took command of the city, and gave it unto Lehi. Now behold this Lehi was a man who had been with Moroni in the more part of all his battles; and he was a man like unto Moroni; and they rejoiced in each other's safety; yea, they were beloved by each other, and also beloved by all the people of Nephi.

3. And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had finished burying their dead, and also the dead of the Nephites, they were marched back into the 'land Bountiful; and Teancum, by the orders of Moroni, caused that they should commence laboring in digging a ditch round about the land, or the city Bountiful;

4. And he caused that they should build a breastwork of timbers upon the inner bank of the ditch; and they cast up dirt out of the ditch against the breastwork of timbers; and thus they did cause the Lamanites to labor until they had encircled the city of Bountiful round about with a strong wall of timbers and earth, to an exceeding height.

5. And this city became an exceeding strong hold ever after; and in this city they did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites; yea, even within a wall, which they had caused them to build with their own hands. Now Moroni was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it were easy to guard them while at their labor: and he desired all his forces, when he should make an attack upon the Lamanites.

6. And it came to pass that Moroni had thus gained a victory over one of the greatest of the armies of the Lamanites, and had obtained possession of the city of Mulek, which was one of the strongest holds of the Lamanites in the Land of Nephi; and thus he had also built a strong hold to retain his prisoners.

7. And it came to pass that he did no more attempt a battle with the Lamanites in that year, but he did employ his men in preparing for war; yea, and in making fortifications to guard against the Lamanites; yea, and also delivering their women and their children from famine and affliction, and providing food for their armies.

8. And now it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites, on the West sea, south, while in the absence of Moroni, on account of some intrigue amongst the Nephites, which caused dissensions amongst them, had gained some ground over the Nephites, yea, insomuch that they had obtained possession of a number of their cities in that part of the land;

9. And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves, they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances.

10. And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the people of Ammon, who, in the beginning, were

b, see 2 k, Alma 22. c, see c, Alma 48. d, see 2 k, Alma 22. f, see c, Alma 48. g, Alma 27: 26.

2d, Alma 51.

e, see

Lamanites; but by Ammon and his brethren, or rather by the power and word of God, they had been "converted unto the Lord and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites;

11. And because of their oath, they had been kept from taking up arms against their brethren; for they had taken an oath, that they never would shed blood more; and according to their oath they would have perished; yea, they would have suffered themselves to have fallen into the hands of their brethren, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammon and his brethren had had for them.

12. And for this cause, they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites.

13. But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compassion, and were desirous to take up arms in the defence of their country.

14. But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Hela man and his brethren, for they were about to break the oath which they had made;

15. And Helaman feared lest by so doing, they should lose their souls; therefore all those who had entered into this covenant, were compelled to behold their brethren wade through their afflictions, in their dangerous circumstances, at this time.

16. But behold, it came to pass they had many sons, who had not entered into a covenant that they would not take their weapons of war to defend themselves against their enemies; therefore they did assemble themselves together at this time, as many as were able to take up arms; and they called themselves Nephites;

17. And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites; yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.

18. Now behold, there were two thousand of those young men who entered into this covenant, and took their weapons of war to defend their country.

19. And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helaman should be their leader.

h, Alma 23: 8-13. i, see h, Omni 1. j, Alma 24: 17--19. 1, see m, Mos 99.

24: 17-19.

k, Alma

20. And they were all young men, and they were exceedng valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; out behold, this was not all: they were men who were true it all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted;

21. Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of God, and to walk uprightly before him.

22. And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at he head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the West Sea.

23. And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi, &c.

CHAPTER 54.

1. AND now it came to pass in the twenty and ninth year of the Judges, that Ammoron sent unto Moroni, desiring that he would exchange prisoners.

2. And it came to pass that Moroni felt to rejoice exceedingly at this request, for he desired the provisions which were imparted for the support of the Lamanite prisoners for the support of his own people; and he also desired his own people for the strengthening of his army.

3. Now the Lamanites had taken many women and children, and there was not a woman nor a child among all the prisoners of Moroni, or the prisoners whom Moroni had taken; therefore Moroni resolved upon a stratagem to obtain as many prisoners of the Nephites from the Lamanites as it were possible;

4. Therefore he wrote an epistle, and sent it by the servant of Ammoron, the same who had brought an epistle to Moroni. Now these are the words which he wrote unto

Ammoron, saying,

5. Behold, Ammoron, I have written unto you somewhat concerning this war which ye have waged against my people, or rather which thy brother hath waged against them, and which ye are still determined to carry on after his death.

6. Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice of God, and the sword of his almighty wrath, which doth hang over you, except ye repent and withdraw your armies into your own lands, or the lands of your possessions, which is the "land of Nephi;

7. Yea, I would tell you these things if ye were capable of hearkening unto them; yea, I would tell you concerning that awful hell that awaits to receive such murderers as thou and thy brother have been, except ye repent and with

a, see b, 11. Nep. 5.

b, see k, L. Nep. 15.

c, Alma 47: 18, 22-34.

draw your murderous purposes, and return with your armies to your own lands;

8. But as ye have rejected these things, and have fought against the people of the Lord, even so may expect you will do it again.

9. And now behold, we are prepared to receive you; yea, and except you withdraw your purposes, behold, ye will pull down the wrath of that God whom you have rejected upon you, even to your utter destruction;

10. But, as the Lord liveth, our armies shall come upon you, except ye withdraw, and ye shall soon be visited with death, for we will retain our cities and our lands; yea, and we will maintain our religion and the cause of our God.

11. But behold, it supposeth me that I talk to you concerning these things in vain; or it supposeth me that thou art a child of hell; therefore I will close my epistle by telling you that I will not exchange prisoners, save it be on conditions that ye will deliver up a man, and his wife, and his children, for one prisoner; if this be the case that ye will do it, I will exchange.

12. And behold, if ye do not this, I will come against you, with my armies; yea, even I will arm my women and my children, and I will come against you, and I will follow you even into your own land, which is the land of our first inheritance; yea, and it shall be blood for blood; yea, life for life; and I will give you battle, even until you are destroyed from off the face of the earth.

13. Behold, I am in my anger, and also my people; ye have sought to murder us, and we have only sought to defend ourselves. But behold, if ye seek to destroy us more, we will seek to destroy you; yea, and we will seek our land of our first inheritance.

14. Now I close my epistle. I am Moroni ; I am a leader of the people of the Nephites.

15. Now it came to pass that Ammoron, when he had received this epistle, he was angry; and he wrote another epistle unto Moroni, and these are the words which he wrote, saying,

16. I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites; I am the brother of Amalickiah whom ye have "murdered. Behold, I will avenge his blood upon you, yea, and I will come upon you with my armies, for I fear not your threatenings;

17. For behold your fathers did wrong their brethren, insomuch that they did rob them of their "right to the government, when it rightly belonged unto them.

18. And now behold, if ye will lay down your arms, and subject yourselves to be governed by those to whom the government doth rightly belong, then will I cause that my

d, ver. 3.. e, see b, II. Nep. 5. f, see b, II. Nep. 5. h, u. Nep. 5: 1-4. See , Jacob 7.

9, Alma 51:34.

people shall lay down their weapons, and shall be at war no

more.

19. Behold, ye have breathed out many threatenings against me and my people; but behold we fear not your threatenings;

20. Nevertheless, I will grant to exchange prisoners according to your request, gladly, that I may preserve my food for my men of war; and we will wage a war which shall be eternal, either to the subjecting the Nephites to our authority, or to their eternal extinction.

21. And as concerning that God whom ye say we have 'rejected, behold, we know not such a being; neither do ye; but if it so be that there is such a being, we know not but that he hath made us as well as you;

22. And if it so be that there is a devil and a hell, behold will he not send you there to dwell with my brother whom ye have murdered, whom ye have hinted that he hath gone to such a place? But behold these things mattereth not.

23. I am Ammoron, and a descendant of Zoram, whom your fathers pressed and brought out of Jerusalem.

24. And behold, now, I am a bold Lamanite; behold this war hath been waged to avenge their wrongs, and to maintain, and to obtain their 'rights to the government; and I close my epistle to Moroni.

CHAPTER 55.

1. Now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle, he was more angry, because he knew that Ammoron had a perfect knowledge of his fraud; yea, he knew that Ammoron knew that it was not a just cause that had caused him to wage a war against the people of Nephi.

2. And he said, Behold, I will not exchange prisoners with Ammoron, save he will withdraw his purpose, as I have stated in my epistle; for I will not grant unto him that he shall have any more power than what he hath got.

3. Behold, I know the place where the Lamanites doth guard my people, whom they have taken prisoners; and as Ammoron would not grant unto me mine epistle, behold, I will give unto him according to my words; yea, I will seek death among them, until they shall sue for peace.

4. And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words, he caused that a search should be made among his men, that perhaps he might find a man who was a descendant of Laman among them.

i, ver. 9.

j, Alma 52: 3. k, I. Nep. 4:35. 1, see h. a, Alma 54: 6, 13.