52:1 And now, it came to pass in the twenty and sixth year of the reign
of the judges over the people of Nephi, behold, when the Lamanites
awoke on the first morning of the first month, behold, they found
Amalickiah was dead in his own tent; and they also saw that Teancum was
ready to give them battle on that day.
52:2 And now, when the Lamanites saw this they were affrighted; and
they abandoned their design in marching into the land northward, and
retreated with all their army into the city of Mulek, and sought
protection in their fortifications.
52:3 And it came to pass that the brother of Amalickiah was appointed
king over the people; and his name was Ammoron; thus king Ammoron, the
brother of king Amalickiah, was appointed to reign in his stead.
52:4 And it came to pass that he did command that his people should
maintain those cities, which they had taken by the shedding of blood;
for they had not taken any cities save they had lost much blood.
52:5 And now, Teancum saw that the Lamanites were determined to
maintain those cities which they had taken, and those parts of the land
which they had obtained possession of; and also seeing the enormity of
their number, Teancum thought it was not expedient that he should
attempt to attack them in their forts.
52:6 But he kept his men round about, as if making preparations for
war; yea, and truly he was preparing to defend himself against them, by
casting up walls round about and preparing places of resort.
52:7 And it came to pass that he kept thus preparing for war until
Moroni had sent a large number of men to strengthen his army.
52:8 And Moroni also sent orders unto him that he should retain all the
prisoners who fell into his hands; for as the Lamanites had taken many
prisoners, that he should retain all the prisoners of the Lamanites as
a ransom for those whom the Lamanites had taken.
52:9 And he also sent orders unto him that he should fortify the land
Bountiful, and secure the narrow pass which led into the land
northward, lest the Lamanites should obtain that point and should have
power to harass them on every side.
52:10 And Moroni also sent unto him, desiring him that he would be
faithful in maintaining that quarter of the land, and that he would
seek every opportunity to scourge the Lamanites in that quarter, as
much as was in his power, that perhaps he might take again by stratagem
or some other way those cities which had been taken out of their hands;
and that he also would fortify and strengthen the cities round about,
which had not fallen into the hands of the Lamanites.
52:11 And he also said unto him, I would come unto you, but behold, the
Lamanites are upon us in the borders of the land by the west sea; and
behold, I go against them, therefore I cannot come unto you.
52:12 Now, the king (Ammoron) had departed out of the land of
Zarahemla, and had made known unto the queen concerning the death of
his brother, and had gathered together a large number of men, and had
marched forth against the Nephites on the borders by the west sea.
52:13 And thus he was endeavoring to harass the Nephites, and to draw
away a part of their forces to that part of the land, while he had
commanded those whom he had left to possess the cities which he had
taken, that they should also harass the Nephites on the borders by the
east sea, and should take possession of their lands as much as it was
in their power, according to the power of their armies.
52:14 And thus were the Nephites in those dangerous circumstances in
the ending of the twenty and sixth year of the reign of the judges over
the people of Nephi.
52:15 But behold, it came to pass in the twenty and seventh year of the
reign of the judges, that Teancum, by the command of Moroni—who had
established armies to protect the south and the west borders of the
land, and had begun his march towards the land Bountiful, that he might
assist Teancum with his men in retaking the cities which they had lost—
52:16 And it came to pass that Teancum had received orders to make an
attack upon the city of Mulek, and retake it if it were possible.
52:17 And it came to pass that Teancum made preparations to make an
attack upon the city of Mulek, and march forth with his army against
the Lamanites; but he saw that it was impossible that he could
overpower them while they were in their fortifications; therefore he
abandoned his designs and returned again to the city Bountiful, to wait
for the coming of Moroni, that he might receive strength to his army.
52:18 And it came to pass that Moroni did arrive with his army at the
land of Bountiful, in the latter end of the twenty and seventh year of
the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
52:19 And in the commencement of the twenty and eighth year, Moroni and
Teancum and many of the chief captains held a council of war—what they
should do to cause the Lamanites to come out against them to battle; or
that they might by some means flatter them out of their strongholds,
that they might gain advantage over them and take again the city of
Mulek.
