Book of Mormon
Covenant of Christ
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16 And it came to pass in the eleventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, on the fifth day of the second month — there having been much peace in the land of Zarahemla, there having been no wars nor contentions for a certain number of years, even until the fifth day of the second month in the eleventh year — there was a cry of war heard throughout the land. 2 For behold, the armies of the Lamanites had come in on the wilderness side into the borders of the land, even into the city of Ammonihah, and began to slay the people and to destroy the city.
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16 In the 11th year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites, up until the fifth day of the second month there had been no wars or conflicts for a number of years and widespread peace had prevailed in the land of Zarahemla. But on the fifth day of the second month a cry of war was heard throughout the land. 2 Lamanite armies entered the outskirts of the land from the wilderness side, coming right into the city of Ammonihah, where they began to kill the people and destroy the city.
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3 And now it came to pass, before the Nephites could raise a sufficient army to drive them out of the land, they had destroyed the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, and also some around the borders of Noah, and taking others captive into the wilderness.
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3 Before the Nephites could raise an adequate army to drive them from the land, they had killed the people in the city of Ammonihah, as well as some in the outskirts of Noah, taking others as prisoners and left into the wilderness.
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4 Now it came to pass that the Nephites were desirous to obtain those who had been carried away captive into the wilderness. 5 Therefore, he that had been appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites (and his name was Zoram, and he had two sons, Lehi and Aha), now Zoram and his two sons, knowing that Alma was high priest over the church, and having heard that he had the spirit of prophecy, therefore they went unto him and desired of him to know whither the Lord would that they should go into the wilderness, in search of their brethren who had been taken captive by the Lamanites. 6 And it came to pass that Alma inquired of the Lord concerning the matter.
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4 The Nephites wanted to recover those who had been taken as prisoners and were now in the wilderness. 5 So the man named Zoram (whose two sons were named Lehi and Aha), was appointed chief captain over the Nephite armies. All three understood Alma was high priest over the congregation and heard he had the spirit of prophecy. Therefore Zoram went to him and asked him to find out where the Lord would direct them to go into the wilderness in search of their people who were Lamanite prisoners. 6 Alma asked the Lord.
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And Alma returned and said unto them, Behold, the Lamanites will cross the river Sidon in the south wilderness away up beyond the borders of the land of Manti. And behold, there shall ye meet them on the east of the river Sidon, and there the Lord will deliver unto thee thy brethren who have been taken captive by the Lamanites.
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Alma then returned and informed them: The Lamanites will cross the Sidon River in the southern wilderness, beyond the outskirts of the land of Manti. You’ll find them there, on the east side of the Sidon River. There the Lord will deliver to you all the Lamanite prisoners.
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7 And it came to pass that Zoram and his sons crossed over the river Sidon with their armies, and marched away beyond the borders of Manti into the south wilderness which was on the east side of the river Sidon. 8 And they came upon the armies of the Lamanites, and the Lamanites were scattered and driven into the wilderness. And they took their brethren who had been taken captive by the Lamanites; and there was not one soul of them who had been lost that were taken captive. And they were brought by their brethren to possess their own lands. 9 And thus ended the eleventh year of the judges, the Lamanites having been driven out of the land, and the people of Ammonihah were destroyed — yea, every living soul of the Ammonihahites were destroyed, and also their great city, which they said God could not destroy because of its greatness. 10 But behold, in one day it was left desolate, and their carcasses were mangled by dogs and by wild beasts of the wilderness. 11 Nevertheless, after many days their dead bodies were heaped up upon the face of the earth, and they were covered with a shallow covering. And now so great was the scent thereof that the people did not go in to possess the land of Ammonihah for many years. And it was called the Desolation of Nehors, for they were of the profession of Nehor who were slain; and their lands remained desolate. 12 And the Lamanites did not come again to war against the Nephites until the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi. And thus for three years did the people of Nephi have continual peace in all the land.
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7 So Zoram and his sons crossed over to the east side of the Sidon River with their armies and marched beyond the outskirts of Manti into the southern wilderness. 8 They attacked the Lamanite armies, scattering them and driving them into the wilderness. Every one of the Lamanite prisoners was rescued, without a single prisoner killed. They were returned to their own lands. 9 That ended the 11th year of the judges, with the Lamanites removed from the land. Ammonihah’s people were destroyed, every single one, and their great city which they claimed was too strong for God to destroy was gone. 10 In one day it was left deserted and ruined, and dogs and wild animals from the wilderness ate their corpses. 11 However, after many days their dead remains were piled up on the ground and covered with a thin layer of earth. The stench from it was so bad people didn’t go in to reoccupy Ammonihah for many years. It was called Desolation of Nehors, because those who had been killed practiced Nehor’s beliefs; and their lands remained uninhabited. 12 The Lamanites didn’t attack the Nephites again until the 14th year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites. So the Nephites enjoyed continuous peace throughout the land for three years.
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13 And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance unto the people in their temples, and in their sanctuaries, and also in their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews. 14 And as many as would hear their words, unto them they did impart the word of God without any respect of persons continually. 15 And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many more who had been chosen for the work to preach the word throughout all the land. And the establishment of the church became general throughout the land, in all the region round about, among all the people of the Nephites.
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13 Alma and Amulek went about preaching repentance to the people in their temples and sanctuaries, and in their synagogues, which were built based on Jewish custom. 14 They continually shared God’s word with any and all who would listen. 15 So Alma and Amulek continued preaching accompanied by many more chosen for the work. They taught in temples and synagogues throughout the land. And congregations were established widely throughout the land and in the surrounding areas where there were Nephites.
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16 And there was no unequality among them, for the Lord did pour out his spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming, 17 that they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch, be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God.
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16 The Spirit of the Lord was then equally and abundantly influencing everyone, preparing their minds and hearts to receive His message when He came. 17 They hoped to help the people avoid destruction by preaching against hard hearts and disbelief, to prepare them to joyfully accept the Lord’s message, enter His rest, and be grafted as a branch into the true vine.
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18 Now those priests who did go forth among the people did preach against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness, crying that these things ought not so to be; 19 holding forth things which must shortly come, yea, holding forth the coming of the Son of God, his sufferings and death, and the resurrection of the dead. 20 And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did hear with great joy and gladness. 21 And now, after the church having been established throughout all the land, having got the victory over the Devil, and the word of God being preached in its purity in all the land, and the Lord pouring out his blessings upon the people, thus ended the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.
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18 Now the priests denounced all lying, deceiving, jealousy, arguing, malicious and abusive behavior, theft, robbery, pillage, murder, committing adultery, and all kinds of lustfulness and indecent behavior, warning these things must not go on among them. 19 They explained the Son of God was coming soon. They described His suffering, death, and resulting resurrection of the dead. 20 Many asked about where the Son of God would come. They were taught He would appear to them after His resurrection, and this made the people joyful. 21 When the 14th year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites ended, the congregation had been established throughout the land, the accuser defeated, God’s word was being preached in its purest form, and the Lord was pouring out His blessings on the people.