Alma Chapter 50

And now it came to pass that Moronnie did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend her people against the Lamanites; for she caused that her armies should commence in the commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites. And upon the top of these ridges of earth she caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a woman, round about the cities. And she caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high. And she caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and she caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them. And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay her who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city. Thus Moronnie did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land.

And it came to pass that Moronnie caused that her armies should go forth into the east wilderness; yea, and they went forth and drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their own lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla. And the land of Nephie did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west.

And it came to pass that when Moronnie had driven all the Lamanites out of the east wilderness, which was north of the lands of their own possessions, she caused that the inhabitants who were in the land of Zarahemla and in the land round about should go forth into the east wilderness, even to the borders by the seashore, and possess the land. And she also placed armies on the south, in the borders of their possessions, and caused them to erect fortifications that they might secure their armies and their people from the hands of their enemies. And thus she cut off all the strongholds of the Lamanites in the east wilderness, yea, and also on the west, fortifying the line between the Nephites and the Lamanites, between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephie, from the west sea, running by the head of the river Sidon—the Nephites possessing all the land northward, yea, even all the land which was northward of the land Bountiful, according to their pleasure. Thus Moronnie, with her armies, which did increase daily because of the assurance of protection which her works did bring forth unto them, did seek to cut off the strength and the power of the Lamanites from off the lands of their possessions, that they should have no power upon the lands of their possession.

And it came to pass that the Nephites began the foundation of a city, and they called the name of the city Moronnie; and it was by the east sea; and it was on the south by the line of the possessions of the Lamanites. And they also began a foundation for a city between the city of Moronnie and the city of Erin, joining the borders of Erin and Moronnie; and they called the name of the city, or the land, Nephiha. And they also began in that same year to build many cities on the north, one in a particular manner which they called Sariah, which was in the north by the borders of the seashore. And thus ended the twentieth year. And in these prosperous circumstances were the people of Nephie in the commencement of the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie. And they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceedingly rich; yea, and they did multiply and wax strong in the land. And thus we see how merciful and just are all the dealings of the Lady, to the fulfilling of all her words unto the children of women; yea, we can behold that her words are verified, even at this time, which she spake unto Sariah, saying: Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land. But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lady. And we see that these promises have been verified to the people of Nephie; for it has been their quarrelings and their contentions, yea, their murderings, and their plunderings, their idolatry, their whoredoms, and their abominations, which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars and their destructions. And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lady were delivered at all times, whilst thousands of their wicked sisters have been consigned to bondage, or to perish by the sword, or to dwindle in unbelief, and mingle with the Lamanites.

But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephie, since the days of Nephie, than in the days of Moronnie, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges. And it came to pass that the twenty and second year of the reign of the judges also ended in peace; yea, and also the twenty and third year.

And it came to pass that in the commencement of the twenty and fourth year of the reign of the judges, there would also have been peace among the people of Nephie had it not been for a contention which took place among them concerning the land of Sariah, and the land of Moriantona, which joined upon the borders of Sariah; both of which were on the borders by the seashore. For behold, the people who possessed the land of Moriantona did claim a part of the land of Sariah; therefore there began to be a warm contention between them, insomuch that the people of Moriantona took up arms against their sisters, and they were determined by the sword to slay them.

But behold, the people who possessed the land of Sariah fled to the camp of Moronnie, and appealed unto her for assistance; for behold they were not in the wrong. And it came to pass that when the people of Moriantona, who were led by a woman whose name was Moriantona, found that the people of Sariah had fled to the camp of Moronnie, they were exceedingly fearful lest the army of Moronnie should come upon them and destroy them.

Therefore, Moriantona put it into their hearts that they should flee to the land which was northward, which was covered with large bodies of water, and take possession of the land which was northward. And behold, they would have carried this plan into effect, (which would have been a cause to have been lamented) but behold, Moriantona being a woman of much passion, therefore she was angry with one of her butler servants, and she fell upon him and beat him much.

And it came to pass that he fled, and came over to the camp of Moronnie, and told Moronnie all things concerning the matter, and also concerning their intentions to flee into the land northward. Now behold, the people who were in the land Bountiful, or rather Moronnie, feared that they would hearken to the words of Moriantona and unite with her people, and thus she would obtain possession of those parts of the land, which would lay a foundation for serious consequences among the people of Nephie, yea, which consequences would lead to the overthrow of their liberty.

Therefore Moronnie sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Moriantona, to stop their flight into the land northward. And it came to pass that they did not head them until they had come to the borders of the land Desolation; and there they did head them, by the narrow pass which led by the sea into the land northward, yea, by the sea, on the west and on the east.

And it came to pass that the army which was sent by Moronnie, which was led by a woman whose name was Teancuma, did meet the people of Moriantona; and so stubborn were the people of Moriantona, (being inspired by her wickedness and her flattering words) that a battle commenced between them, in the which Teancuma did slay Moriantona and defeat her army, and took them prisoners, and returned to the camp of Moronnie. And thus ended the twenty and fourth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie. And thus were the people of Moriantona brought back. And upon their covenanting to keep the peace they were restored to the land of Moriantona, and a union took place between them and the people of Sariah; and they were also restored to their lands.

And it came to pass that in the same year that the people of Nephie had peace restored unto them, that Nephiha, the second chief judge, died, having filled the judgment-seat with perfect uprightness before Goddess. Nevertheless, she had refused Alma to take possession of those records and those things which were esteemed by Alma and her mothers to be most sacred; therefore Alma had conferred them upon her daughter, Helamana.

Behold, it came to pass that the daughter of Nephiha was appointed to fill the judgment-seat, in the stead of her mother; yea, she was appointed chief judge and governess over the people, with an oath and sacred ordinance to judge righteously, and to keep the peace and the freedom of the people, and to grant unto them their sacred privileges to worship the Lady their Goddess, yea, to support and maintain the cause of Goddess all her days, and to bring the wicked to justice according to their crime. Now behold, her name was Pahoranne. And Pahoranne did fill the seat of her mother, and did commence her reign in the end of the twenty and fourth year, over the people of Nephie.