormon, the Lord's inspired
author the the Book of Mormon, as a naked chief captain warrior as per the
Mayan culture, then why not portray him as a naked Mayan Priest as well.
Welcome to Mesoamerican Nephite Priesthood meeting. Do you think?
20 Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing;
they had only their aswords and their cimeters, their bows
and their arrows, their bstones and their slings; and they
were cnaked, save it were a skin which was girded about
their loins; yea, all were naked, save it were the Zoramites and the
Amalekites;
21 But they were not armed with breastplates, nor
shields—therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of
the Nephites because of their armor, notwithstanding their number
being so much greater than the Nephites.
20a
Mosiah 10:8;
Alma 3:5 (4-5);
Alma 44:8
b
1 Ne. 16:15;
Alma 49:2
c
Enos 1:20
22 Behold, now it came to pass that they durst not come against the
Nephites in the borders of Jershon; therefore they departed out of the land
of Antionum into the wilderness, and took their journey round about in the
wilderness, away by the head of the river Sidon, that they might come into
the land of aManti and take possession of the land; for
they did not suppose that the armies of Moroni would know whither they had
gone.
23 But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the
wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their
campa; and Moroni, also,
knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto
himb,
desiring him that he should ainquire of the Lord
bwhither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend
themselves against the Lamanites.
22a as soon as they had departed into
the wilderness Moroni sent spies into he wilderness to watch their
camp Moroni was a man who would do all he could do to protect and
look after the righteous interests of the Nephites. He was very intelligent
and knew that the Nephites had not seen the last of the Lamanite armies as
some simple minded Nephites might have concluded. NOTE ALSO: The cities and
lands and provinces were not right next to each other, There were 'borders'
of sorts, but between each was wide open wilderness lands as the Lamanites
depart back in to that wilderness between the civilized relams of Antionum
and Jershon.
22a Moroni, also, knowing of the
prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him Moroni would do all
he could do, but he was not a foolish man who looked only to himself. He also
relied upon the arm of God and sent messengers to inquire of God's prophet.
Thus the principle, after all we can do, we are to rely upon and seek after
the help and aid of the Lord.
22a
Alma 22:27;
Alma 56:14
23a
Ex. 18:15;
2 Kings 6:12 (8-18);
Mosiah 28:6
b
Alma 16:6 (5-8);
Alma 48:16;
3 Ne. 3:20 (18-21)
24 And it came to pass that the aword of the Lord
came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers of Moroni, that the armies
of the Lamanites were marching round about in the
wildernessa, that they might
come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the
weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the
message unto Moroni.
25 Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of
Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come
into that land and take possession of the city, took the
remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of
Manti.
26 And he caused that all the people in that quarter of the land
should gather themselves together to battle against the
Lamanites, to defend their lands and their country, their rights
and their liberties; therefore they were prepared against the
time of the coming of the Lamanites.
Lamanites were marching round about in the
wilderness Due to the obstruction of the southern eastern
cordilleras, the march to the land of Manti was not a direct route or was
it a developed route. The Lamanites would have to travel down south and
round and about the foot hill wilderness of the eastern side of the eastern
cordillera range and then back northward and down into the upper highland
valley of the land of Manti. The advantage that the Moroni and the Nephites
had, once they had word from Alma the course of the Lamanites, was that they
had a short cut with developed roads and trails of passage down through the
Gideon valley and then up the Sidon valley along traveled avenues and not
entirely through wilderness. Moroni could arrive at Manti before the
Lamanites and he did just that.
24a
Isa. 31:5;
Alma 43:47;
D&C 134:11;
TG
Guidance, Divine
27 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his army should
be secreted in the valley which was near the bank of the river
Sidon, which was on the west of the river Sidon in the
wilderness.
28 And Moroni placed spies round about, that he might know when
the camp of the Lamanites should come.
29 And now, as Moroni knew the aintention of the
Lamanites, that it was their intention to destroy their brethren, or to
bsubject them and bring them into bondage that they might
establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land;
30 And he also knowing that it was the aonly desire
of the Nephites to preserve their lands, and their
bliberty, and their church, therefore he thought it no sin
that he should defend them by cstratagem; therefore, he
found by his spies which course the Lamanites were to take.
