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Annotations |
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Chapter 53
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1 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 Moroni
placed men over them to guard them while they should perform their labors.
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2 And Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, and took
command of the city and gave it unto Lehi. Now behold, this Lehi was a man
who had been with Moroni in the more part of all his battles; and he was a
man like unto Moroni, and they rejoiced in each other’s safety; yea, they
were beloved by each other, and also beloved by all the people of Nephi.
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3 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 Teancum, by the orders of Moroni,
caused that they should commence laboring in digging a ditch round about the
land, or the city, Bountiful.
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4 And he 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.
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5 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
Moroni was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to
guard them while at their labor; and he desired all his forces when he should
make an attack upon the Lamanites.
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6 And it came to pass that Moroni had thus gained a victory
over one of the greatest of the armies of the Lamanites, and had obtained
possession of the city of Mulek, which was one of the strongest holds of the
Lamanites in the land of Nephi; and thus he had also built a stronghold to
retain his prisoners.
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7 And it came to pass that he did no more attempt a battle
with the Lamanites in that year, but he did employ his men in preparing for
war, yea, and in making fortifications to guard against the Lamanites, yea,
and also delivering their women and their children from famine and
affliction, and providing food for their armies.
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8 And now it came to pass that the armies of the
Lamanites, on the west sea, south, while in the absence of Moroni 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.
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9 And thus because of iniquity amongst themselves, yea,
because of dissensions and intrigue among themselves they were placed in the
most dangerous circumstances.
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10 And now behold, I have somewhat to say concerning the
people of Ammon, who, in the beginning, were Lamanites; but by Ammon and his
brethren, or rather by the power and word of God, they had been converted
unto the Lord; and they had been brought down into the land of Zarahemla, and
had ever since been protected by the Nephites.
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11 And because of their oath they had been kept from
taking up arms against their brethren; 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 brethren, had it not been for the pity and the exceeding love
which Ammon and his brethren had had for them.
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12 And for this cause they were brought down into the land
of Zarahemla; and they ever had been protected by the Nephites.
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13 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.
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14 But behold, as they were about to take their weapons of
war, they were overpowered by the persuasions of Helaman and his brethren,
for they were about to break the oath which they had made.
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15 And Helaman feared lest by so doing they should lose
their souls; therefore all those who had entered into this covenant were
compelled to behold their brethren wade through their afflictions, in their
dangerous circumstances at this time.
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16 But behold, it came to pass they had many sons, 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.
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17 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.
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18 Now behold, there were two thousand of those young men,
who entered into this covenant and took their weapons of war to defend their
country.
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19 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
Helaman should be their leader.
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20 And they were all young men, and they were exceedingly
valiant for courage, and also for strength and activity; but behold, this was
not all—they were men who were true at all times in whatsoever thing they
were entrusted.
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21 Yea, they were men of truth and soberness, for they had
been taught to keep the commandments of God and to walk uprightly before him.
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22 And now it came to pass that Helaman did march at the
head of his two thousand stripling soldiers, to the support of the people in
the borders of the land on the south by the west sea.
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Alma 53:22-23
The people of Ammon were Lamanites converted to the gospel taught by Ammon.
These Ammonites had covenanted never to take up weapons against anyone again
(verse 11 and Alma 24:18). But starting in
Alma 53:13, the Ammonites are concerned for
the Nephites who are protecting them in war, so the Ammonites considered
taking up weapons to wage war for the Nephites. Of course, the Nephites are
concerned that the Ammonites might lose their souls if they break the covenant, so they
figure out a work-around. The Ammonite sons who were too young to have made
the covenant could wage war without jeopardizing their souls.
Alma 53:22-23 tells us Helaman first marched
with these young men (2,000 stripling soldiers) to battle at the end of the
28th year of the reign of the judges. This conflicts with
Alma 56:7-9 that tells us Helaman marched
with these 2,000 young warriors in the 26th year.
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23 And thus ended the twenty and eighth year of the reign
of the judges over the people of Nephi.
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Annotation for Alma 53:22-23 above
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