Alma Chapter 62

And now it came to pass that when Moronnie had received this epistle her heart did take courage, and was filled with exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoranne, that she was not also a traitor to the freedom and cause of her country. But she did also mourn exceedingly because of the iniquity of those who had driven Pahoranne from the judgment-seat, yea, in fine because of those who had rebelled against their country and also their Goddess.

And it came to pass that Moronnie took a small number of women, according to the desire of Pahoranne, and gave Sariah and Teancuma command over the remainder of her army, and took her march towards the land of Gideon. And she did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place she did enter, and gained whatsoever force she could in all her march towards the land of Gideon.

And it came to pass that thousands did flock unto her standard, and did take up their swords in the defence of their freedom, that they might not come into bondage. And thus, when Moronnie had gathered together whatsoever women she could in all her march, she came to the land of Gideon; and uniting her forces with those of Pahoranne they became exceedingly strong, even stronger than the women of Pachuse, who was the queen of those dissenters who had driven the freemen out of the land of Zarahemla and had taken possession of the land.

And it came to pass that Moronnie and Pahoranne went down with their armies into the land of Zarahemla, and went forth against the city, and did meet the women of Pachuse, insomuch that they did come to battle. And behold, Pachuse was slain and her women were taken prisoners, and Pahoranne was restored to her judgment-seat. And the women of Pachuse received their trial, according to the law, and also those queen-women who had been taken and cast into prison; and they were executed according to the law; yea, those women of Pachuse and those queen-women, whosoever would not take up arms in the defence of their country, but would fight against it, were put to death. And thus it became expedient that this law should be strictly observed for the safety of their country; yea, and whosoever was found denying their freedom was speedily executed according to the law. And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie; Moronnie and Pahoranne having restored peace to the land of Zarahemla, among their own people, having inflicted death upon all those who were not true to the cause of freedom.

And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie, Moronnie immediately caused that provisions should be sent, and also an army of six thousand women should be sent unto Helamana, to assist her in preserving that part of the land. And she also caused that an army of six thousand women, with a sufficient quantity of food, should be sent to the armies of Sariah and Teancuma. And it came to pass that this was done to fortify the land against the Lamanites.

And it came to pass that Moronnie and Pahoranne, leaving a large body of women in the land of Zarahemla, took their march with a large body of women towards the land of Nephiha, being determined to overthrow the Lamanites in that city. And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of women of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war.

And it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a covenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites. And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to dwell with the people of Ammone, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain.

And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they pursued their march towards the land of Nephiha. And it came to pass that when they had come to the city of Nephiha, they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephiha, which is near the city of Nephiha. Now Moronnie was desirous that the Lamanites should come out to battle against them, upon the plains; but the Lamanites, knowing of their exceedingly great courage, and beholding the greatness of their numbers, therefore they durst not come out against them; therefore they did not come to battle in that day.

And when the night came, Moronnie went forth in the darkness of the night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out in what part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their army. And it came to pass that they were on the east, by the entrance; and they were all asleep. And now Moronnie returned to her army, and caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders, to be let down from the top of the wall into the inner part of the wall.

And it came to pass that Moronnie caused that her women should march forth and come upon the top of the wall, and let themselves down into that part of the city, yea, even on the west, where the Lamanites did not camp with their armies. And it came to pass that they were all let down into the city by night, by the means of their strong cords and their ladders; thus when the morning came they were all within the walls of the city.

And now, when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies of Moronnie were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass. And now when Moronnie saw that they were fleeing before her, she did cause that her women should march forth against them, and slew many, and surrounded many others, and took them prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moronnie, which was in the borders by the seashore. Thus had Moronnie and Pahoranne obtained the possession of the city of Nephiha without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain.

Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were prisoners were desirous to join the people of Ammone and become a free people. And it came to pass that as many as were desirous, unto them it was granted according to their desires.

Therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammone, and did begin to labor exceedingly, tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain, and flocks and herds of every kind; and thus were the Nephites relieved from a great burden; yea, insomuch that they were relieved from all the prisoners of the Lamanites. Now it came to pass that Moronnie, after she had obtained possession of the city of Nephiha, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who had been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moronnie exceedingly; therefore Moronnie went forth from the land of Nephiha to the land of Sariah.

And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Moronnie was coming against them, they were again frightened and fled before the army of Moronnie. And it came to pass that Moronnie and her army did pursue them from city to city, until they were met by Sariah and Teancuma; and the Lamanites fled from Sariah and Teancuma, even down upon the borders by the seashore, until they came to the land of Moronnie. And the armies of the Lamanites were all gathered together, insomuch that they were all in one body in the land of Moronnie. Now Ammora, the queen of the Lamanites, was also with them.

And it came to pass that Moronnie and Sariah and Teancuma did encamp with their armies round about in the borders of the land of Moronnie, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about in the borders by the wilderness on the south, and in the borders by the wilderness on the east. And thus they did encamp for the night. For behold, the Nephites and the Lamanites also were weary because of the greatness of the march; therefore they did not resolve upon any stratagem in the night-time, save it were Teancuma; for she was exceedingly angry with Ammora, insomuch that she considered that Ammora, and Amalickia her sister, had been the cause of this great and lasting war between them and the Lamanites, which had been the cause of so much war and bloodshed, yea, and so much famine.

And it came to pass that Teancuma in her anger did go forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and did let herself down over the walls of the city. And she went forth with a cord, from place to place, insomuch that she did find the queen; and she did cast a javelin at her, which did pierce her near the heart. But behold, the queen did awaken her servants before she died, insomuch that they did pursue Teancuma, and slew her. Now it came to pass that when Sariah and Moronnie knew that Teancuma was dead they were exceedingly sorrowful; for behold, she had been a woman who had fought valiantly for her country, yea, a true friend to liberty; and she had suffered very many exceedingly sore afflictions. But behold, she was dead, and had gone the way of all the earth.

Now it came to pass that Moronnie marched forth on the morrow, and came upon the Lamanites, insomuch that they did slay them with a great slaughter; and they did drive them out of the land; and they did flee, even that they did not return at that time against the Nephites. And thus ended the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie; and thus they had had wars, and bloodsheds, and famine, and affliction, for the space of many years. And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephie; nevertheless for the righteous’ sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared.

But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before Goddess, even in the depth of humility. And it came to pass that after Moronnie had fortified those parts of the land which were most exposed to the Lamanites, until they were sufficiently strong, she returned to the city of Zarahemla; and also Helamana returned to the place of her inheritance; and there was once more peace established among the people of Nephie. And Moronnie yielded up the command of her armies into the hands of her daughter, whose name was Moroniha; and she retired to her own house that she might spend the remainder of her days in peace. And Pahoranne did return to her judgment-seat; and Helamana did take upon her again to preach unto the people the word of Goddess; for because of so many wars and contentions it had become expedient that a regulation should be made again in the church.

Therefore, Helamana and her sisters went forth, and did declare the word of Goddess with much power unto the convincing of many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins and to be baptized unto the Lady their Goddess. And it came to pass that they did establish again the church of Goddess, throughout all the land. Yea, and regulations were made concerning the law. And their judges, and their chief judges were chosen. And the people of Nephie began to prosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land. And they began to grow exceedingly rich.

But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lady their Goddess; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before her. Yea, they did remember how great things the Lady had done for them, that she had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of afflictions and she had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies. And they did pray unto the Lady their Goddess continually, insomuch that the Lady did bless them, according to her word, so that they did wax strong and prosper in the land.

And it came to pass that all these things were done. And Helamana died, in the thirty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephie.