9:1 I, Zeniff, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites,
and having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or of the land of our
fathers’ first inheritance, and having been sent as a spy among the
Lamanites that I might spy out their forces, that our army might come
upon them and destroy them—but when I saw that which was good among
them I was desirous that they should not be destroyed.
9:2 Therefore, I contended with my brethren in the wilderness for I
would that our ruler should make a treaty with them; but he being an
austere and a bloodthirsty man commanded that I should be slain; but I
was rescued by the shedding of much blood; for father fought against
father, and brother against brother, until the greater number of our
army was destroyed in the wilderness; and we returned, those of us that
were spared, to the land of Zarahemla, to relate that tale to their
wives and their children.
9:3 And yet, I being over-zealous to inherit the land of our fathers,
collected as many as were desirous to go up to possess the land, and
started again on our journey into the wilderness to go up to the land;
but we were smitten with famine and sore afflictions; for we were slow
to remember the Lord our God.
9:4 Nevertheless, after many days’ wandering in the wilderness we
pitched our tents in the place where our brethren were slain, which was
near to the land of our fathers.
9:5 And it came to pass that I went again with four of my men into the
city, in unto the king, that I might know of the disposition of the
king, and that I might know if I might go in with my people and possess
the land in peace.
9:6 And I went in unto the king, and he covenanted with me that I might
possess the land of Lehi-Nephi, and the land of Shilom.
9:7 And he also commanded that his people should depart out of the
land, and I and my people went into the land that we might possess it.
9:8 And we began to build buildings, and to repair the walls of the
city, yea, even the walls of the city of Lehi-Nephi, and the city of
Shilom.
9:9 And we began to till the ground, yea, even with all manner of
seeds, with seeds of corn, and of wheat, and of barley, and with neas,
and with sheum, and with seeds of all manner of fruits; and we did
begin to multiply and prosper in the land.
9:10 Now it was the cunning and the craftiness of king Laman, to bring
my people into bondage, that he yielded up the land that we might
possess it.
9:11 Therefore it came to pass, that after we had dwelt in the land for
the space of twelve years that king Laman began to grow uneasy, lest by
any means my people should wax strong in the land, and that they could
not overpower them and bring them into bondage.
9:12 Now they were a lazy and an idolatrous people; therefore they were
desirous to bring us into bondage, that they might glut themselves with
the labors of our hands; yea, that they might feast themselves upon the
flocks of our fields.
9:13 Therefore it came to pass that king Laman began to stir up his
people that they should contend with my people; therefore there began
to be wars and contentions in the land.
9:14 For, in the thirteenth year of my reign in the land of Nephi, away
on the south of the land of Shilom, when my people were watering and
feeding their flocks, and tilling their lands, a numerous host of
Lamanites came upon them and began to slay them, and to take off their
flocks, and the corn of their fields.
9:15 Yea, and it came to pass that they fled, all that were not
overtaken, even into the city of Nephi, and did call upon me for
protection.
9:16 And it came to pass that I did arm them with bows, and with
arrows, with swords, and with cimeters, and with clubs, and with
slings, and with all manner of weapons which we could invent, and I and
my people did go forth against the Lamanites to battle.
9:17 Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against
the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he
would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened
to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.
9:18 And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did
go forth in his might; yea, we did go forth against the Lamanites, and
in one day and a night we did slay three thousand and forty-three; we
did slay them even until we had driven them out of our land.
9:19 And I, myself, with mine own hands, did help to bury their dead.
And behold, to our great sorrow and lamentation, two hundred and
seventy-nine of our brethren were slain.