Prev
Alma
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Alma 53
The Lamanite prisoners are used to fortify the city Bountiful—Dissensions among the Nephites give rise to Lamanite victories—Helaman takes command of the two thousand stripling sons of the people of Ammon. About 64–63 B.C.
And
it
came
to
pass
that
they
did
set
guards
over
the
prisoners
of
the
Lamanites,
and
did
compel
them
to
go
forth
and
bury
their
dead,
yea,
and
also
the
dead
of
the
Nephites
who
were
slain;
and
Moroni
placed
men
over
them
to
guard
them
while
they
should
perform
their
labors.
2 And
a
Moroni
went
to
the
city
of
Mulek
with
Lehi,
and
took
command
of
the
city
and
gave
it
unto
Lehi.
Now
behold,
this
Lehi
was
a
man
who
had
been
with
Moroni
in
the
more
part
of
all
his
battles;
and
he
was
a
man
a
like
unto
Moroni,
and
they
rejoiced
in
each
other's
safety;
yea,
they
were
beloved
by
each
other,
and
also
beloved
by
all
the
people
of
Nephi.
3 And
it
came
to
pass
that
after
the
Lamanites
had
finished
burying
their
dead
and
also
the
dead
of
the
Nephites,
they
were
marched
back
into
the
land
Bountiful;
and
Teancum,
by
the
orders
of
Moroni,
caused
that
they
should
commence
laboring
in
a
digging
a
ditch
round
about
the
land,
or
the
city,
b
Bountiful.
4 And
he
caused
that
they
should
build
a
a
breastwork
of
timbers
upon
the
inner
bank
of
the
ditch;
and
they
cast
up
dirt
out
of
the
ditch
against
the
breastwork
of
timbers;
and
thus
they
did
cause
the
Lamanites
to
labor
until
they
had
encircled
the
city
of
Bountiful
round
about
with
a
strong
wall
of
timbers
and
earth,
to
an
exceeding
height.
5 And
this
city
became
an
exceeding
stronghold
ever
after;
and
in
this
city
they
did
guard
the
prisoners
of
the
Lamanites;
yea,
even
within
a
wall
which
they
had
caused
them
to
a
build
with
their
own
hands.
Now
Moroni
was
compelled
to
cause
the
Lamanites
to
labor,
because
it
was
easy
to
guard
them
while
at
their
labor;
and
he
desired
all
his
forces
when
he
should
make
an
attack
upon
the
Lamanites.
6 And
it
came
to
pass
that
Moroni
had
thus
gained
a
victory
over
one
of
the
greatest
of
the
armies
of
the
Lamanites,
and
had
obtained
possession
of
the
city
of
a
Mulek,
which
was
one
of
the
strongest
holds
of
the
Lamanites
in
the
land
of
Nephi;
and
thus
he
had
also
built
a
stronghold
to
retain
his
prisoners.
7 And
it
came
to
pass
that
he
did
no
more
attempt
a
battle
with
the
Lamanites
in
that
year,
but
he
did
employ
his
men
in
preparing
for
war,
yea,
and
in
making
fortifications
to
guard
against
the
Lamanites,
yea,
and
also
delivering
their
women
and
their
children
from
famine
and
affliction,
and
providing
food
for
their
armies.
8 And
now
it
came
to
pass
that
the
armies
of
the
Lamanites,
on
the
west
sea,
south,
while
in
the
absence
of
Moroni
on
account
of
some
intrigue
amongst
the
Nephites,
which
caused
a
dissensions
amongst
them,
had
gained
some
ground
over
the
Nephites,
yea,
insomuch
that
they
had
obtained
possession
of
a
number
of
their
cities
in
that
part
of
the
land.
9 And
thus
because
of
a
iniquity
amongst
themselves,
yea,
because
of
dissensions
and
intrigue
among
themselves
they
were
placed
in
the
most
dangerous
circumstances.
10 And
now
behold,
I
have
somewhat
to
say
concerning
the
a
people
of
Ammon,
who,
in
the
beginning,
were
Lamanites;
but
by
Ammon
and
his
brethren,
or
rather
by
the
power
and
word
of
God,
they
had
been
b
converted
unto
the
Lord;
and
they
had
been
brought
down
into
the
land
of
Zarahemla,
and
had
ever
since
been
protected
by
the
Nephites.
11 And
because
of
their
oath
they
had
been
kept
from
taking
up
arms
against
their
brethren;
for
they
had
taken
an
oath
that
they
a
never
would
shed
blood
more;
and
according
to
their
oath
they
would
have
perished;
yea,
they
would
have
suffered
themselves
to
have
fallen
into
the
hands
of
their
brethren,
had
it
not
been
for
the
pity
and
the
exceeding
love
which
Ammon
and
his
brethren
had
had
for
them.
12 And
for
this
cause
they
were
brought
down
into
the
land
of
Zarahemla;
and
they
ever
had
been
a
protected
by
the
Nephites.
13 But
it
came
to
pass
that
when
they
saw
the
danger,
and
the
many
a
afflictions
and
tribulations
which
the
Nephites
bore
for
them,
they
were
moved
with
compassion
and
were
b
desirous
to
take
up
arms
in
the
defence
of
their
country.
14 But
behold,
as
they
were
about
to
take
their
weapons
of
war,
they
were
overpowered
by
the
persuasions
of
Helaman
and
his
brethren,
for
they
were
about
to
a
break
the
b
oath
which
they
had
made.
15 And
Helaman
feared
lest
by
so
doing
they
should
lose
their
souls;
therefore
all
those
who
had
entered
into
this
covenant
were
compelled
to
behold
their
brethren
wade
through
their
afflictions,
in
their
dangerous
circumstances
at
this
time.
16 But
behold,
it
came
to
pass
they
had
many
a
sons,
who
had
not
entered
into
a
covenant
that
they
would
not
take
their
weapons
of
war
to
defend
themselves
against
their
enemies;
therefore
they
did
assemble
themselves
together
at
this
time,
as
many
as
were
able
to
take
up
arms,
and
they
called
themselves
Nephites.
17 And
they
entered
into
a
covenant
to
fight
for
the
liberty
of
the
Nephites,
yea,
to
protect
the
land
unto
the
a
laying
down
of
their
lives;
yea,
even
they
covenanted
that
they
never
would
give
up
their
b
liberty,
but
they
would
fight
in
all
cases
to
protect
the
Nephites
and
themselves
from
bondage.
18 Now
behold,
there
were
two
thousand
of
those
young
men,
who
entered
into
this
covenant
and
took
their
weapons
of
war
to
defend
their
country.
19 And
now
behold,
as
they
never
had
hitherto
been
a
disadvantage
to
the
Nephites,
they
became
now
at
this
period
of
time
also
a
great
support;
for
they
took
their
weapons
of
war,
and
they
would
that
Helaman
should
be
their
leader.
20 And
they
were
all
young
men,
and
they
were
exceedingly
valiant
for
a
courage,
and
also
for
strength
and
activity;
but
behold,
this
was
not
all—they
were
men
who
were
true
at
all
times
in
whatsoever
thing
they
were
entrusted.
21 Yea,
they
were
men
of
truth
and
a
soberness,
for
they
had
been
taught
to
keep
the
commandments
of
God
and
to
b
walk
uprightly
before
him.
22 And
now
it
came
to
pass
that
Helaman
did
march
at
the
head
of
his
a
two
thousand
stripling
soldiers,
to
the
support
of
the
people
in
the
borders
of
the
land
on
the
south
by
the
west
sea.
23 And
thus
ended
the
twenty
and
eighth
year
of
the
reign
of
the
judges
over
the
people
of
Nephi.
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