29a
Alma 43:8
b
Alma 49:7
30a
Alma 44:5;
Alma 46:12-20;
Alma 48:10-16
b
Alma 46:35
c
Judg. 7:16 (15-25)
31 Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the
valley, and aconcealed them on the east, and on the
south of the hill Riplaha;
32 And the remainder he concealed in the west
avalley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into
the borders of the land Mantia.
33 And thus having placed his army according to his desire, he
was prepared to meet them.
31a on the east, and on the south of the
hill Riplah Moroni was either inspired of God or a military genius
or both as it just might be you cannot be one without the other. He knew the
Lamanite armies would be coming down the eastern valley entrance westward into
the Manti valley on the north side of the hill Riplah. He concealed Lehi's
troops into two divisions. The one on the east would fall in behind the
Lamanites as the left the side valley keeping them from retreating back up
that valley and also forming a southern vector in a pinching action and from
the southside of the hill the other division would form a northern vector to
that pinching action, thus guiding the Lamanites between them and infront of
them directly to the river where they desired them to go. In such a 'pinching'
manuver the Lamanite troops had no course to turn left or right, north or
south but to head west to the river, as to do so would place them facing the
resistance of Lehi's forces on either hand both in front and in the rear.
Straight into the river and across it was their only course.
32a the remainder he concealed in the
west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of
the land Manti Once across the river the Lamanites could turn
tail and run south back to the land of the Lamanites. Or they could turn on
down north into the valley and land and city of Manti to complete their
initial intention. Moroni had to plan for either case. Thus his army was
positions along the fringes of wilderness along down to Manti. The Lamanites
actually first turned north, desiring to once again retreat. Moroni was not
going to let them escape this time to fight another day. His intend was to
corral then in and push them back to the river where they would be
surrounded. Once the Lamanites saw they were met by Moroni on the south
blocking their retreat, they turned towards Manti where they were met by
others of Moroni's army corraling them back north and east, back to the
river. That was the strategy. A great military strategy obviously appreciated
by Mormon who was also of a genius military mind himself.
31a
Josh. 8:13;
Alma 52:21-31;
Alma 58:16 (15-21)
32a
Alma 43:41
34 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north
of the hill, where a part of the army of Moroni was concealed.
35 And as the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah, and came into
the valley, and began to cross the river Sidon, the army which was concealed
on the south of the hill, which was led by a man whose name was
aLehi, and he led his army forth and encircled the
Lamanites about on the east in their rear.
35a
Alma 49:16
36 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, when they saw the
Nephites coming upon them in their rear, turned them about and
began to contend with the army of Lehi.
37 And the work of death commenced on both sides, but it was more
dreadful on the part of the Lamanites, for their anakedness
was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites with their swords and their
cimeters, which brought death almost at every stroke.
38 While on the other hand, there was now and then a man fell among
the Nephites, by their swords and the loss of blood, they being shielded from
the more vital parts of the body, or the more vital parts of the body being
shielded from the strokes of the Lamanites, by their
abreastplates, and their armshields, and their head-plates;
and thus the Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites.
37a
Alma 3:5
38a
Alma 44:9
39 And it came to pass that the Lamanites became frightened,
because of the great destruction among them, even until they
began to flee towards the river Sidon.
40 And they were pursued by Lehi and his men; and they were
driven by Lehi into the waters of Sidon, and they crossed the
waters of Sidon. And Lehi retained his armies upon the bank of
the river Sidon that they should not cross.
41 And it came to pass that Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in
the avalley, on the other side of the river Sidon, and
began to fall upon them and to slay them.
41a
Alma 43:32
42 And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the
land of Manti; and they were met again by the armies of Moroni.
43 Now in this case the Lamanites did fight exceedingly; yea,
never had the Lamanites been known to fight with such exceedingly
great strength and courage, no, not even from the beginning.
44 And they were inspired by the aZoramites and the
Amalekites, who were their chief captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, who
was their chief captain, or their chief leader and commander; yea, they did
fight like dragons, and many of the Nephites were slain by their hands, yea,
for they did smite in two many of their head-plates, and they did pierce many
of their breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus
the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger.
