AlmaChapter43

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.

The sons of Alma went out among the people to declare the word to them. And Alma himself could not rest, and he went out too.

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 God by which they were called.

Now I will say no more about their preaching, except this: they preached the word, and the truth, according to the spirit of prophecy and revelation, and they preached according to the holy order of God by which they had been called.

And now I return to an account of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites, in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges.

And now I return to the account of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites, in the eighteenth year of the reign of the judges.

For behold, it came to pass that the Zoramites became Lamanites; 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.

The Zoramites had become Lamanites. So at the beginning of the eighteenth year, the Nephites saw that the Lamanites were coming against them, and they made preparations for war: they gathered their armies in the land of Jershon.

And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with their thousands; and they came into the land of Antionum, which is the land of the Zoramites; and a man by the name of Zerahemnah was their leader.

And the Lamanites came by the thousands, and they came into the land of Antionum, the land of the Zoramites. A man named Zerahemnah was their leader.

And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites.

Now, since the Amalekites had a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites did, in and of themselves, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites.

Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs.

He did this to keep their hatred toward the Nephites alive, so that he could bring them under his power and accomplish his designs.

For behold, his designs were to stir 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 bondage.

For his designs were to stir the Lamanites up to anger against the Nephites. He did this so he could seize great power over them, and also gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into slavery.

And now the design of the Nephites 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, yea, and also their liberty, that they might worship God according to their desires.

Now the design of the Nephites was to defend their lands, their houses, their wives, and their children, to preserve them from the hands of their enemies, and to preserve their rights and their privileges, and their liberty too, so that they could worship God as they desired.

For they knew that if they should fall into the hands of the Lamanites, that whosoever should worship God in spirit and in truth, the true and the living God, the Lamanites would destroy.

For they knew that if they fell into the hands of the Lamanites, the Lamanites would destroy anyone who worshiped God in spirit and in truth, the true and living God.

Yea, and they also knew the extreme hatred of the Lamanites towards their brethren, who were the people 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.

And they also knew the extreme hatred the Lamanites had toward their brothers, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, who were called the people of Ammon. These people would not take up arms, because they had entered into a covenant and would not break it. So if they fell into the hands of the Lamanites, they would be destroyed.

And the Nephites would not suffer that they should be destroyed; therefore they gave them lands for their inheritance.

And the Nephites would not allow them to be destroyed, so they had given them lands for their inheritance.

And the people of Ammon did give unto the Nephites a large portion of their substance to support 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 descendants of the priests of Noah.

And the people of Ammon gave the Nephites a large share of their goods to support their armies. So the Nephites were left to stand alone against the Lamanites, who were a combination of the descendants of Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael, and all those who had broken away from the Nephites: Amalekites, Zoramites, and the descendants of the priests of Noah.

Now those descendants were as numerous, nearly, as were the Nephites; and thus the Nephites were obliged to contend with their brethren, even unto bloodshed.

Now those descendants were nearly as numerous as the Nephites, and so the Nephites were forced to fight against their own brothers, even to 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 Nephites were prepared to meet them in the land of Jershon.

When the armies of the Lamanites had gathered in the land of Antionum, the armies of the Nephites were ready to meet them in the land of Jershon.

Now, the leader of the Nephites, or the man who had been appointed to be the chief captain over the Nephites—now the chief captain took the command of all the armies of the Nephites—and his name was Moroni;

Now, the leader of the Nephites was the man who had been appointed chief captain over them (the chief captain took command of all the armies of the Nephites), and his name was Moroni.

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.

And Moroni took full command, and the direction of their wars. He was only twenty-five years old when he was appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites.

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 weapons of war.

He met the Lamanites at the borders of Jershon, and his people were armed with swords, with scimitars, and with all kinds of weapons of war.

And when the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or that Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and with arm-shields, yea, and also shields to defend their heads, and also they were dressed with thick clothing—

Now, the armies of the Lamanites saw that the people of Nephi, or Moroni, had prepared his people with breastplates and arm-shields, and with shields to protect their heads, and that they were dressed in 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; and they were naked, save it were a skin which was girded about their loins; yea, all were naked, save it were the Zoramites and the Amalekites;

The army of Zerahemnah was not prepared with any such thing. They had only their swords and their scimitars, their bows and their arrows, their stones and their slings, and they were naked except for a skin tied around their waists. All of them were naked, except for the Zoramites and the Amalekites.

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.

But even they were not armed with breastplates or shields. So the Lamanites were terrified of the armies of the Nephites because of their armor, even though their own numbers were so much greater than the Nephites'.

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 Manti and take possession of the land; for they did not suppose that the armies of Moroni would know whither they had gone.

So they did not dare to come against the Nephites at the borders of Jershon. Instead they left the land of Antionum and went into the wilderness, taking a route that circled far around through the wilderness, away by the headwaters of the river Sidon, so they could come into the land of Manti and take possession of the land. For they did not think the armies of Moroni would know where they had gone.

But it came to pass, as soon as they had departed into the wilderness Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp; and Moroni, also, knowing of the prophecies of Alma, sent certain men unto him, desiring him that he should inquire of the Lord whither the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites.

But as soon as they had gone into the wilderness, Moroni sent spies into the wilderness to watch their camp. And Moroni, knowing the prophecies of Alma, also sent certain men to him, asking him to inquire of the Lord where the armies of the Nephites should go to defend themselves against the Lamanites.

And it came to pass that the word 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 wilderness, 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.

