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 rest, and he also went forth. Now we shall say no more concerning their preaching, except that they preached the word and the truth according to the spirit of prophecy and revelation, and they preached after the Holy Order of Elohim by which they were called.
And now I return to an account of the wars between the Nefites and the Lamanites in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges. For behold, it came to pass that the Tzuramites became Lamanites. Therefore, in the commencement of the eighteenth year, the people of the Nefites saw that the Lamanites were coming upon them. Therefore, they made preparations for war, yes, they gathered together their armies in the land of Yirshon. And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with their thousands; and they came into the land of Antionum, which was the land of the Tzuramites; and a man by the name of Zerahemnah was their leader. And now, as the Amlicites were of a more wicked and a murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites and they were all Amlicites and Tzuramites. Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nefites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs. For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nefites, and this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nefites by bringing them into bondage, and so forth.
And now the design of the Nefites was to support their lands, and their houses, and their wives, and their children, that they might preserve them from the hands of their enemies, and also that they might preserve their rights and their privileges, and also their liberty, that they might worship Elohim according to their desires. For they knew that if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites, that whosoever should worship Elohim in spirit and in truth, the true and the living Elohim, the Lamanites would destroy. Yes, and they also knew the extreme hatred of the Lamanites towards their brothers, who were the people of Anti-Nefi-Lechi, who were called the people of Ammon. And they would not take up arms, yes, 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. And the Nefites would not allow that they should be destroyed, therefore they gave them lands for their inheritance, and the people of Ammon did give unto the Nefites a large portion of their substance to support their armies. And thus the Nefites were compelled, alone, to stand against the Lamanites, who were a compound of Laman, and L’mu’el, and the sons of Yishma’el, and all those who had dissented from the Nefites, who were Amlicites, and Tzuramites, and the descendants of the kohanim of Noah. Now those dissenters were as numerous nearly as were the Nefites; and thus the Nefites were obliged to contend with their brothers, even unto bloodshed.
And it came to pass, as the armies of the Lamanites had gathered together in the land of Antionum, behold, the armies of the Nefites were prepared to meet them in the land of Yirshon. Now the leader of the Nefites, or the man who had been appointed to be the chief captain over the Nefites — now the chief captain took the command of all the armies of the Nefites — and his name was M’roni. And M’roni took all the command and the government of their wars; and he was only twenty and five years old when he was appointed chief commander over the armies of the Nefites.
And it came to pass that he met the Lamanites in the borders of Yirshon, and his people were armed with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war. And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nefi, or that M’roni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with armshields, yes, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing — now the army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing; they had only their swords and their cimeters, their bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings, but they were naked except it were a skin which was girded about their loins, yes, all were naked, except it were the Tzuramites and the Amlicites, but they were not armed with breastplates nor shields — therefore, they were exceedingly afraid of the armies of the Nefites because of their armor, despite their number being so much greater than the Nefites.
Behold, now it came to pass that they dared not come against the Nefites in the borders of Yirshon. 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 Tzidon, that they might come into the land of Manti and take possession of the land, for they did not suppose that the armies of M’roni would know where they had gone. But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the wilderness, M’roni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp. And M’roni, also knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should inquire of yhwh where the armies of the Nefites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that the word of yhwh came unto Alma, and Alma informed the messengers of M’roni that the armies of the Lamanites were marching round about in the wilderness that they might come over into the land of Manti, that they might commence an attack upon the more weak part of the people. And those messengers went and delivered the message unto M’roni.
Now M’roni, leaving a part of his army in the land of Yirshon, for fear that 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. 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. And it came to pass that M’roni caused that his army should be concealed in the valley which was near the bank of the river Tzidon, which was on the west of the river Tzidon in the wilderness. And M’roni placed spies round about, that he might know when the camp of the Lamanites should come.