44a
Alma 43:6
45 Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a
abetter cause, for they were not
bfighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for
their homes and their cliberties, their wives and their
children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.
46 And they were doing that which they felt was the
aduty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said
unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: bInasmuch as
ye are not guilty of the cfirst offense, neither the
second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your
enemies.
47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall
adefend your families even unto
bbloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites
contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and
their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.
45a
Alma 44:1
b
Mosiah 20:11;
Alma 44:5
c
TG
Liberty
46a
TG
Duty
b
Alma 48:14-16;
D&C 98:33 (23-36)
c
Luke 6:29;
3 Ne. 3:21 (20-21);
Morm. 3:10-11;
D&C 98:23 (22-48)
47a
Isa. 31:5;
Alma 43:24;
Alma 61:14
Morm. 7:4;
D&C 134:11;
TG
Family, Children, Responsibilities toward;
TG
War
b
Josh. 1:18
48 And it came to pass that when the men of Moroni saw the
fierceness and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to
shrink and flee from them. And Moroni, perceiving their intent,
sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts—yea,
the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom
from bondage.
49 And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they
acried with one voice bunto the Lord
their God, for their cliberty and their freedom from
bondage.
50 And they abegan to stand against the Lamanites
with power; and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their
freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them; and they fled even to the
waters of Sidon.
49a
Ex. 2:23-25;
Mosiah 29:20
b
Ps. 59:1-5
c
TG
Liberty
50a
Ex. 17:11 (8-13)
51 Now, the Lamanites were more anumerous, yea, by
more than double the number of the Nephites; nevertheless, they were driven
insomuch that they were gathered together in one body in the valley, upon the
bank by the river Sidon.
52 Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about, yea,
even on both sides of the river, for behold, on the east were the
men of Lehi.
51a
Alma 46:30
53 Therefore when Zerahemnah saw the men of Lehi on the east of
the river Sidon, and the armies of Moroni on the west of the
river Sidon, that they were encircled about by the Nephites, they
were struck with terror.
54 Now Moroni, when he saw their aterror,
commanded his men that they should stop shedding their blood.
54a
Alma 47:2
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CHAPTER 43 Alma and his sons preach the word—The Zoramites and other Nephites dissenters become Lamanites—The Lamanites come against the Nephites in war—Moroni arms the Nephites with defensive armor—The Lord reveals to Alma the strategy of the Lamanites—The Nephites defend their homes, liberties, families, and religion—The armies of Moroni and Lehi surround the Lamanites. |
Alma and his sons continue to preach the gospel in the land—The Zoramites and their land of Antionum become one with the Lamanites—Other Nephites also become dissenters over to the Lamanites—They come against the Nephites in war—Recently appointed Chief Captian Moroni prepares the Nephites with weapons and defensive armor—The Nephites defend their homes, liberties, families and religion—The armies of Moroni and Lehi surround the Lamanites. |
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1 AND now it came to pass that the sons of
Alma did go forth
among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also,
himself, could not arest, and he also went forth.
2 Now awe shall say no more concerning their preaching, except that they preached the word, and the truth, according to the spirit of prophecy and revelationa; and they preached after the bholy order of God by which they were calledb.
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2a according to the spirit of prophecy
and revelation This is the key to the Fullness of the Gospel.
Often we hear in the scriptures that we are to teach nothing but repentance
and baptism. But that is not well understood, for when it speaks of baptism
it not only means by water but also to be born of the spirit. And that spirit
is the Holy Ghost, which is the spirit of revelation. Certainly there is more
to the gospel than just faith, repentance and baptism for is one does not
preach concerning the fall and the atonement of Christ the what need is there
of faith, repentance and baptism? And certainly there is more to the kingdom
of heaven then just this to understand. But with the concept of baptism of
the Spirit, of that constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, then God is
able to continue to reveal all things to men. All the books in the world
could not hold all the information about the Kingdom of God. This is the
importance of continuous revelation, that the cannon of scripture is NOT
closed. For we do not only believe all that God has revealed nor just that
which he has now revealed. But be believe that God will yet reveal many
important things pertaining to the Kingdom of Heaven for us to obtain and
understand. This is the spirit of prophecy and revelation that comes by way
of the Holy Ghost and the Ministering of Angels which traditional Christianity
has rejected and turned their backs upon. And how else is man to prepare for
the Second Coming and the Kingdom of God without it?
