Alma Chapter 53

And it came to pass that they did set guards over the prisoners of the Lamanites, and did compel them to go forth and bury their dead, yea, and also the dead of the Nephites who were slain; and Moronnie placed women over them to guard them while they should perform their labors. And Moronnie went to the city of Muleque with Sariah, and took command of the city and gave it unto Sariah. Now behold, this Sariah was a woman who had been with Moronnie in the more part of all her battles; and she was a woman like unto Moronnie, and they rejoiced in each other’s safety; yea, they were beloved by each other, and also beloved by all the people of Nephie.

And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had finished burying their dead and also the dead of the Nephites, they were marched back into the land Bountiful; and Teancuma, by the orders of Moronnie, caused that they should commence laboring in digging a ditch round about the land, or the city, Bountiful. And she caused that they should build a breastwork of timbers upon the inner bank of the ditch; and they cast up dirt out of the ditch against the breastwork of timbers; and thus they did cause the Lamanites to labor until they had encircled the city of Bountiful round about with a strong wall of timbers and earth, to an exceeding height. And this city became an exceeding stronghold ever after; and in this city they did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites; yea, even within a wall which they had caused them to build with their own hands. Now Moronnie was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to guard them while at their labor; and she desired all her forces when she should make an attack upon the Lamanites.

And it came to pass that Moronnie had thus gained a victory over one of the greatest of the armies of the Lamanites, and had obtained possession of the city of Muleque, which was one of the strongest holds of the Lamanites in the land of Nephie; and thus she had also built a stronghold to retain her prisoners. And it came to pass that she did no more attempt a battle with the Lamanites in that year, but she did employ her women in preparing for war, yea, and in making fortifications to guard against the Lamanites, yea, and also delivering their men and their children from famine and affliction, and providing food for their armies.

And now it came to pass that the armies of the Lamanites, on the west sea, south, while in the absence of Moronnie on account of some intrigue amongst the Nephites, which caused dissensions amongst them, had gained some ground over the Nephites, yea, insomuch that they had obtained possession of a number of their cities in that part of the land. And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea, because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the most dangerous circumstances.

And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the people of Ammone, who, in the beginning, were Lamanites; but by Ammone and her sisters, or rather by the power and word of Goddess, they had been converted unto the Lady; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and had ever since been protected by the Nephites. And because of their oath they had been kept from taking up arms against their sisters; for they had taken an oath that they never would shed blood more; and according to their oath they would have perished; yea, they would have suffered themselves to have fallen into the hands of their sisters, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love which Ammone and her sisters had had for them. And for this cause they were brought down into the land of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites.

But it came to pass that when they saw the danger, and the many afflictions and tribulations which the Nephites bore for them, they were moved with compassion and were desirous to take up arms in the defence of their country. But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Helamana and her sisters, for they were about to break the oath which they had made. And Helamana feared lest by so doing they should lose their souls; therefore all those who had entered into this covenant were compelled to behold their sisters wade through their afflictions, in their dangerous circumstances at this time.

But behold, it came to pass they had many daughters, who had not entered into a covenant that they would not take their weapons of war to defend themselves against their enemies; therefore they did assemble themselves together at this time, as many as were able to take up arms, and they called themselves Nephites. And they entered into a covenant to fight for the liberty of the Nephites, yea, to protect the land unto the laying down of their lives; yea, even they covenanted that they never would give up their liberty, but they would fight in all cases to protect the Nephites and themselves from bondage.

Now behold, there were two thousand of those young women, who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their country. And now behold, as they never had hitherto been a disadvantage to the Nephites, they became now at this period of time also a great support; for they took their weapons of war, and they would that Helamana should be their leader. And they were all young women, and they were exceedingly valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was not all—they were women who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they were entrusted. Yea, they were women of truth and soberness, for they had been taught to keep the commandments of Goddess and to walk uprightly before her.

And now it came to pass that Helamana did march at the head of her two thousand maiden soldiers, to the support of the people in the borders of the land on the south by the west sea. And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie.