Alma — Chapter 53
1 The Nephites guarded the Lamanite prisoners and made them bury both the Lamanite and Nephite dead. Moroni had men guard them while they worked.
2 Moroni then went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, and put Lehi in charge of the city. Lehi was a man who had fought with Moroni in most of his battles. He was a man like Moroni. They were very happy that each other was safe, because they loved each other, and all the Nephites loved them.
3 After the Lamanites were done burying the dead Lamanites and Nephites, they were made to walk back to the land of Bountiful, where Teancum (following Moroni’s orders) made them dig a ditch around the city of Bountiful.
4 He also made them build a wall of logs on the inside wall of the ditch. They put dirt from the ditch on the logs. So the Nephites made the Lamanites build a strong, very high wall of logs and dirt around the city of Bountiful.
5 This city became a very strong fort from that time on, and this was where the Nephites kept the Lamanite prisoners — inside a wall they had been made to build themselves. Moroni made the Lamanite prisoners work, because it was easier to guard them while they worked, and he wanted to use all his army to fight the Lamanites.
6 This was how Moroni beat one of the biggest Lamanite armies and took back the city of Mulek — one of the places in the land of Nephi where the Lamanites were strongest; and this was how he built a safe place for his prisoners.
7 He did not try to fight the Lamanites anymore that year, but had his men prepare for war, building forts and strong places to protect people from the Lamanites. He had his men save their women and children from dying of hunger, and had them work to get food for the armies.
8 The Lamanite armies near the south part of the west sea had taken over some cities in that part of the land because of some secret plans and fights among the Nephites while Moroni was away.
9 So because of sin and these secret plans and fights among themselves, the Nephites were in great danger.
10 Now I have something to say about the people of Ammon, who had been Lamanites, and had been converted to the Lord by Ammon and his brothers (or, rather, by the power of God’s word). They had come down to the land of Zarahemla, and had been protected by the Nephites ever since.
11 They could not fight against the Lamanites because of their promise not to kill anymore. They would have been destroyed by the Lamanites because of that promise, if it had not been for the love and mercy Ammon and his brothers had for them.
12 This was why they had come down to live in the land of Zarahemla, and why the Nephites had protected them ever since.
13 But when they saw the danger, and all the troubles the Nephites had suffered for them, they were filled with love and wanted to take up their weapons again to protect their country.
14 But just as they were going to take up their weapons again, Helaman and his brothers made them see that they should not break their promise.
15 Helaman was afraid that if they broke their promise, they would lose their souls. So all who had made this promise had to watch their brothers and sisters suffer during this dangerous time.
16 But they had many sons who had not made this promise. They came together at this time, and all who could take up weapons did so. They called themselves Nephites.
17 They promised to fight for the Nephites’ freedom and to protect their lands with their lives. Yes, they promised they would never give up their freedom, but would fight at all times to protect the Nephites and themselves from becoming slaves.
18 Two thousand young men made this promise and took up their weapons to protect their country.
19 They had never made the Nephites weaker; and at this time they became a great help as they took up their weapons. They wanted Helaman to be their leader.
20 They were all young, and very brave, and strong, and hard-working. Not only that, they were sure to do whatever they were trusted to do.
21 Yes, they were serious men of truth. They had been taught to keep God’s commandments and to walk in God’s ways.
22 Helaman led his two thousand young soldiers to help the people in the borders of the south part of the west sea.
23 And this was how the twenty-eighth year ended.
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