Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nefi, after M’roni had received and had read Cheleman’s letter, he rejoiced exceedingly because of the welfare, yes, the exceeding success which Cheleman had had in obtaining those lands which were lost. Yes, and he did make it known unto all his people in all the land round about in that part where he was, that they might rejoice also.
And it came to pass that he immediately sent a letter to Parhoron, desiring that he should cause men to be gathered together to strengthen Cheleman, or the armies of Cheleman, insomuch that he might with ease maintain that part of the land which he had been so miraculously prospered in retaining. And it came to pass when M’roni had sent this letter to the land of Zerach’mla, he began again to lay a plan that he might obtain the remainder of those possessions and cities which the Lamanites had taken from them.
And it came to pass that while M’roni was thus making preparations to go against the Lamanites to battle, behold, the people of Nefihah who were gathered together from the city of M’roni, and the city of Lechi, and the city of Morionton, were attacked by the Lamanites. Yes, even those who had been compelled to flee from the land of Manti and from the land round about had come over and joined the Lamanites in this part of the land. And thus being exceedingly numerous, yes, and receiving strength from day to day by the command of Ammoron, they came forth against the people of Nefihah and they did begin to slay them with an exceedingly great slaughter. And their armies were so numerous that the remainder of the people of Nefihah were obliged to flee before them; and they came even and joined the army of M’roni. And now, as M’roni had supposed that there should be men sent to the city of Nefihah, to the assistance of the people to maintain that city, and knowing that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them, he supposed that they would easily maintain that city; therefore he retained all his force to maintain those places which he had recovered.
And now when M’roni saw that the city of Nefihah was lost, he was exceedingly sorrowful and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the people, whether they should not fall into the hands of their brothers. Now this was the case with all his chief captains. They doubted and marveled also because of the wickedness of the people, and this because of the success of the Lamanites over them. And it came to pass that M’roni was angry with the government because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country.
And it came to pass that he wrote again to the governor of the land, who was Parhoron, and these are the words which he wrote, saying, Behold, I direct my letter to Parhoron in the city of Zerach’mla, who is the chief judge and the governor over the land, and also to all those who have been chosen by this people to govern and manage the affairs of this war; for behold, I have somewhat to say unto them by the way of condemnation. For behold, you yourselves know that you have been appointed to gather together men and arm them with swords, and with cimeters, and all manner of weapons of war of every kind, and send forth against the Lamanites in whatsoever parts they should come into our land. And now behold, I say unto you that myself, and also my men, and also Cheleman and his men, have suffered exceedingly great sufferings — yes, even hunger, thirst, and fatigue, and all manner of afflictions of every kind. But behold, were this all we had suffered, we would not murmur nor complain; but behold, great has been the slaughter among our people, yes, thousands have fallen by the sword, while it might have been otherwise if you had rendered unto our armies sufficient strength and relief for them. Yes, great has been your neglect towards us.
And now behold, we desire to know the cause of this exceedingly great neglect; yes, we desire to know the cause of your thoughtless state. Can you think to sit upon your thrones in a state of thoughtless stupor while your enemies are spreading the work of death around you? Yes, while they are murdering thousands of your brothers? Yes, even they who have looked up to you for protection, yes, have placed you in a situation that you might have relieved them. Yes, you might have sent armies unto them to have strengthened them and have saved thousands of them from falling by the sword. But behold, this is not all. You have withheld your provisions from them, insomuch that many have fought and bled out their lives because of their great desires which they had for the welfare of this people; yes, and this they have done when they were about to perish with hunger because of your exceedingly great neglect towards them. And now, my beloved brothers — for you ought to be beloved, yes, and you ought to have stirred yourselves more diligently for the welfare and the freedom of this people. But behold, you have neglected them, insomuch that the blood of thousands shall come upon your heads for vengeance; yes, for known unto Elohim were all their cries and all their sufferings. Behold, could you suppose that you could sit upon your thrones and because of the exceeding goodness of Elohim you could do nothing and he would deliver you? Behold, if you have supposed this, you have supposed in vain. Do you suppose that because so many of your brothers have been killed, it is because of their wickedness? I say unto you, if you have supposed this, you have supposed in vain. For I say unto you, there are many who have fallen by the sword, and behold, it is to your condemnation. For yhwh allows the righteous to be slain that his justice and judgment may come upon the wicked; therefore you need not suppose that the righteous are lost because they are slain, but behold, they do enter into the rest of yhwh their Elohim.