2b they preached after the holy order of God by which they were called In concert with the guidance of the 'spirit' it is significant that a 'true minister' of God must have both the 'authority' or proper priesthood and the 'calling' or the direction from God to perform as they do. No man takes this honor unto himself except he who is called and ordained of God to do so. Thus this added point is here stressed, that they did go forth with authority and authorization from God as well as being guided and effected by the spirit of God.
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1a
Ether 12:2 (2-3) 2a W of M 1:9 (1-9) b Alma 30:20 (20-23, 31); Alma 46:38; TG Priesthood
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The Wars Beginning About *74 B.C.
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3 And now aI return to an
baccount of the wars between the Nephites and the
Lamanites, in the *eighteenth year of the reign
of the judges.
4 For behold, it came to pass that the aZoramites became Lamanitesa; therefore, in the commencement of the eighteenth year the people of the Nephites saw that the Lamanites were coming upon them; therefore they made preparations for war; yea, they gathered together their armies in the land of Jershon. 5 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with their thousandsa; and they came into the land of aAntionum, which is the land of the Zoramites; and a man by the name of bZerahemnah was their leader.
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4a the Zoramites became
Lamanites Now this was not all of the Zoramites for the poor of
the Zoramites who did believe in Christ and the gospel as preached by Alma
and his companions, were expelled from the land of the Zoramites which was
the land of Antionum. So the Zoramites which became Lamanites where all those
who did remain in the land of Antionum and they were they who were the
wealthy and powerful, the rulers of the land of Antionum. Yet they were also
they who had taken advantage of the poor of their people and when the poor of
their people where gone from them, their society became weakened in that
there was no longer the poor to tread upon and take advantage of. And this
angered those prideful and wicked Zoramites who were left in the land of
Antionum unto themselves, who had raised themselves up upon the backs of the
poor of their people, the meek and the humble. And it did anger them to the
point of war against their departed brethren and against those who had given
them place amoung them, namely the people of Jershon, the Anti-Nephi-Lehis or
people of Ammon.
4a the Lamanites came with their thousands With the Zoramite secession from the nation of Zarahemla, the land of Antionum became a part of the Lamanite nation. Thus when the Lamanite armies came into the land of Antionum to join with the Zoramites to fight against the Nephites, the would have likely brought their families into the new land of the Lamanite nation as well. This population movement did not go unnoticed by the Nephites as they would have most likely kept surveillance of the land to determine the intend of the Zoramites who had expelled the poor and humble part of the Lamanite population which accepted the gospel according to the missionaries of Alma and his brethren. |
3a
Morm. 5:9 b Alma 35:13; * [About 74 B.C.] 4a Alma 30:59; Alma 35:14 (2-14); Alma 52:33 (20, 33) 5a Alma 31:3 b Alma 44:1
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6 And now, as the aAmalekites were of a more wicked
and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of
themselvesa,
therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief bcaptains over the
Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and cZoramites.
7 Now this he did that he might preserve their ahatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs. 8 For behold, his adesigns were to bstir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into cbondage.
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6a in and of themselves The Ammalkites had once had an understanding of the gospel of Christ and had been taught according to the things of the spirit, that is they were once Nephites and members of the church of God. When one such as who has had a testimony is turned therefrom, the spirit is withdrawn and they are left 'in and of themselves'. They are left to the natual carnal man and they are more hardened in their sins. They have rejected the light and are become calloused against it. And depending upon their degree of previous spiritual exposure, the harder and greater has become the 'callouse' against the feeling of its effects. Thus it is harder for one who was once of Christ to become of Christ again, because they have 'calloused' there nature against him. |
6a
Alma 21:4 (2-16) b Alma 48:5 c Alma 43:44 7a Alma 37:32 8a Alma 43:29 b Alma 27:12; Alma 47:1 c Alma 44:2
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9 And now the design of the Nephites was to support their lands, and
their houses, and their awives, and their children, that
they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies; and also that they
might preserve their brights and their privileges, yea, and
also their cliberty, that they might worship God according
to their desires.
