10:1 And it came to pass that we again began to establish the kingdom
and we again began to possess the land in peace. And I caused that
there should be weapons of war made of every kind, that thereby I might
have weapons for my people against the time the Lamanites should come
up again to war against my people.
10:2 And I set guards round about the land, that the Lamanites might
not come upon us again unawares and destroy us; and thus I did guard my
people and my flocks, and keep them from falling into the hands of our
enemies.
10:3 And it came to pass that we did inherit the land of our fathers
for many years, yea, for the space of twenty and two years.
10:4 And I did cause that the men should till the ground, and raise all
manner of grain and all manner of fruit of every kind.
10:5 And I did cause that the women should spin, and toil, and work,
and work all manner of fine linen, yea, and cloth of every kind, that
we might clothe our nakedness; and thus we did prosper in the land—thus
we did have continual peace in the land for the space of twenty and two
years.
10:6 And it came to pass that king Laman died, and his son began to
reign in his stead. And he began to stir his people up in rebellion
against my people; therefore they began to prepare for war, and to come
up to battle against my people.
10:7 But I had sent my spies out round about the land of Shemlon, that
I might discover their preparations, that I might guard against them,
that they might not come upon my people and destroy them.
10:8 And it came to pass that they came up upon the north of the land
of Shilom, with their numerous hosts, men armed with bows, and with
arrows, and with swords, and with cimeters, and with stones, and with
slings; and they had their heads shaved that they were naked; and they
were girded with a leathern girdle about their loins.
10:9 And it came to pass that I caused that the women and children of
my people should be hid in the wilderness; and I also caused that all
my old men that could bear arms, and also all my young men that were
able to bear arms, should gather themselves together to go to battle
against the Lamanites; and I did place them in their ranks, every man
according to his age.
10:10 And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the
Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against
the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of
the Lord to battle.
10:11 Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the
strength of the Lord, therefore they depended upon their own strength.
Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of men.
10:12 They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people,
believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing
that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the
iniquities of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the
wilderness by their brethren, and they were also wronged while crossing
the sea;
10:13 And again, that they were wronged while in the land of their
first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because
that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the
Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his
prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the
wilderness.
10:14 And his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not
the dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters
because they hardened their hearts against the Lord.
10:15 And again, they were wroth with him when they had arrived in the
promised land, because they said that he had taken the ruling of the
people out of their hands; and they sought to kill him.
10:16 And again, they were wroth with him because he departed into the
wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and took the records which
were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed
them.
10:17 And thus they have taught their children that they should hate
them, and that they should murder them, and that they should rob and
plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them; therefore they
have an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi.
10:18 For this very cause has king Laman, by his cunning, and lying
craftiness, and his fair promises, deceived me, that I have brought
this my people up into this land, that they may destroy them; yea, and
we have suffered these many years in the land.
10:19 And now I, Zeniff, after having told all these things unto my
people concerning the Lamanites, I did stimulate them to go to battle
with their might, putting their trust in the Lord; therefore, we did
contend with them, face to face.
10:20 And it came to pass that we did drive them again out of our land;
and we slew them with a great slaughter, even so many that we did not
number them.
10:21 And it came to pass that we returned again to our own land, and
my people again began to tend their flocks, and to till their ground.
10:22 And now I, being old, did confer the kingdom upon one of my sons;
therefore, I say no more. And may the Lord bless my people. Amen.