And the word of the Lord came to Alma, and Alma informed Moroni's messengers that the armies of the Lamanites were marching around through the wilderness to cross over into the land of Manti and attack the weaker part of the people. And the messengers went and delivered the message to Moroni.

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.

Now Moroni left part of his army in the land of Jershon, in case any part of the Lamanites came into that land and took possession of the city, and he took the rest 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 he had all the people in that quarter of the land gather together to battle against the Lamanites, to defend their lands and their country, their rights and their liberties. So they were ready before the Lamanites came.

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.

Then Moroni had his army hide in the valley near the bank of the river Sidon, on the west side of the river Sidon, in the wilderness.

And Moroni placed spies round about, that he might know when the camp of the Lamanites should come.

And Moroni placed spies all around, so he would know when the camp of the Lamanites was coming.

And now, as Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites, that it was their intention to destroy their brethren, or to subject them and bring them into bondage that they might establish a kingdom unto themselves over all the land;

Now, Moroni knew the intention of the Lamanites: they intended to destroy their brothers, or to subjugate them and bring them into slavery, so they could establish a kingdom for themselves over all the land.

And he also knowing that it was the only desire of the Nephites to preserve their lands, and their liberty, and their church, 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.

And he also knew that the only desire of the Nephites was to preserve their lands, their liberty, and their church. So he thought it no sin to defend them by stratagem, and he found out from his spies which course the Lamanites were going 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;

So he divided his army and brought one 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 Sidon, and so down into the borders of the land Manti.

The rest he concealed in the west valley, on the west of the river Sidon, and so on down into the borders of the land of Manti.

And thus having placed his army according to his desire, he was prepared to meet them.

And having placed his army as he wanted, he was ready 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 Moroni was concealed.

Then the Lamanites came up on the north of the hill, where part of Moroni's army was concealed.

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 Lehi, and he led his army forth and encircled the Lamanites about on the east in their rear.

And when the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah, and had come into the valley and begun to cross the river Sidon, the army concealed on the south of the hill came out, led by a man named Lehi, and he led his army forward and encircled the Lamanites from behind, on the east.

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.

When the Lamanites saw the Nephites coming at them from the rear, they turned around and began to fight the army of Lehi.

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 Nephites with their swords and their cimeters, which brought death almost at every stroke.

And the work of death began on both sides, but it was more dreadful for the Lamanites, because their nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites' swords and scimitars, which brought death with almost every stroke.

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 breastplates, and their arm-shields, and their head-plates; and thus the Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites.

On the other hand, only now and then did a man fall among the Nephites, by the sword and by loss of blood, because the more vital parts of their bodies were shielded from the Lamanites' strokes by their breastplates, their arm-shields, and their head-plates. And so the Nephites carried 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 Sidon.

And the Lamanites became frightened because of the great destruction among them, until they began to flee toward the river Sidon.

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.

Lehi and his men pursued them, and Lehi drove them into the waters of Sidon, and they crossed the waters of Sidon. And Lehi held his armies back on the bank of the river Sidon, so that they would not cross.

And it came to pass that Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in the valley, on the other side of the river Sidon, and began to fall upon them and to slay them.

Then Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in the valley on the other side of the river Sidon, and began to attack them and kill them.

And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of Manti; and they were met again by the armies of Moroni.

And the Lamanites fled from them again, toward the land of Manti, and they were met again by the armies of Moroni.

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.

Now in this battle the Lamanites fought ferociously. Never had the Lamanites been known to fight with such tremendous strength and courage, no, not even from the beginning.

And they were inspired by the Zoramites 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.

They were inspired by the Zoramites and the Amalekites, who were their chief captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, their chief captain — that is, their chief leader and commander. They fought like dragons, and many of the Nephites were killed by their hands: they split many of their head-plates in two, they pierced many of their breastplates, and they cut off many of their arms. That is how the Lamanites struck in their fierce anger.

Nevertheless, the Nephites 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, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.

Even so, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause. They were not fighting for monarchy or power, but for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, for their rites of worship and their church.

And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.

And they were doing what they felt was the duty they owed to their God, for the Lord had said to them, and to their fathers, "As long as you are not guilty of the first offense, nor the second, you shall not allow yourselves to be killed by the hands of your enemies."

And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. 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.

And again, the Lord has said, "You shall defend your families even to bloodshed." So for this cause the Nephites were fighting the Lamanites: to defend themselves and their families, their lands, their country, their rights, and their religion.

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.

When the men of Moroni saw the fierceness and the anger of the Lamanites, they were about to shrink back and flee from them. But Moroni saw their intent, and he sent word and inspired their hearts with these thoughts — thoughts of their lands, their liberty, their freedom from slavery.

And it came to pass that they turned upon the Lamanites, and they cried with one voice unto the Lord their God, for their liberty and their freedom from bondage.

And they turned on the Lamanites, and they cried with one voice to the Lord their God, for their liberty and their freedom from slavery.

And they began 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.

And they began to stand against the Lamanites with power, and in that very hour that they cried to the Lord for their freedom, the Lamanites began to flee before them, and they fled all the way to the waters of Sidon.

Now, the Lamanites were more numerous, 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.

Now, the Lamanites were more numerous, more than double the number of the Nephites. Yet they were driven until they were gathered into one body in the valley, on the bank by the river Sidon.

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.

So the armies of Moroni encircled them on both sides of the river, for on the east were the men of Lehi.

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.

And 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, and saw that they were encircled by the Nephites, the Lamanites were struck with terror.

Now Moroni, when he saw their terror, commanded his men that they should stop shedding their blood.

And when Moroni saw their terror, he commanded his men to stop shedding their blood.