Without Support, Nephite City Falls

Moroni received Helaman’s letter in 62 BC, the thirtieth year of the judges’ reign over the Nephites. Moroni was very happy to learn that Helaman and his people had been successful in regaining their lands. He announced this news to all the people in his region so that they would also rejoice. He immediately sent a letter to Pahoran, requesting troops to help Helaman more easily maintain the Nephite cities that his army had so miraculously regained. After sending this letter, Moroni again made plans to obtain the rest of their possessions and cities from the Lamanites.

The Nephites from the cities of Moroni, Lehi, and Morianton had found refuge in Nephihah, but as Moroni was making battle plans, the Lamanites attacked Nephihah.

The Lamanites who had run away from Helaman’s army in the Manti region had joined the Lamanite army which made this attack. The numerous Lamanite army grew larger every day. Feeling strong and confident, Ammoron, the Lamanite king, commanded his army to attack Nephihah, and they began to kill the Nephites with a great slaughter. But many Nephites escaped and joined Moroni’s army.

Moroni thought that men would be sent to Nephihah from their capital, Zarahemla, to assist the people in maintaining that city. Moroni assumed that the government knew, as he did, that it was easier to keep a city from falling than to retake it. This is why Moroni kept his forces in the cities that he had retaken.

When Moroni learned that Nephihah was lost, he was very sorry. He began to wonder if they, too, would fall because of the wickedness of their people in Zarahemla. All of Moroni’s chief captains felt the same way. Because the Lamanites were having success over them, they wondered what was happening with the people in Zarahemla, and doubted their personal righteousness. Moroni became angry with the government officials because of their apparent indifference to the freedom of their country.