CHAPTER 53
Moroni forces the Lamanites to bury their dead and work for the Nephites--2000 Ammonite sons who hadn't taken
the Anti-Nephi-Lehi pacifist agree to fight for the Nephites (64 BCE)
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The captured Lamanites are put to work
53:1-9
1And it came to pass that they did set guards over the prisoners of the
Lamanites, and did compel them to go forth and bury their dead, yea, and also the dead of the Nephites who were
slain; and Moroni placed men over them to guard them while they should perform their labors.
The captured Lamanites were forced to bury the dead from the previous battles.
2 And Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, and 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.
Moroni took the city of Mulek and gave it to Lehi.
3And 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 stronghold 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 was easy to guard them
while at their labor; and he desired all his forces when he should make an attack upon the Lamanites.
6And 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 stronghold to retain
his prisoners.
7And 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.
8And 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.
After the Lamanites finished buring the dead, Moroni forced them to dig a ditch and construct a wall around land Bountiful.
2000 Ammonite sons renounce their fathers' pacifism
(to fight with the Nephites)
53:10-23
10 And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the people of Ammon, who in the beginning,
were 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.
The Ammonites (the Anti-Nephi-Lehies) had taken an oath not to kill anyone [1], and the Nephites
had protected them ever since.
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.
Now they wanted to help the Nephites defend their country.
14 But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the
persuasions of Helaman and his brethren, for they were about to break the oath which they had made.
But Helaman talked them out of it.
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.
He feared they'd lose their souls if the broke their vow to God.
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.
But some of their sons hadn't taken the vow, so it'd be okay for them to fight in wars.
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.
20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly valiant
for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all -- they were men who were
true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted.
21Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments
of God and to walk uprightly before him.
So 2000 Ammonite sons who had never taken the pacifist vow agreed to fight with the Nephites with Helaman as their leader.
22And now it came to pass that
Helaman did march at the 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.
These were Helaman's famous stripling soldiers.
Notes
-
Because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms against their brethren (v.11)
The people of Ammon (the Anti-Nephi-Lehies) buried their bright swords in the ground and vowed to never
fight wars anymore. Alma 24:6-13
And it came to pass: 53:1, 3, 6, 7, 8,
13, 16, 22
Exceedingly: 53:4, 5, 11, 20
Behold: 53:2, 10, 14, 16,
18, 19, 20
Yea: 53:1, 2, 5, 7(2), 8,
9, 11, 17(2), 21