Moroni Sets Zarahemla in Order

Upon receiving this letter, Moroni took courage and was filled with great joy because of Pahoran’s faithfulness. He was glad to know that Pahoran was not a traitor to the cause of freedom for his country. However, Moroni was very sorry because of the sinfulness of the people who had driven Pahoran from the judgment-seat, rebelling against their God and country.

Moroni took a small number of men and marched toward the land of Gideon, leaving Lehi and Teancum in command over the rest of his army. He raised The Title of Liberty in every place he entered, adding whomever he could to his forces while marching toward Gideon. Thousands rallied to his flag, taking up swords to defend their freedom. After Moroni gathered all the men he could, he arrived in the land of Gideon and united his forces with Pahoran’s. Together, their army was much stronger than the Kingmen’s army.

Moroni’s and Pahoran’s armies met the Kingmen’s army in the city of Zarahemla. During the battle Pachus was killed, and his men were taken prisoner. Then Pahoran was restored to his judgment-seat.

All of Pachus’ men and the Kingmen received their trial and were executed according to the law. It was necessary for this strict law to be observed in order to preserve the safety of their country. This is why all those who denied the freedom of others were quickly executed according to the law. By the end of 62 BC, Moroni and Pahoran had restored peace in the land of Zarahemla by destroying all those who were not true to the cause of freedom.

In the beginning of 61 BC, Moroni quickly sent provisions and 6,000 men to assist Helaman in preserving his part of the land. Moroni also sent provisions with 6,000 men to Lehi’s and Teancum’s armies. Then he and Pahoran left many men in the land of Zarahemla and took a large army to Nephihah, determined to overthrow the Lamanites in that city. During their march, they attacked a large Lamanite army, killing many and capturing the rest. They also captured their provisions and weapons. Moroni told the 4,000 captured Lamanites that they must enter into a covenant never to take up their weapons of war against the Nephites again. After they entered into this covenant, they were sent to live with Ammon’s people.

Then Moroni and Pahoran’s army came near Nephihah, camping in the plains near the city. Moroni wanted the Lamanites to come out and fight them in the plains. Seeing their large army, and also knowing the Nephites were very courageous, the Lamanites dared not come out against them. That night, Moroni climbed on top of the wall to see where the Lamanites were camping inside the city. He saw their camp on the east side, near the entrance, and they were all asleep. Moroni returned to his army and told them to quickly prepare strong ropes and ladders.

Then Moroni and his men climbed on top of the west wall, away from the Lamanites’ camp, and climbed down into the city, using their strong ropes and ladders. In the morning they were all within the city walls. When the Lamanites awoke and saw Moroni’s army in the city, they were so afraid that they began to run out of the entrance. Moroni ordered his men to attack them. Many were killed and many more were surrounded and taken as prisoners. The rest escaped into the land of Moroni, near the eastern shore.

This is how Moroni and Pahoran regained Nephihah without losing a single Nephite. The Lamanite prisoners wanted to join Ammon’s people and become free, so they were granted their freedom according to their desires. All the prisoners joined Ammon’s people. They worked hard tilling the ground and raising all types of grain, flocks, and herds. This is how the Nephites were relieved from the great burden of keeping prisoners.

In regaining the city, Moroni had set many Nephite prisoners free. He had also reduced the Lamanite forces by the number of those who had made a covenant of peace. Thus strengthened, Moroni’s army marched toward the land of Lehi.

When the Lamanites in the land of Lehi saw Moroni’s army coming, they were again frightened and ran away. Moroni and his army chased them from city to city, until they were met by Lehi and Teancum. The Lamanites ran from them, down the coast, until they came to the land of Moroni. The entire Lamanite army, including their king, Ammoron, gathered there.

Moroni’s, Lehi’s, and Teancum’s armies camped near the southern and eastern borders of the land of Moroni, near the wilderness, surrounding the Lamanites. The Nephites and Lamanites were tired, having made a long journey, so they both camped for the night. The Nephites did not decide on any night-time strategy, except for Teancum. He was very angry with Ammoron, knowing that he and his brother, Amalickiah, had been the cause of this long war and so much bloodshed and famine. So Teancum went out that night, lowered himself over the city wall, and went looking for Ammoron in the Lamanite camp. Teancum found him sleeping and stabbed him near the heart with a javelin. Yet Ammoron cried out and awoke his servants before he died, and the servants chased Teancum and killed him.

When Lehi and Moroni heard Teancum was dead, they were very sorry, for he was a man who had fought valiantly for his country. He had been a true friend of liberty and had suffered many great afflictions. But now he was dead and had gone the way of all the earth.

The next morning, Moroni’s army attacked the Lamanites, killing them with a great slaughter, and the Lamanites were driven out of the land. This is how 61 BC ended, and the Nephites had been experiencing wars, bloodshed, famine, and affliction for many years. There had been murders, contentions, dissensions, and all types of iniquity among the Nephites, but for the sake of the righteous, and because of their prayers, the Nephites had been spared.

Because the war had lasted for so many years, many people had hardened their hearts. Others, because of their afflictions, had softened their hearts, humbling themselves before God in the depths of humility.

After Moroni had fortified the most vulnerable parts of the land, he returned to the city of Zarahemla. Helaman returned to the place of his inheritance, and peace was once again established among the Nephites. Moroni retired from the army and went to his own house to live out the rest of his life in peace. He gave the command of his armies to his son, Moronihah.

Pahoran returned to his judgment-seat, and Helaman took up preaching the word of God to the people again. Because there had been so much war and contention, it had become necessary to regulate the affairs of the church again. Helaman and his brethren declared the word of God with great power, convincing many people of their wickedness, and many repented of their sins and were baptized to the Lord their God. A church of God was established once again throughout the land, regulations were made concerning the law, and judges and chief judges were chosen.

The Nephites began to prosper again, populating the land and growing rich. Even though they became rich, they did not become proud. They were not slow to remember the Lord their God, and they greatly humbled themselves before Him. They remembered the great things the Lord had done for them in delivering them from death, captivity, and all types of afflictions. They prayed to the Lord their God, so much that He blessed them according to His word. And in 57 BC, Helaman died.