10 For they knew that if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites, that whosoever should aworship God in bspirit and in truth, the true and the living God, the Lamanites would cdestroya.
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10a whosoever should worship God in spirit and in truth, the true and the living God, the Lamanites would destory This was the relationship between those who were of God and those who were not. The same is today. The goal of those who are against God is to destroy all things which pertain unto God. This is the goal and purpose of Satan. And this is wha eventually happened to the Nephites society and why there is 'nothing Nephite' remaining among the historical inhabitates of America today. All things pertaining unto God were purposefully destroyed. |
9a
Alma 44:5;
Alma 46:12;
Alma 48:10, 24 b TG Citizenship c TG Liberty 10a TG Worship b John 4:23-24 c Dan. 6:7 (4-17)
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11 Yea, and they also knew the extreme hatred of the Lamanites
towards their abrethren, who were the
bpeople of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, who were called the people of
Ammon—and they would not take up arms, yea, they had entered into a
covenant and they would not break it—therefore, if they should fall
into the hands of the Lamanites they would be destroyed.
12 And the Nephites would not suffer that they should be destroyed; therefore they gave them lands for their inheritancea.
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12a they gave them lands for their inheritance Since the Lamanite threat was upon the land of Jershon upon the eastern plains and round about to the land of Bountiful, it was expediant that the People of Ammon be removed from that sector of the land upon the east. They were removed from the east all the way over to the west in the land of Melek, two mountain valleys over from the east coast and in the heart of the western valley, where they were protected and surrounded by 'defending' Nephite lands. In fact the Book of Mormon had never recorded an attack upon the land of Melek. And though the evetual fall of the nation of Zarahela after 340 A.D. must imply it, at this juncture in time, the land of Melek had never been afflicted by Lamanite invasion. It was the safest and likely the most well protected sector of the land of Zarahamla. |
11a
Alma 23:17;
Alma 24:1-3, 5 20; Alma 25:13 (1, 13); Alma 27:2, 21-26 b Alma 47:29
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13 And the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites a large portion
of their substance to asupport their armies; and thus the
Nephites were compelled, alone, to withstand against the Lamanites, who were
a compound of Laman and Lemuel, and the sons of Ishmael, and all those who
had dissented from the Nephites, who were Amalekites and Zoramites, and the
bdescendants of the priests of Noah.
14 Now those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as were the Nephitesa; and thus the Nephites were obliged to contend with their brethren, even unto bloodshed.
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14a those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as were the Nephites The descendants being spoken of would seem to be those of the Nephite dissenters. That is, the population of the Zormanites, Amalekites and descendants of the priests of Noah, all who had once been Nephites, was approximately equal to the population of the remaining Nephites in the land of Zarahemla. And counted with the Lamanites themselves, they would have greatly out numbered the Nephite population. Thus the threat was very real and of the Nephites having to face almost overwheling odds against them. |
13a
Alma 57:27 b Alma 25:4
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After All We Can DoThis first principle or concept of waging righteous war has been expressed in many different ways. 'Work as though all depends upon yourself but pray and have faith as though all depends upon the Lord.' This is one way in which this principle has been stated. We must work and do all that we can do. Certain Captain Moroni's efforts are a prime example of this. He always did all that he could do and many of his war preparations were quite 'revolutionary' during his time and day. But this effort of doing all that one could do themselves was always coupled with a full dependence and full giving credit unto the Lord for what the Lord would do for the Nephites. Captain Moroni never took glory unto himself but always gave the credit for the successful defense of the Nephites to the Lord their God. |
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15 And it came to pass as the armies of the Lamanites had gathered
together in the land of Antionum, behold, the armies of the Nephites
were prepared to meet thema in the
aland of Jershon.
16 Now, the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had been aappointed to be the bchief captain over the Nephites—now the chief captain took the command of all the armies of the Nephites—and his name was Moronia; 17 And Moroni took all the command, and the government of their wars. And he was only twenty and five years old when he was appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites.
