4:1 And now it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and
third year the Nephites did go up with their armies to battle against
the Lamanites, out of the land Desolation.
4:2 And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites were driven
back again to the land of Desolation. And while they were yet weary, a
fresh army of the Lamanites did come upon them; and they had a sore
battle, insomuch that the Lamanites did take possession of the city
Desolation, and did slay many of the Nephites, and did take many
prisoners.
4:3 And the remainder did flee and join the inhabitants of the city
Teancum. Now the city Teancum lay in the borders by the seashore; and
it was also near the city Desolation.
4:4 And it was because the armies of the Nephites went up unto the
Lamanites that they began to be smitten; for were it not for that, the
Lamanites could have had no power over them.
4:5 But, behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked; and it
is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked
that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed.
4:6 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did make preparations to
come against the city Teancum.
4:7 And it came to pass in the three hundred and sixty and fourth year
the Lamanites did come against the city Teancum, that they might take
possession of the city Teancum also.
4:8 And it came to pass that they were repulsed and driven back by the
Nephites. And when the Nephites saw that they had driven the Lamanites
they did again boast of their own strength; and they went forth in
their own might, and took possession again of the city Desolation.
4:9 And now all these things had been done, and there had been
thousands slain on both sides, both the Nephites and the Lamanites.
4:10 And it came to pass that the three hundred and sixty and sixth
year had passed away, and the Lamanites came again upon the Nephites to
battle; and yet the Nephites repented not of the evil they had done,
but persisted in their wickedness continually.
4:11 And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for man to
write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and
carnage which was among the people, both of the Nephites and of the
Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they delighted in the
shedding of blood continually.
4:12 And there never had been so great wickedness among all the
children of Lehi, nor even among all the house of Israel, according to
the words of the Lord, as was among this people.
4:13 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did take possession of the
city Desolation, and this because their number did exceed the number of
the Nephites.
4:14 And they did also march forward against the city Teancum, and did
drive the inhabitants forth out of her, and did take many prisoners
both women and children, and did offer them up as sacrifices unto their
idol gods.
4:15 And it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and
seventh year, the Nephites being angry because the Lamanites had
sacrificed their women and their children, that they did go against the
Lamanites with exceedingly great anger, insomuch that they did beat
again the Lamanites, and drive them out of their lands.
4:16 And the Lamanites did not come again against the Nephites until
the three hundred and seventy and fifth year.
4:17 And in this year they did come down against the Nephites with all
their powers; and they were not numbered because of the greatness of
their number.
4:18 And from this time forth did the Nephites gain no power over the
Lamanites, but began to be swept off by them even as a dew before the
sun.
4:19 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come down against the
city Desolation; and there was an exceedingly sore battle fought in the
land Desolation, in the which they did beat the Nephites.
4:20 And they fled again from before them, and they came to the city
Boaz; and there they did stand against the Lamanites with exceeding
boldness, insomuch that the Lamanites did not beat them until they had
come again the second time.
4:21 And when they had come the second time, the Nephites were driven
and slaughtered with an exceedingly great slaughter; their women and
their children were again sacrificed unto idols.
4:22 And it came to pass that the Nephites did again flee from before
them, taking all the inhabitants with them, both in towns and villages.
4:23 And now I, Mormon, seeing that the Lamanites were about to
overthrow the land, therefore I did go to the hill Shim, and did take
up all the records which Ammaron had hid up unto the Lord.