A Secret Band of Killers

At the beginning of 52 BC, the fortieth year of the judges’ reign,

the Nephites began to have serious problems again, for Pahoran had died, and three of his sons, Pahoran, Paanchi, and Pacumeni, were fighting over the judgment-seat. Pahoran had many sons, but only these three wanted the judgment-seat, and they caused three divisions among the people. The majority of the people voted for Pahoran to be the chief judge and governor over the Nephites. Although he was disappointed, Pacumeni accepted the voice of the people, but Paanchi and those that wanted him to be governor were angry. Paanchi was about to convince his followers to rise up in rebellion against their brethren, when he was taken and tried according to the voice of the people. He was condemned to death for attempting to destroy the people’s liberty.

When Paanchi’s followers heard that he was condemned to die, they became very angry. They sent out Kishkumen, who murdered Pahoran as he sat on the judgment-seat. Pahoran’s servants chased Kishkumen, but he ran so quickly that he could not be caught.

Kishkumen went back to those who had sent him. Together they all entered into a secret covenant, vowing by their everlasting Maker, that they would not tell anyone that Kishkumen had murdered Pahoran. Because of this covenant, and because he was in disguise when he murdered Pahoran, Kishkumen was not suspected among the Nephites.

Kishkumen and his band, who had covenanted with him, mixed with the people in a way that they could not all be found. But those who were found were condemned to death.

Now being the rightful heir, and according to the voice of the people, Pacumeni was appointed as chief judge and governor over the people. All this happened in 52 BC.

In 51 BC, the Lamanites gathered a countless number of soldiers and armed them with swords, scimitars, bows, arrows, helmets, breastplates, and shields. Then they came down to fight the Nephites again. This time they were led by Coriantumr, a descendant of Zarahemla, a large, strong man as well as a Nephite traitor.

King Tubaloth, son of Ammoron, was the Lamanite king. He appointed Coriantumr to lead his army, thinking that Corian tumr was so strong and wise that he could beat the Nephites. And King Tubaloth stirred up his army to march to Zarahemla to fight the Nephites.

Because the Nephites had so much contention in their government, they had not kept enough guards in the land of Zarahemla. They never thought the Lamanites would dare come to their capital and attack their great city. But Coriantumr led so many into their city so quickly that there was no time for the Nephites to gather their army. Coriantumr killed the guards at the city entrance. Then his entire army marched into the city, killing all who opposed, and they captured the entire city. Pacumeni, the chief judge, tried to run out of the city, but Coriantumr struck him against the city wall and killed him.

After Coriantumr conquered Zarahemla, the strongest hold in all the land, he became very bold. He did not stay long in Zarahemla, but marched with a large army toward the city of Bountiful, determined to conquer all the northern lands. Coriantumr thought that the army he had destroyed was the greatest Nephite army in all the land, so he marched out quickly against the Nephites, giving them no time to gather, except into small groups. By doing this, he cut them down to the earth. Even though many Nephites had been killed in Zarahemla, Moronihah had a great advantage over Coriantumr because Coriantumr’s army was now in the center part of the land.

Moronihah never thought the Lamanites would come in to the center of the land. He thought they would attack the outer cities as they had in the past. This is why he had placed his strongest armies in the outer areas. But under the command of a Nephite traitor, the Lamanites had not been afraid to come into the center of the land. They had taken Zarahemla, and they were taking more cities and strongholds, killing many men, women, and children.

When Moronihah heard about this, he immediately sent Lehi with an army to head off Coriantumr’s army before they reached Bountiful. Lehi’s army met them and began to force them back to Zarahemla. Moronihah met them in their retreat, and a great, bloody battle ensued. Many Lamanites were killed, and Coriantumr was found among the dead. The Lamanites were surrounded and taken as prisoners because Coriantumr had led them right into the hands of the Nephites.

Now Moronihah again took possession of Zarahemla and sent the captured Lamanites out of the land in peace. This is how the year 51 BC ended.