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15a the armies of the Nephites were
prepared to meet them Despite the overwhelming odds, the Nephites
armies had been prepared to meet and contend against the Lamanites hoards
lead by their Nephite captians, those numerous Nephite dissenters. In defense
of his people the Lord will raise up men of greatness. As one reads Mormon's
abridged account of these wars that follows, there is not question that the
man the Lord raised up was an all time Nephite hero and Mormon's own personal
source of inspiration in defending the Nephites as their chief captain in his
own day. Who was this man. Mormon presents him in almost a theatrical manner
with this initial build up that the Nephite armies under him, though out
numbered were ready and prepared to meet the armies of the Lamanites.
16a his name was Moroni Chief Captian Moroni was the man responsible for the preparation of the Nephite armies. He was in all likelihood a man of stature both physically and spiritually. A true hero. A man for the time and the season of war which was ahead and which would rage for a number of years to come. |
15a
Alma 27:26 16a Alma 46:34 b Alma 46:11
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Upon the Plains of Nephihah
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18 And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of
Jershon, and his people were armed with swords, and with cimeters, and all
manner of aweapons of war.
19 And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had aprepared his people with bbreastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothinga—
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19a they were dressed with thick clothing Unlike the Lamanites who would come to battle scantily clothed unto nakedness, the Nephites were fully clothed in battle. And in this particullar instance their clothing was event more thick and layered to pad against the blows and arrows of the Lamamites. Some modern scholars set upon their own determination have contrived that the Nephites of Mormon's day and that even Mormon would be dressed as the classic 'naked' Mayan warrior with satanic jaguar cult symbols upon his dress of bare legs, bare arms, exposed chest, back and rib sides. Mormon was a Nephite Prophet of Jesus Christ, the head of the Chruch of Christ and a student of Moroni, No where in the Book of Mormon does it ever state that the Nephites would come into battle 'naked' as was the habit of the Lamanties. Too many quick study artists with personal interpretations with motive seem today to distort the image of the Nephites into that of what since about 385 A.D. has become the Lamanite Mayan image to the ends of their own interpretation and dissected opinions. |
18a
TG
Weapon 19a TG Skill b Alma 49:24
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Choose Your Nephite Prophet
Some Mesoamerican enthusaists and artists portary the Nephite
prophet Mormon as a Mayan warrior of the jaguar order. Ignoring all
Book of Mormon texts which stipulate it was the Lamanite warriors
who would enter into battle 'naked' with scanty clothing and the Nephites
just the opposite being dressed. |
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20 Now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing;
they had only their aswords and their cimeters, their bows
and their arrows, their bstones and their slings; and they
were cnaked, save it were a skin which was girded about
their loins; yea, all were naked, save it were the Zoramites and the
Amalekites;
21 But they were not armed with breastplates, nor shields—therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of the Nephites because of their armor, notwithstanding their number being so much greater than the Nephites.
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20a
Mosiah 10:8;
Alma 3:5 (4-5);
Alma 44:8 b 1 Ne. 16:15; Alma 49:2 c Enos 1:20
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22 Behold, now it came to pass that they durst not come against the
Nephites in the borders of Jershon; therefore they departed out of the land
of Antionum into the wilderness, and took their journey round about in the
wilderness, away by the head of the river Sidon, that they might come into
the land of aManti and take possession of the land; for
they did not suppose that the armies of Moroni would know whither they had
gone.
23 But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their campa; and Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto himb, desiring him that he should ainquire of the Lord bwhither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites.
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22a as soon as they had departed into
the wilderness Moroni sent spies into he wilderness to watch their
camp Moroni was a man who would do all he could do to protect and
look after the righteous interests of the Nephites. He was very intelligent
and knew that the Nephites had not seen the last of the Lamanite armies as
some simple minded Nephites might have concluded. NOTE ALSO: The cities and
lands and provinces were not right next to each other, There were 'borders'
of sorts, but between each was wide open wilderness lands as the Lamanites
depart back in to that wilderness between the civilized relams of Antionum
and Jershon.
