Alma 43

Alma’s sons went teaching God’s word. Alma, also, could not sit still, so he went with them.

In the eighteenth year of the judges, the Zoramites joined the Lamanites. Zerahemnah was their leader. The leader of the Nephite army was Moroni. He was twenty-five years old. He met the Lamanites in the borders of Jershon. The army of Nephi made breastplates and arm-shields and shields and thick clothing. The soldiers of Zerahemnah were nearly naked.

The Lamanites had many more warriors than the Nephites. Still, the Lamanite soldiers were afraid of the Nephites because of their armor.

The Lamanites ran away into the wilderness of Manti. They did not think Moroni’s armies knew where they were going. But Moroni had spies watching their camp. Moroni took most of his army to Manti near the river Sidon. He put half of his men east of the river and half on the west.

As the Lamanites began crossing the river, the work of death began. The Nephite army surrounded them. The Nephites brought death with almost every swing of the sword. Lehi kept his armies on the riverbank so the Lamanites could not come out of the river. Many drowned. Moroni and his army were on the other side of the river. They killed all who came to their side.

The surrounded Lamanites began to fight like dragons. Many Nephites were killed in fierce fighting. The Lamanites’ swords split head-plates and pierced deep into the chest. Many arms were cut off. When Moroni’s men saw the fierceness and anger of the Lamanites, they were about to run away.

But Moroni inspired their hearts with thoughts of their lands and freedom. The Nephites prayed to the Lord for liberty and freedom.

They began to fight against the Lamanites with power, even though there were only half as many Nephites. The Lamanites became filled with terror. At last, Moroni told his men to stop killing the Lamanites.