And now, as M’roni knew the intention of the Lamanites, that it was their intention to destroy their brothers or to subject them and bring them into bondage, that they might establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land, and he also knowing that it was the only desire of the Nefites to preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their assembly, therefore he thought it no sin that he should defend them by stratagem; therefore, he found by his spies, which course the Lamanites were to take. Therefore, he divided his army and brought a part over into the valley, and concealed them on the east and on the south of the hill Riplah; and the remainder he concealed in the west valley on the west of the river Tzidon, and so down into the borders of the land Manti. And thus having placed his army according to his desire, he was prepared to meet them.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north of the hill where a part of the army of M’roni was concealed. And as the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah and had come into the valley, and began to cross the river Tzidon, the army which was concealed on the south of the hill, which was led by a man whose name was Lechi, and he led his army forth and encircled the Lamanites about on the east, in their rear.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites, when they saw the Nefites coming upon them in their rear, they turned around and began to contend with the army of Lechi. And the work of death commenced on both sides, but it was more dreadful on the part of the Lamanites, for their nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nefites, with their swords and their cimeters, which brought death almost at every stroke, while on the other hand, there was now and then a man who fell among the Nefites by their wounds 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 breastplates, and their armshields, and their headplates. And thus the Nefites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites. 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 Tzidon. And they were pursued by Lechi and his men, and they were driven by Lechi into the waters of Tzidon, and they crossed the waters of Tzidon. And Lechi retained his armies upon the bank of the river Tzidon, that they should not cross.
And it came to pass that M’roni and his army met the army of the Lamanites in the valley on the other side of the river Tzidon, and began to fall upon them and to slay them. And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of Manti, and they were met again by the armies of M’roni. Now in this case, the Lamanites did fight exceedingly, yes, never had the Lamanites been known to fight with such exceedingly great strength and courage, no, not even from the beginning. And they were inspired by the Tzuramites and the Amlicites, who were their chief captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, who was their chief captain, or their chief leader and commander. Yes, they did fight like dragons, and many of the Nefites were slain by their hand. Yes, for they did strike in two many of their headplates, and they did pierce many of their breastplates, and they did cut off many of their arms; and thus the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger. Nevertheless, the Nefites were inspired by a better cause; for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power, but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yes, for their rites of worship and their assembly. And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their Elohim, for yhwh had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that inasmuch as you are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, you shall not allow yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies. And again, yhwh has said that you shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore, for this cause were the Nefites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.
And it came to pass that when the men of M’roni saw the fierceness and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to shrink and flee from them. And M’roni, perceiving their intent, sent forth and inspired their hearts with these thoughts — yes, the thoughts of their lands, their liberty, yes, their freedom from bondage. And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they cried with one voice unto yhwh their Elohim196 for their liberty and their freedom from bondage. And they began to stand against the Lamanites with power, and in that very same hour that they cried unto yhwh for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them; and they fled even to the waters of Tzidon. Now the Lamanites were more numerous, yes, by more than double the number of the Nefites. Nevertheless, they were driven insomuch that they were gathered together in one body in the valley upon the bank by the river Tzidon. Therefore, the armies of M’roni encircled them about, yes, even on both sides of the river; for behold, on the east were the men of Lechi. Therefore, when Zerahemnah saw the men of Lechi on the east of the river Tzidon and the armies of M’roni on the west of the river Tzidon, that they were encircled about by the Nefites, they were struck with terror. Now M’roni, when he saw their terror, commanded his men that they should stop shedding their blood.
And it came to pass that they did stop and withdrew a pace from them. And M’roni said unto Zerahemnah, Behold, Zerahemnah, we do not desire to be men of blood. You know that you are in our hands, yet we do not desire to slay you. Behold, we have not come out to battle against you that we might shed your blood for power, neither do we desire to bring anyone to the yoke of bondage. But this is the very cause for which you have come against us. Yes, and you are angry with us because of our religion. But now you behold that yhwh is with us, and you behold that he has delivered you into our hands. And now I would that you should understand that this is done unto us because of our religion and our faith in Mashiach. And now you see that you cannot destroy this our faith. Now you see that this is the true faith of Elohim, yes, you see that Elohim will support, and keep, and preserve us, so long as we are faithful unto him, and unto our faith, and our religion. And never will yhwh allow that we shall be destroyed, except we should fall into transgression and deny our faith. And now, Zerahemnah, I command you in the name of that all-powerful Elohim, who has strengthened our arms that we have gained power over you by our faith, by our religion, and by our rites of worship, and by our assembly, and by the sacred support which we owe to our wives and our children, and by that liberty which binds us to our lands and our country,197 yes, and also by the maintenance of the sacred word of Elohim, to which we owe all our happiness, and by all that is most dear unto us — yes, and this is not all — I command you, by all the desires which you have for life, that you deliver up your weapons of war unto us, and we will seek not your blood, but we will spare your lives if you will go your way and come not again to war against us. And now, if you do not this, behold, you are in our hands, and I will command my men that they shall fall upon you and inflict the wounds of death in your bodies, that you may become extinct. And then we will see who shall have power over this people; yes, we will see who shall be brought into bondage.