22a Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him Moroni would do all he could do, but he was not a foolish man who looked only to himself. He also relied upon the arm of God and sent messengers to inquire of God's prophet. Thus the principle, after all we can do, we are to rely upon and seek after the help and aid of the Lord. |
22a
Alma 22:27;
Alma 56:14 23a Ex. 18:15; 2 Kings 6:12 (8-18); Mosiah 28:6 b Alma 16:6 (5-8); Alma 48:16; 3 Ne. 3:20 (18-21)
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24 And it came to pass that the aword of the Lord
came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers of Moroni, that the armies
of the Lamanites were marching round about in the
wildernessa, that they might
come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the
weaker part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the
message unto Moroni.
25 Now Moroni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Jershon, lest by any means a part of the Lamanites should come into that land and take possession of the city, took the remaining part of his army and marched over into the land of Manti. 26 And he caused that all the people in that quarter of the land should gather themselves together to battle against the Lamanites, to defend their lands and their country, their rights and their liberties; therefore they were prepared against the time of the coming of the Lamanites.
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| Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness Due to the obstruction of the southern eastern cordilleras, the march to the land of Manti was not a direct route or was it a developed route. The Lamanites would have to travel down south and round and about the foot hill wilderness of the eastern side of the eastern cordillera range and then back northward and down into the upper highland valley of the land of Manti. The advantage that the Moroni and the Nephites had, once they had word from Alma the course of the Lamanites, was that they had a short cut with developed roads and trails of passage down through the Gideon valley and then up the Sidon valley along traveled avenues and not entirely through wilderness. Moroni could arrive at Manti before the Lamanites and he did just that. |
24a
Isa. 31:5;
Alma 43:47;
D&C 134:11; TG Guidance, Divine
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27 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his army should
be secreted in the valley which was near the bank of the river
Sidon, which was on the west of the river Sidon in the
wilderness.
28 And Moroni placed spies round about, that he might know when the camp of the Lamanites should come.
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29 And now, as Moroni knew the aintention of the
Lamanites, that it was their intention to destroy their brethren, or to
bsubject them and bring them into bondage that they might
establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land;
30 And he also knowing that it was the aonly desire of the Nephites to preserve their lands, and their bliberty, and their church, therefore he thought it no sin that he should defend them by cstratagem; therefore, he found by his spies which course the Lamanites were to take.
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29a
Alma 43:8 b Alma 49:7 30a Alma 44:5; Alma 46:12-20; Alma 48:10-16 b Alma 46:35 c Judg. 7:16 (15-25)
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31 Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the
valley, and aconcealed them on the east, and on the
south of the hill Riplaha;
32 And the remainder he concealed in the west avalley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land Mantia. 33 And thus having placed his army according to his desire, he was prepared to meet them.
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31a on the east, and on the south of the
hill Riplah Moroni was either inspired of God or a military genius
or both as it just might be you cannot be one without the other. He knew the
Lamanite armies would be coming down the eastern valley entrance westward into
the Manti valley on the north side of the hill Riplah. He concealed Lehi's
troops into two divisions. The one on the east would fall in behind the
Lamanites as the left the side valley keeping them from retreating back up
that valley and also forming a southern vector in a pinching action and from
the southside of the hill the other division would form a northern vector to
that pinching action, thus guiding the Lamanites between them and infront of
them directly to the river where they desired them to go. In such a 'pinching'
manuver the Lamanite troops had no course to turn left or right, north or
south but to head west to the river, as to do so would place them facing the
resistance of Lehi's forces on either hand both in front and in the rear.
Straight into the river and across it was their only course.
32a the remainder he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land Manti Once across the river the Lamanites could turn tail and run south back to the land of the Lamanites. Or they could turn on down north into the valley and land and city of Manti to complete their initial intention. Moroni had to plan for either case. Thus his army was positions along the fringes of wilderness along down to Manti. The Lamanites actually first turned north, desiring to once again retreat. Moroni was not going to let them escape this time to fight another day. His intend was to corral then in and push them back to the river where they would be surrounded. Once the Lamanites saw they were met by Moroni on the south blocking their retreat, they turned towards Manti where they were met by others of Moroni's army corraling them back north and east, back to the river. That was the strategy. A great military strategy obviously appreciated by Mormon who was also of a genius military mind himself. |
31a
Josh. 8:13;
Alma 52:21-31; Alma 58:16 (15-21) 32a Alma 43:41
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34 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north
of the hill, where a part of the army of Moroni was concealed.
