1:1 And now behold, it came to pass in the commencement of the fortieth
year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, there began
to be a serious difficulty among the people of the Nephites.
1:2 For behold, Pahoran had died, and gone the way of all the earth;
therefore there began to be a serious contention concerning who should
have the judgment-seat among the brethren, who were the sons of
Pahoran.
1:3 Now these are their names who did contend for the judgment-seat,
who did also cause the people to contend: Pahoran, Paanchi, and
Pacumeni.
1:4 Now these are not all the sons of Pahoran, (for he had many) but
these are they who did contend for the judgment-seat; therefore, they
did cause three divisions among the people.
1:5 Nevertheless, it came to pass that Pahoran was appointed by the
voice of the people to be chief judge and a governor over the people of
Nephi.
1:6 And it came to pass that Pacumeni, when he saw that he could not
obtain the judgment-seat, he did unite with the voice of the people.
1:7 But behold, Paanchi, and that part of the people that were desirous
that he should be their governor, was exceedingly wroth; therefore, he
was about to flatter away those people to rise up in rebellion against
their brethren.
1:8 And it came to pass as he was about to do this, behold, he was
taken, and was tried according to the voice of the people, and
condemned unto death; for he had raised up in rebellion and sought to
destroy the liberty of the people.
1:9 Now when those people who were desirous that he should be their
governor saw that he was condemned unto death, therefore they were
angry, and behold, they sent forth one Kishkumen, even to the
judgment-seat of Pahoran, and murdered Pahoran as he sat upon the
judgment-seat.
1:10 And he was pursued by the servants of Pahoran; but behold, so
speedy was the flight of Kishkumen that no man could overtake him.
1:11 And he went unto those that sent him, and they all entered into a
covenant, yea, swearing by their everlasting Maker, that they would
tell no man that Kishkumen had murdered Pahoran.
1:12 Therefore, Kishkumen was not known among the people of Nephi, for
he was in disguise at the time that he murdered Pahoran. And Kishkumen
and his band, who had covenanted with him, did mingle themselves among
the people, in a manner that they all could not be found; but as many
as were found were condemned unto death.
1:13 And now behold, Pacumeni was appointed, according to the voice of
the people, to be a chief judge and a governor over the people, to
reign in the stead of his brother Pahoran; and it was according to his
right. And all this was done in the fortieth year of the reign of the
judges; and it had an end.
1:14 And it came to pass in the forty and first year of the reign of
the judges, that the Lamanites had gathered together an innumerable
army of men, and armed them with swords, and with cimeters and with
bows, and with arrows, and with head-plates, and with breastplates, and
with all manner of shields of every kind.
1:15 And they came down again that they might pitch battle against the
Nephites. And they were led by a man whose name was Coriantumr; and he
was a descendant of Zarahemla; and he was a dissenter from among the
Nephites; and he was a large and a mighty man.
1:16 Therefore, the king of the Lamanites, whose name was Tubaloth, who
was the son of Ammoron, supposing that Coriantumr, being a mighty man,
could stand against the Nephites, with his strength and also with his
great wisdom, insomuch that by sending him forth he should gain power
over the Nephites—
1:17 Therefore he did stir them up to anger, and he did gather together
his armies, and he did appoint Coriantumr to be their leader, and did
cause that they should march down to the land of Zarahemla to battle
against the Nephites.
1:18 And it came to pass that because of so much contention and so much
difficulty in the government, that they had not kept sufficient guards
in the land of Zarahemla; for they had supposed that the Lamanites
durst not come into the heart of their lands to attack that great city
Zarahemla.
1:19 But it came to pass that Coriantumr did march forth at the head of
his numerous host, and came upon the inhabitants of the city, and their
march was with such exceedingly great speed that there was no time for
the Nephites to gather together their armies.
1:20 Therefore Coriantumr did cut down the watch by the entrance of the
city, and did march forth with his whole army into the city, and they
did slay every one who did oppose them, insomuch that they did take
possession of the whole city.
1:21 And it came to pass that Pacumeni, who was the chief judge, did
flee before Coriantumr, even to the walls of the city. And it came to
pass that Coriantumr did smite him against the wall, insomuch that he
died. And thus ended the days of Pacumeni.
1:22 And now when Coriantumr saw that he was in possession of the city
of Zarahemla, and saw that the Nephites had fled before them, and were
slain, and were taken, and were cast into prison, and that he had
obtained the possession of the strongest hold in all the land, his
heart took courage insomuch that he was about to go forth against all
the land.
1:23 And now he did not tarry in the land of Zarahemla, but he did
march forth with a large army, even towards the city of Bountiful; for
it was his determination to go forth and cut his way through with the
sword, that he might obtain the north parts of the land.
1:24 And, supposing that their greatest strength was in the center of
the land, therefore he did march forth, giving them no time to assemble
themselves together save it were in small bodies; and in this manner
they did fall upon them and cut them down to the earth.
1:25 But behold, this march of Coriantumr through the center of the
land gave Moronihah great advantage over them, notwithstanding the
greatness of the number of the Nephites who were slain.
1:26 For behold, Moronihah had supposed that the Lamanites durst not
come into the center of the land, but that they would attack the cities
round about in the borders as they had hitherto done; therefore
Moronihah had caused that their strong armies should maintain those
parts round about by the borders.
1:27 But behold, the Lamanites were not frightened according to his
desire, but they had come into the center of the land, and had taken
the capital city which was the city of Zarahemla, and were marching
through the most capital parts of the land, slaying the people with a
great slaughter, both men, women, and children, taking possession of
many cities and of many strongholds.
1:28 But when Moronihah had discovered this, he immediately sent forth
Lehi with an army round about to head them before they should come to
the land Bountiful.
1:29 And thus he did; and he did head them before they came to the land
Bountiful, and gave unto them battle, insomuch that they began to
retreat back towards the land of Zarahemla.
1:30 And it came to pass that Moronihah did head them in their retreat,
and did give unto them battle, insomuch that it became an exceedingly
bloody battle; yea, many were slain, and among the number who were
slain Coriantumr was also found.
1:31 And now, behold, the Lamanites could not retreat either way,
neither on the north, nor on the south, nor on the east, nor on the
west, for they were surrounded on every hand by the Nephites.
1:32 And thus had Coriantumr plunged the Lamanites into the midst of
the Nephites, insomuch that they were in the power of the Nephites, and
he himself was slain, and the Lamanites did yield themselves into the
hands of the Nephites.
1:33 And it came to pass that Moronihah took possession of the city of
Zarahemla again, and caused that the Lamanites who had been taken
prisoners should depart out of the land in peace.
1:34 And thus ended the forty and first year of the reign of the
judges.