And now it came to pass that when Zerahemnah had heard these sayings, he came forth and delivered up his sword, and his cimeter, and his bow, into the hands of M’roni, and said unto him, Behold, here are our weapons of war; we will deliver them up unto you. And we will not allow ourselves to take an oath unto you which we know that we shall break, and also our children. But take our weapons of war and allow that we may depart into the wilderness; otherwise, we will retain our swords and we will perish or conquer. Behold, we are not of your faith. We do not believe that it is Elohim that has delivered us into your hands, but we believe that it is your skillful craft that has preserved you from our swords. Behold, it is your breastplates and your shields that have preserved you.
And now when Zerahemnah had made an end of speaking these words, M’roni returned the sword and the weapons of war which he had received unto Zerahemnah, saying, Behold, we will end the conflict. Now I cannot recall the words which I have spoken; therefore, as yhwh lives, you shall not depart except you depart with an oath that you will not return again against us to war. Now as you are in our hands, we will spill your blood upon the ground, or you shall submit to the conditions to which I have proposed. And now when M’roni had said these words, Zerahemnah retained his sword; and he was angry with M’roni, and he rushed forward that he might slay M’roni. But as he raised his sword, behold, one of M’roni’s soldiers smote it even to the earth and it broke by the hilt; and he also struck Zerahemnah, that he took off his scalp, and it fell to the earth. And Zerahemnah withdrew from before them into the midst of his soldiers.
And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by, who struck off the scalp of Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off the ground by the hair, and laid it upon the point of his sword, and stretched it forth unto them, saying unto them with a loud voice, Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is the scalp of your chief, so shall you fall to the earth except you will deliver up your weapons of war and depart with a covenant of shalom.
Now there were many, when they heard these words and saw the scalp which was upon the sword, that were struck with fear; and many came forth, and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of M’roni, and entered into a covenant of shalom. And as many as entered into a covenant they allowed to depart into the wilderness.
Now it came to pass that Zerahemnah was exceedingly angry, and he did stir up the remainder of his soldiers to anger, to contend more powerfully against the Nefites. And now M’roni was angry because of the stubbornness of the Lamanites; therefore, he commanded his people that they should fall upon them and slay them. And it came to pass that they began to slay them; yes, and the Lamanites did contend with their swords and their might. But behold, their naked skins and their bare heads were exposed to the sharp swords of the Nefites; yes, behold, they were pierced and struck, yes, and did fall exceedingly fast before the swords of the Nefites; and they began to be swept down even as the soldier of M’roni had prophesied. Now Zerahemnah, when he saw that they were all about to be destroyed, cried mightily unto M’roni, promising that he would covenant, and also his people with them, if they would spare the remainder of their lives, that they never would come to war again against them. And it came to pass that M’roni caused that the work of death should cease again among the people. And he took the weapons of war from the Lamanites; and after they had entered into a covenant with him of shalom, they were allowed to depart into the wilderness.
Now the number of their dead were not numbered because of the greatness of the number; yes, the number of their dead was exceedingly great, both of the Nefites and of the Lamanites. And it came to pass that they did cast their dead into the waters of Tzidon, and they have gone forth and are buried in the depths of the sea. And the armies of the Nefites, or of M’roni, returned and came to their houses and their lands. And thus ended the eighteenth year198 of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi. And thus ended the record of Alma, which was written upon the plates of Nefi.