35 And as the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah, and came into the valley, and began to cross the river Sidon, the army which was concealed on the south of the hill, which was led by a man whose name was aLehi, and he led his army forth and encircled the Lamanites about on the east in their rear.
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35a
Alma 49:16
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36 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, when they saw the
Nephites coming upon them in their rear, turned them about and
began to contend with the army of Lehi.
37 And the work of death commenced on both sides, but it was more dreadful on the part of the Lamanites, for their anakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites with their swords and their cimeters, which brought death almost at every stroke. 38 While on the other hand, there was now and then a man fell among the Nephites, by their swords and the loss of blood, they being shielded from the more vital parts of the body, or the more vital parts of the body being shielded from the strokes of the Lamanites, by their abreastplates, and their armshields, and their head-plates; and thus the Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites.
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37a
Alma 3:5 38a Alma 44:9
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39 And it came to pass that the Lamanites became frightened,
because of the great destruction among them, even until they
began to flee towards the river Sidon.
40 And they were pursued by Lehi and his men; and they were driven by Lehi into the waters of Sidon, and they crossed the waters of Sidon. And Lehi retained his armies upon the bank of the river Sidon that they should not cross. 41 And it came to pass that Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in the avalley, on the other side of the river Sidon, and began to fall upon them and to slay them.
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41a
Alma 43:32
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42 And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the
land of Manti; and they were met again by the armies of Moroni.
43 Now in this case the Lamanites did fight exceedingly; yea, never had the Lamanites been known to fight with such exceedingly great strength and courage, no, not even from the beginning. 44 And they were inspired by the aZoramites and the Amalekites, who were their chief captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, who was their chief captain, or their chief leader and commander; yea, they did fight like dragons, and many of the Nephites were slain by their hands, yea, for they did smite in two many of their head-plates, and they did pierce many of their breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger.
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44a
Alma 43:6
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45 Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a
abetter cause, for they were not
bfighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for
their homes and their cliberties, their wives and their
children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.
46 And they were doing that which they felt was the aduty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: bInasmuch as ye are not guilty of the cfirst offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies. 47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall adefend your families even unto bbloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.
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45a
Alma 44:1 b Mosiah 20:11; Alma 44:5 c TG Liberty 46a TG Duty b Alma 48:14-16; D&C 98:33 (23-36) c Luke 6:29; 3 Ne. 3:21 (20-21); Morm. 3:10-11; D&C 98:23 (22-48) 47a Isa. 31:5; Alma 43:24; Alma 61:14 Morm. 7:4; D&C 134:11; TG Family, Children, Responsibilities toward; TG War b Josh. 1:18
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48 And it came to pass that when the men of Moroni saw the
fierceness and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to
shrink and flee from them. And Moroni, perceiving their intent,
sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts—yea,
the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yea, their freedom
from bondage.
49 And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they acried with one voice bunto the Lord their God, for their cliberty and their freedom from bondage. 50 And they abegan to stand against the Lamanites with power; and in that selfsame hour that they cried unto the Lord for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them; and they fled even to the waters of Sidon.
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49a
Ex. 2:23-25;
Mosiah 29:20 b Ps. 59:1-5 c TG Liberty 50a Ex. 17:11 (8-13)
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51 Now, the Lamanites were more anumerous, yea, by
more than double the number of the Nephites; nevertheless, they were driven
insomuch that they were gathered together in one body in the valley, upon the
bank by the river Sidon.
52 Therefore the armies of Moroni encircled them about, yea, even on both sides of the river, for behold, on the east were the men of Lehi.
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51a
Alma 46:30
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53 Therefore when Zerahemnah saw the men of Lehi on the east of
the river Sidon, and the armies of Moroni on the west of the
river Sidon, that they were encircled about by the Nephites, they
were struck with terror.
54 Now Moroni, when he saw their aterror, commanded his men that they should stop shedding their blood.
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54a
Alma 47:2
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