And now behold, I say unto you, I fear exceedingly that the judgments of Elohim will come upon this people because of their exceeding slothfulness, yes, even the slothfulness of our government and their exceedingly great neglect towards their brothers, yes, towards those who have been slain. For were it not for the wickedness which first commenced at our head, we could have withstood our enemies, that they could have gained no power over us. Yes, had it not been for the war which broke out among ourselves, yes, were it not for those Kingmen who caused so much bloodshed among ourselves, yes, at the time we were contending among ourselves — if we had united our strength as we previously had done, yes, had it not been for the desire of power and authority which those Kingmen had over us, had they been true to the cause of our freedom and united with us, and gone forth against our enemies instead of taking up their swords against us, which was the cause of so much bloodshed among ourselves — yes, if we had gone forth against them in the strength of yhwh, we should have dispersed our enemies, for it would have been done according to the fulfilling of his word. But behold, now the Lamanites are coming upon us and they are murdering our people with the sword, yes, our women and our children, taking possession of our lands, and also carrying them away captive, causing them that they should suffer all manner of afflictions, and this because of the great wickedness of those who are seeking for power and authority, yes, even those Kingmen.
But why should I say much concerning this matter? For we know not but what you yourselves are seeking for authority; we know not but what you are also traitors to your country. Or is it that you have neglected us because you are in the heart of our country and you are surrounded by security, that you do not cause food to be sent unto us and also men to strengthen our armies? Have you forgotten the mitzvot of yhwh your Elohim? Yes, have you forgotten the captivity of our fathers? Have you forgotten the many times we have been delivered out of the hands of our enemies? Or do you suppose that yhwh will still deliver us while we sit upon our thrones and do not make use of the means which yhwh has provided for us? Yes, will you sit in idleness while you are surrounded with thousands of those, yes, and tens of thousands, who do also sit in idleness, while there are thousands round about in the borders of the land who are falling by the sword? Yes, wounded and bleeding? Do you suppose that Elohim will look upon you as guiltless while you sit still and behold these things? Behold, I say unto you, no.
Now I would that you should remember that Elohim has said that the inward vessel shall be cleansed first, and then shall the outer vessel be cleansed also. And now except you do repent of that which you have done, and begin to be up and doing, and send forth food and men unto us, and also unto Cheleman, that he may support those parts of our country which he has retained, and that we may also recover the remainder of our possessions in these parts, behold, it will be expedient that we contend no more with the Lamanites until we have first cleansed our inward vessel, yes, even the great head of our government. And except you grant my letter, and come out and show unto me a true spirit of freedom, and strive to strengthen and fortify our armies, and grant unto them food for their support, behold, I will leave a part of my Freemen to maintain this part of our land, and I will leave the strength and the blessings of Elohim upon them, that none other power can operate against them — and this because of their exceeding faith and their patience in their tribulations — and I will come unto you; and if there be any among you that has a desire for freedom, yes, if there be even a spark of freedom remaining, behold, I will stir up insurrections among you, even until those who have desires to usurp power and authority shall become extinct. Yes, behold, I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my Elohim whom I fear; and it is according to his mitzvot that I do take my sword to defend the cause of my country, and it is because of your iniquity that we have suffered so much loss.
Behold, it is time, yes, the time is now at hand that except you do act quickly in the defense of your country and your little ones, the sword of justice does hang over you, yes, and it shall fall upon you and visit you, even to your utter destruction. Behold, I wait for assistance from you; and except you do administer unto our relief, behold, I come unto you, even into the land of Zerach’mla, and strike you with the sword, insomuch that you can have no more power to impede the progress of this people in the cause of our freedom. For behold, yhwh will not allow that you shall live and grow strong in your iniquities to destroy his righteous people. Behold, can you suppose that yhwh will spare you and come out in judgment against the Lamanites when it is the tradition of their fathers that has caused their hatred — yes, and it has been redoubled by those who have dissented from us — while your iniquity is for the cause of your love of glory and the vain things of the world? You know that you do transgress the laws of Elohim, and you do know that you do trample them under your feet. Behold, yhwh says unto me, If those whom you have appointed your governors do not repent of their sins and iniquities, you shall go up to battle against them.
And now behold, I, M’roni, am constrained according to the covenant which I have made to keep the mitzvot of my Elohim, therefore I would that you should adhere to the word of Elohim and send speedily unto me of your provisions and of your men, and also to Cheleman. And behold, if you will not do this, I come unto you speedily. For behold, Elohim will not allow that we should perish with hunger, therefore he will give unto us of your food, even if it must be by the sword. Now see that you fulfill the word of Elohim. Behold, I am M’roni, your chief captain. I seek not for power, but to pull it down. I seek not for honor of the world, but for the glory of my Elohim and the freedom and welfare of my country. And thus I close my letter.