Alma 53

The Lamanite prisoners were put to work digging graves for the dead. After that Teancum marched them back to the city of Bountiful, where they were forced to dig defensive ditches and build fortifications around the city. When the work was finished the Lamanite prisoners were kept in a compound within the fortified city.

Moroni gave Lehi, his fellow commander and close friend, control of the city of Mulek. Moroni and Lehi had been through so much together that they may as well have been brothers. They loved each other, and were also well loved by all the Nephites.

That year Moroni made no more attempts to attack the Lamanites, or recapture the cities that had been lost. Instead, he focused on further fortifying the Nephite cities. He made preparations for war, protected the women and children, and grew food for the people and the army.

In spite of their recent victories the Nephites were on shaky ground due to internal dissension, intrigue, and sinfulness. The Lamanites took advantage of the Nephite weaknesses wherever they could, and managed to capture a few more cities along the west coastlands.

The Ammonites maintained their pledge to never arm themselves and fight, so the Nephites moved them to Zarahemla for their own protection. When the Ammonites saw firsthand the sacrifices the Nephites were making for them, they were moved with compassion to step forward and help in their own defense. But Helaman and his brothers intervened just before the Ammonites broke their pledge. Helaman was afraid that they would lose their souls if they armed themselves and broke their promises to God. But the Ammonites had many sons who had not taken the pledge, because they had been too young at the time the promises had been made. So these sons stepped forward as the fighting contingent of the Ammonites. 2,000 of these former Lamanite sons entered the army and promised to protect the Nephite lands and their freedom. Even though their skins were still as dark as Lamanites they called themselves Nephites.

While the Ammonites had never been a liability to the Nephites they now became a great asset to them in this time of trouble. These 2,000 young men knew the commandments of God, and kept them virtuously. After choosing Helaman as their leader they marched off with courage, honesty, and strength to defend their country. [64 BC]