Alma — Chapter 61
1 Soon after Moroni sent his letter to the chief judge, he got a letter from Pahoran, the chief judge, and this is what it said:
2 I, Pahoran, the chief ruler of the land, send this letter to Moroni, the chief captain of the army. Moroni, I want to tell you that I am not happy about your troubles — in fact, they make my soul very sad.
3 But some people are very happy about your troubles, so much so that they have rebelled against me and the freemen. Many people have rebelled.
4 The ones who have rebelled and tried to take away my rule as chief judge are the reason for your troubles. They have told many lies to the people which has made trouble for us. They have stopped sending supplies and told our freemen not to help you.
5 They threw me out, and I escaped to the land of Gideon with as many men as I could get.
6 I have sent an order all through this part of the land, and many people are coming to us with their swords to protect their land and their freedom, and to make wrong things right again.
7 So many people have come to help us that the rebels are afraid to come against us in battle.
8 They have taken over the city of Zarahemla, and have a king to rule them. Their king has written to the Lamanite king and made a treaty with him, saying that he will keep Zarahemla, which will help the Lamanites take over the rest of the land. The king in Zarahemla will be made king over all the Nephites after the Lamanites defeat us.
9 You said bad things about me in your letter, but it does not matter. I am not angry, but I am happy because of your great heart. I, Pahoran, am not looking for power. I want to be chief judge to help protect the rights and freedom of my people. I want to keep the freedom God has given to us.
10 We will fight this wickedness even if it means killing. We would not kill the Lamanites if they would stay in their own land.
11 We would not kill our Nephite brothers if they did not try to take away our freedom and kill us.
12 We would even become slaves if it were a punishment of God’s justice, or if God commanded us to.
13 But he does not command us to become slaves to our enemies. He commands us to trust in him, and he will save us.
14 So, my dear brother Moroni, let us fight evil. Whatever evils we cannot fight with words, such as rebellions, let us fight them with the sword, so we can keep our freedom, and be happy in our church and in doing the work of God and Christ.
15 So then, come to me quickly with a few of your men, and leave the rest with Lehi and Teancum. Tell them to fight the war in that part of the land as the Spirit of God leads them.
16 I have sent a few supplies to them so they will not die of hunger while you come to me.
17 Gather as many men as you can on your way here, and we will go fight against those rebels with God’s help, as we have faith in him.
18 We will take over Zarahemla again so we will be able to send more food to Lehi and Teancum. Yes, we will fight against the rebels with God’s strength and stop this evil.
19 Moroni, I was very happy to get your letter, because I did not know if we should fight against our brothers.
20 But you said the Lord told you to fight them if they will not repent.
21 Help Lehi and Teancum be strong in God. Tell them not to be afraid, because God will save them and everyone who fights for the freedom God gave them. Now I end this letter to my dear brother Moroni.
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