62:1 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle
his heart did take courage, and was filled with exceedingly great joy
because of the faithfulness of Pahoran, that he was not also a traitor
to the freedom and cause of his country.
62:2 But he did also mourn exceedingly because of the iniquity of those
who had driven Pahoran from the judgment-seat, yea, in fine because of
those who had rebelled against their country and also their God.
62:3 And it came to pass that Moroni took a small number of men,
according to the desire of Pahoran, and gave Lehi and Teancum command
over the remainder of his army, and took his march towards the land of
Gideon.
62:4 And he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he
did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in all his march
towards the land of Gideon.
62:5 And it came to pass that thousands did flock unto his standard,
and did take up their swords in the defence of their freedom, that they
might not come into bondage.
62:6 And thus, when Moroni had gathered together whatsoever men he
could in all his march, he came to the land of Gideon; and uniting his
forces with those of Pahoran they became exceedingly strong, even
stronger than the men of Pachus, who was the king of those dissenters
who had driven the freemen out of the land of Zarahemla and had taken
possession of the land.
62:7 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran went down with their
armies into the land of Zarahemla, and went forth against the city, and
did meet the men of Pachus, insomuch that they did come to battle.
62:8 And behold, Pachus was slain and his men were taken prisoners, and
Pahoran was restored to his judgment-seat.
62:9 And the men of Pachus received their trial, according to the law,
and also those king-men who had been taken and cast into prison; and
they were executed according to the law; yea, those men of Pachus and
those king-men, whosoever would not take up arms in the defence of
their country, but would fight against it, were put to death.
62:10 And thus it became expedient that this law should be strictly
observed for the safety of their country; yea, and whosoever was found
denying their freedom was speedily executed according to the law.
62:11 And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over
the people of Nephi; Moroni and Pahoran having restored peace to the
land of Zarahemla, among their own people, having inflicted death upon
all those who were not true to the cause of freedom.
62:12 And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and first
year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Moroni
immediately caused that provisions should be sent, and also an army of
six thousand men should be sent unto Helaman, to assist him in
preserving that part of the land.
62:13 And he also caused that an army of six thousand men, with a
sufficient quantity of food, should be sent to the armies of Lehi and
Teancum. And it came to pass that this was done to fortify the land
against the Lamanites.
62:14 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran, leaving a large body
of men in the land of Zarahemla, took their march with a large body of
men towards the land of Nephihah, being determined to overthrow the
Lamanites in that city.
62:15 And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land,
they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them,
and took their provisions and their weapons of war.
62:16 And it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them
to enter into a covenant that they would no more take up their weapons
of war against the Nephites.
62:17 And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to
dwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four
thousand who had not been slain.
62:18 And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they
pursued their march towards the land of Nephihah. And it came to pass
that when they had come to the city of Nephihah, they did pitch their
tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near the city of Nephihah.
62:19 Now Moroni was desirous that the Lamanites should come out to
battle against them, upon the plains; but the Lamanites, knowing of
their exceedingly great courage, and beholding the greatness of their
numbers, therefore they durst not come out against them; therefore they
did not come to battle in that day.
62:20 And when the night came, Moroni went forth in the darkness of the
night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out in what part of the
city the Lamanites did camp with their army.
62:21 And it came to pass that they were on the east, by the entrance;
and they were all asleep. And now Moroni returned to his army, and
caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders, to
be let down from the top of the wall into the inner part of the wall.
62:22 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his men should march
forth and come upon the top of the wall, and let themselves down into
that part of the city, yea, even on the west, where the Lamanites did
not camp with their armies.
62:23 And it came to pass that they were all let down into the city by
night, by the means of their strong cords and their ladders; thus when
the morning came they were all within the walls of the city.
62:24 And now, when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies of
Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly,
insomuch that they did flee out by the pass.
62:25 And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him, he did
cause that his men should march forth against them, and slew many, and
surrounded many others, and took them prisoners; and the remainder of
them fled into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the
seashore.
62:26 Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the possession of the city
of Nephihah without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the
Lamanites who were slain.
62:27 Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were
prisoners were desirous to join the people of Ammon and become a free
people.
62:28 And it came to pass that as many as were desirous, unto them it
was granted according to their desires.
