AlmaChapter53

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.

They set guards over the Lamanite prisoners and made them go out and bury their dead, their own dead and the Nephite dead as well. And Moroni put men over them to guard them while they did the work.

And 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 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.

Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, took command of the city, and gave it to Lehi. Now, this Lehi was a man who had been with Moroni through most of all his battles, and he was a man much like Moroni. They were glad in each other's safety. They loved each other, and all the people of Nephi loved them both.

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 digging a ditch round about the land, or the city, Bountiful.

After the Lamanites had finished burying their dead and the Nephite dead as well, they were marched back into the land Bountiful. And Teancum, on Moroni's orders, had them start digging a ditch all around the land, or the city, of Bountiful.

And he caused that they should build 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.

He had them build a breastwork of timbers on the inner bank of the ditch, and they threw the dirt they dug out up against the timbers. In this way they kept the Lamanites working until they had ringed the city of Bountiful all around with a strong wall of timber and earth, built up to an enormous height.

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 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.

And this city was a powerful stronghold ever after. It was here that they guarded the Lamanite prisoners, inside a wall those prisoners had been made to build with their own hands. Now, Moroni had to put the Lamanites to work, because they were easy to guard while they were working, and he wanted all his forces free for when he would attack the Lamanites.

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 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.

So Moroni had won a victory over one of the largest Lamanite armies, and he had taken the city of Mulek, one of the strongest Lamanite fortresses in the land of Nephi. And now he had a stronghold of his own to hold his prisoners in.

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.

He made no more attempts at battle with the Lamanites that year. Instead he put his men to work preparing for war, building fortifications to guard against the Lamanites, rescuing the women and children from famine and hardship, and providing food for their armies.

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 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.

Now, the Lamanite armies by the west sea, in the south, had gained some ground on the Nephites while Moroni was away, because of an intrigue among the Nephites that had caused divisions among them. They gained so much that they took possession of a number of Nephite cities in that part of the land.

And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances.

And so, because of the wickedness among themselves, because of their own divisions and their own intrigue, they were left in the most dangerous position of all.

And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the 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 converted unto the Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites.

Now, I have something to say about the people of Ammon. In the beginning they were Lamanites, but through Ammon and his brothers, or rather through the power and word of God, they had been converted to the Lord. They had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and the Nephites had protected them ever since.

And because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath that they 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.

Because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms against their brothers. They had sworn that they would never shed blood again, and by that oath they would have died. They would have let themselves fall into the hands of their brothers, if it had not been for the pity and the deep love that Ammon and his brothers had for them.

And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites.

That is why they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and the Nephites had always protected them.

But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compassion and were desirous to take up arms in the defence of their country.

But when they saw the danger, and all the hardship and suffering the Nephites were carrying for them, they were moved with compassion, and they wanted to take up arms in defense of their country.

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 break the oath which they had made.

But just as they were reaching for their weapons, Helaman and his brothers persuaded them otherwise, because they were about to break the oath they had made.

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.

Helaman was afraid that if they did, they would lose their souls. So everyone who had entered into that covenant was forced to watch their brothers wade through their hardships in that dangerous time.

But behold, it came to pass they had many 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.

But they had many sons who had never entered into a covenant not to take up their weapons of war in their own defense against their enemies. So now they gathered together, as many of them as were able to bear arms, and they called themselves Nephites.

And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.

And they entered into a covenant to fight for the freedom of the Nephites, to protect the land even to the laying down of their lives. They covenanted that they would never give up their freedom, but would fight in every case to protect the Nephites and themselves from slavery.

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.

There were two thousand of these young men who entered into this covenant and took up their weapons of war to defend their country.

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.

And just as they had never been a burden to the Nephites before, now, at this point, they became a great support as well. They took up their weapons of war, and they wanted Helaman to be their leader.

And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant for 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.

They were all young men, and they were remarkably brave, and strong and quick as well. But that was not all: they were men who were true at all times in whatever they were entrusted with.

Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.

They were men of truth and seriousness, because they had been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.

And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea.

Then Helaman marched at the head of his two thousand young soldiers to support the people in the borders of the land on the south, by the west sea.

And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

And so ended the twenty-eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.