Alma 16

Zarahemla was at peace when Alma and Amulek returned; but in the 11 th year of elected judges, another war with the Lamanites began. The Lamanites attacked along the border lands beside the wilderness starting at Ammonihah. By the time the Nephites raised an army to defend the land, Ammonihah had been destroyed and all the people had been killed. In other lands, the Lamanites took captives with them back into the wilderness.

The chief captain of the Nephite army came to Alma to ask whether or not the captives might be recovered. Engaging his spirit of prophecy, Alma inquired of God, and learned that the Lamanite war party would cross the Sidon River in the south wilderness. God told Alma that if they met the Lamanites at that point, the captives could be delivered from their bondage through the power of God; so the Nephite army went to the appointed place.

When the Nephite army came upon the Lamanites, they scattered them and drove them back into the wilderness. All of the captives were recovered without a single loss.

Except for the people of Ammonihah there were no casualties, and the captives were all able to return to their homes. The people of Ammonihah had believed that their great city could not be destroyed, but in a single day it was leveled. The dead were mangled by dogs and wild beasts, and their bodies heaped in piles were covered only with a shallow layer of dirt. Because of the stench, the area remained desolate and uninhabited for many years to come.

For several years, there was peace between the Nephites and Lamanites. Alma and Amulek continued to preach about the importance of repentance, in the temples, sanctuaries, and synagogues that were built. Throughout the Nephite lands, the church was restored among the Nephite people. There was equality among the people and God poured out his Spirit across the land. The minds of men were prepared to receive the word about the coming of Jesus Christ.

The priests spoke out against lies, deception, envy, conflict, hatred, theft, plunder, murder, adultery, and lust. They spoke also about the coming of Jesus Christ, his suffering, death, and resurrection. Many of the people wanted to know where he would appear, and were told that he would come to them after his resurrection. The people were glad and joyful to hear this. In the 14th year of elected judges, the word of God was preached in its purity throughout the Nephite lands and God poured his blessings down upon his people. [78 BC]