62:29 Therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people
of Ammon, and did begin to labor exceedingly, tilling the ground,
raising all manner of grain, and flocks and herds of every kind; and
thus were the Nephites relieved from a great burden; yea, insomuch that
they were relieved from all the prisoners of the Lamanites.
62:30 Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had obtained possession
of the city of Nephihah, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce
the armies of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of
the Nephites who had been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the
army of Moroni exceedingly; therefore Moroni went forth from the land
of Nephihah to the land of Lehi.
62:31 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Moroni was
coming against them, they were again frightened and fled before the
army of Moroni.
62:32 And it came to pass that Moroni and his army did pursue them from
city to city, until they were met by Lehi and Teancum; and the
Lamanites fled from Lehi and Teancum, even down upon the borders by the
seashore, until they came to the land of Moroni.
62:33 And the armies of the Lamanites were all gathered together,
insomuch that they were all in one body in the land of Moroni. Now,
Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites, was also with them.
62:34 And it came to pass that Moroni and Lehi and Teancum did encamp
with their armies round about in the borders of the land of Moroni,
insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about in the borders by the
wilderness on the south, and in the borders by the wilderness on the
east.
62:35 And thus they did encamp for the night. For behold, the Nephites
and the Lamanites also were weary because of the greatness of the
march; therefore they did not resolve upon any stratagem in the
night-time, save it were Teancum; for he was exceedingly angry with
Ammoron, insomuch that he considered that Ammoron, and Amalickiah his
brother, had been the cause of this great and lasting war between them
and the Lamanites, which had been the cause of so much war and
bloodshed, yea, and so much famine.
62:36 And it came to pass that Teancum in his anger did go forth into
the camp of the Lamanites, and did let himself down over the walls of
the city. And he went forth with a cord, from place to place, insomuch
that he did find the king; and he did cast a javelin at him, which did
pierce him near the heart. But behold, the king did awaken his servants
before he died, insomuch that they did pursue Teancum, and slew him.
62:37 Now it came to pass that when Lehi and Moroni knew that Teancum
was dead they were exceedingly sorrowful; for behold, he had been a man
who had fought valiantly for his country, yea, a true friend to
liberty; and he had suffered very many exceedingly sore afflictions.
But behold, he was dead, and had gone the way of all the earth.
62:38 Now it came to pass that Moroni marched forth on the morrow, and
came upon the Lamanites, insomuch that they did slay them with a great
slaughter; and they did drive them out of the land; and they did flee,
even that they did not return at that time against the Nephites.
62:39 And thus ended the thirty and first year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi; and thus they had had wars, and
bloodsheds, and famine, and affliction, for the space of many years.
62:40 And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and
all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the
righteous’ sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they
were spared.
62:41 But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war
between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened,
because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were
softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble
themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.
62:42 And it came to pass that after Moroni had fortified those parts
of the land which were most exposed to the Lamanites, until they were
sufficiently strong, he returned to the city of Zarahemla; and also
Helaman returned to the place of his inheritance; and there was once
more peace established among the people of Nephi.
62:43 And Moroni yielded up the command of his armies into the hands of
his son, whose name was Moronihah; and he retired to his own house that
he might spend the remainder of his days in peace.
62:44 And Pahoran did return to his judgment-seat; and Helaman did take
upon him again to preach unto the people the word of God; for because
of so many wars and contentions it had become expedient that a
regulation should be made again in the church.
62:45 Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth, and did declare
the word of God with much power unto the convincing of many people of
their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins and to
be baptized unto the Lord their God.
62:46 And it came to pass that they did establish again the church of
God, throughout all the land.
62:47 Yea, and regulations were made concerning the law. And their
judges, and their chief judges were chosen.
62:48 And the people of Nephi began to prosper again in the land, and
began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land. And
they began to grow exceedingly rich.
62:49 But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their
prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither
were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble
themselves exceedingly before him.
62:50 Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for
them, that he had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from
prisons, and from all manner of afflictions and he had delivered them
out of the hands of their enemies.
62:51 And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch
that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did
wax strong and prosper in the land.
62:52 And it came to pass that all these things were done. And Helaman
died, in the thirty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the
people of Nephi.