Alma 27

When the Lamanites realized, after many attempts, that their intentions of destroying the Nephites could not be fulfilled, they returned to the land of Nephi. The heavy losses of the Amalekite faction left them particularly bitter and angry. When they returned to the land of Nephi, they took their anger out on the Anti-Nephi-Lehi people, and began to destroy them.

The Anti-Nephi-Lehi people again refused to fight back and were slaughtered according to the whim of their enemies. When Ammon and his brothers saw this destruction among their beloved friends, they were moved to do something.

“Let’s gather up your people of God,” they said to the king, “and go to the land of Zarahemla. If you leave, you won’t be destroyed.”

“If we do as you say,” the king replied, “the Nephites will destroy us because of the many murders we’ve committed.”

“I will go and ask God what to do,” said Ammon. “If he says to leave, will you go?”

“Yes,” answered the king. “If God says to go, we will do so. We will be slaves to the Nephites until we have repaid them for the murders we’ve committed.”

“It is against my father’s law that there be any slaves among the Nephites,” Ammon said. “If we go, we will rely upon the mercy of my people.”

“Go ask God what to do,” said the king. “If he says go, we will go. Otherwise, we will stay here and perish.”

Ammon asked God and was answered. “Get these people out of this land so that they will not be killed off. Satan has a great hold on the Amalekites, who provoke the Lamanites to kill their brothers. This is a blessed generation of people, and I will preserve them.”

When Ammon told the king what God had said, they gathered up all the people of God, along with their flocks and herds of livestock, and left the land. When they entered the wilderness that divided the Lamanite lands from the Nephite lands, Ammon had them stop. “My brothers and I will go first to prepare the way,” he said. “Stay here until we return.”

When they entered Zarahemla, the four sons of Mosiah encountered their old friend, Alma. It was a joyous reunion and Alma escorted his friends back to his own home. They appeared before the chief judge, and told him what had happened to them in the land of Nephi, among the Lamanites. After receiving the brothers’ report, the chief judge sent out a proclamation among the people, telling them what he knew and asking for their thoughts and ideas regarding the destiny of the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. The result was a decision to set aside the land of Jershon as an inheritance for the emigrants. Furthermore, the people proposed to establish an army between the land of Jershon and the Lamanite lands so that the unarmed Anti-Nephi-Lehies could be protected from being slaughtered by the Lamanites. The Nephites proposed that the emigrants should set aside a portion of their production to maintain this protection from their enemies.

When Ammon heard this, he returned to the wilderness with Alma and told the Anti-Nephi-Lehies what had been decided. Alma also told these people the story of his conversion to God, along with the conversion of Ammon and his brothers. All of this was received with great joy, and afterwards they all went down to the land of Jershon together. From that time forward, the Nephites referred to the Anti-Nephi-Lehies as the people of Ammon, or Ammonites, and they were counted among the Nephites as members of the church of God. These people came to be recognized for their great devotion to God and other men. They were honest and upstanding in all their affairs, and resolute in their faith in Jesus Christ.

The Ammonites looked upon any violence with the greatest aversion, and would never take up arms to defend themselves. They had no fear of death because their faith in Jesus Christ, his resurrection, and their ultimate victory over death was so great. They would suffer the most horrible deaths rather than defend themselves with violence or weapons. Accordingly, they were beloved people, highly favored by God. [77 BC]