52:20 And it came to pass they sent embassies to the army of the
Lamanites, which protected the city of Mulek, to their leader, whose
name was Jacob, desiring him that he would come out with his armies to
meet them upon the plains between the two cities. But behold, Jacob,
who was a Zoramite, would not come out with his army to meet them upon
the plains.
52:21 And it came to pass that Moroni, having no hopes of meeting them
upon fair grounds, therefore, he resolved upon a plan that he might
decoy the Lamanites out of their strongholds.
52:22 Therefore he caused that Teancum should take a small number of
men and march down near the seashore; and Moroni and his army, by
night, marched in the wilderness, on the west of the city Mulek; and
thus, on the morrow, when the guards of the Lamanites had discovered
Teancum, they ran and told it unto Jacob, their leader.
52:23 And it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites did march
forth against Teancum, supposing by their numbers to overpower Teancum
because of the smallness of his numbers. And as Teancum saw the armies
of the Lamanites coming out against him he began to retreat down by the
seashore, northward.
52:24 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that he began to
flee, they took courage and pursued them with vigor. And while Teancum
was thus leading away the Lamanites who were pursuing them in vain,
behold, Moroni commanded that a part of his army who were with him
should march forth into the city, and take possession of it.
52:25 And thus they did, and slew all those who had been left to
protect the city, yea, all those who would not yield up their weapons
of war.
52:26 And thus Moroni had obtained possession of the city Mulek with a
part of his army, while he marched with the remainder to meet the
Lamanites when they should return from the pursuit of Teancum.
52:27 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did pursue Teancum until
they came near the city Bountiful, and then they were met by Lehi and a
small army, which had been left to protect the city Bountiful.
52:28 And now behold, when the chief captains of the Lamanites had
beheld Lehi with his army coming against them, they fled in much
confusion, lest perhaps they should not obtain the city Mulek before
Lehi should overtake them; for they were wearied because of their
march, and the men of Lehi were fresh.
52:29 Now the Lamanites did not know that Moroni had been in their rear
with his army; and all they feared was Lehi and his men.
52:30 Now Lehi was not desirous to overtake them till they should meet
Moroni and his army.
52:31 And it came to pass that before the Lamanites had retreated far
they were surrounded by the Nephites, by the men of Moroni on one hand,
and the men of Lehi on the other, all of whom were fresh and full of
strength; but the Lamanites were wearied because of their long march.
52:32 And Moroni commanded his men that they should fall upon them
until they had given up their weapons of war.
52:33 And it came to pass that Jacob, being their leader, being also a
Zoramite, and having an unconquerable spirit, he led the Lamanites
forth to battle with exceeding fury against Moroni.
52:34 Moroni being in their course of march, therefore Jacob was
determined to slay them and cut his way through to the city of Mulek.
But behold, Moroni and his men were more powerful; therefore they did
not give way before the Lamanites.
52:35 And it came to pass that they fought on both hands with exceeding
fury; and there were many slain on both sides; yea, and Moroni was
wounded and Jacob was killed.
52:36 And Lehi pressed upon their rear with such fury with his strong
men, that the Lamanites in the rear delivered up their weapons of war;
and the remainder of them, being much confused, knew not whither to go
or to strike.
52:37 Now Moroni seeing their confusion, he said unto them: If ye will
bring forth your weapons of war and deliver them up, behold we will
forbear shedding your blood.
52:38 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had heard these
words, their chief captains, all those who were not slain, came forth
and threw down their weapons of war at the feet of Moroni, and also
commanded their men that they should do the same.
52:39 But behold, there were many that would not; and those who would
not deliver up their swords were taken and bound, and their weapons of
war were taken from them, and they were compelled to march with their
brethren forth into the land Bountiful.
52:40 And now the number of prisoners who were taken exceeded more than
the number of those who had been slain, yea, more than those who had
been slain on both sides.