Let thy words be few. Ecclesiastes 5:2
59 1-2 When Moroni received and read Helaman’s letter in 62 BCE, he rejoiced exceedingly. 3-4 He sent a letter to the chief judge, Pahoran, asking for help in strengthening Helaman’s army to help him recapture the cities the Lamanites had taken.
5-7 Meanwhile, the Lamanites attacked and began to kill people of Nephihah in the cities of Moroni, Lehi, and Morianton in an exceedingly great slaughter. 11-13 Moroni was angry because the government hadn’t tried to help.
60 1-2 Moroni wrote another letter to Pahoran. Here’s what it said:
I am writing to condemn you and your government for not providing us with the swords, scimitars, and other weapons that we need to fight the Lamanites. 3-4 My men and I have suffered, without complaint, hunger, thirst, fatigue, and every other kind of affliction. Thousands of us have died by the sword, while you’ve done nothing to help us. 7 You sit on your thrones in a thoughtless stupor while thousands of us are dying. 14 God will condemn you for your slothfulness.
16-17 It’s all the fault of those king-men. 23 God said that the inward vessel will be cleaned first, and then the outer vessel. 24 So we won’t fight anymore until we’ve cleaned our inner vessel (i.e., the head of our government). 27-30 If you won’t help us, I’ll stir up insurrections against you, the sword of justice will fall on you, and I’ll come and kill you with my sword. 34-35 So send us some provisions, or we’ll come and take them from you by force. 36 And that’s the end of my letter.
61 1 Soon after Moroni sent his letter to Pahoran, he received a letter from him, saying:
2 I’m Pahoran, the chief governor of this land. Sorry to hear about your troubles.
3 Some people here have rebelled against me and the freemen. 5-8 They’ve driven me out of Zarahemla and have appointed a king to rule over them. I’ve had to flee to the land of Gideon. The new king has written a letter to the king of the Lamanites, in which he offered to give the city of Zarahemla to them, if he is allowed to continue ruling as king.
9 I’m not angry with you. 15 Send some of your men to help us, while leaving the others to fight with Lehi and Teancum. 16 I’ve sent a few provisions to them to keep them alive while you’re here helping me. 17-18 With your help, we’ll take back the city of Zarahemla from the Lamanites.
62 1-2 When Moroni read Pahoran’s letter he was filled with joy and sadness. 3-4 He took a few men and marched toward the land of Gideon, raising the standard of liberty wherever he went. 5 Thousands flocked to his standard, and took up their swords in defense of freedom.
6 When Moroni and his men arrived in the land of Gideon, they were joined by the forces sent by Pahoran. Their combined army was now stronger than the men of Pachus, who was the king of the dissenters who drove the freemen out of the land of Zarahemla.
7 Moroni and Pahoran’s armies went to the land of Zarahemla to fight Pachus and his army. 8 Pachus was killed and Pahoran was restored to his judgment seat.
9-10 The king-men who supported Pachus were killed, along with those king-men who refused to fight for their country. 11 And whoever denied their freedom was also killed for not being true to the cause of freedom.
12-13 As the year 61 BCE began, Moroni sent armies of 6000 to Helaman, Lehi, and Teancum, along with provisions. 15 Along the way, they captured a large number of Lamanites and killed many of them. 16-17 The ones they didn’t kill (about 4000) were forced to promise never to attack the Nephites again.
18-19 Moroni’s army marched to the land of Nephihah. He wanted to fight the Lamanites there, but they were too afraid to fight against his army. 20-23 So after dark, Moroni’s army climbed over the wall and entered the city. 24-25 When the Lamanites saw them within the walls of the city, they ran away. But many of them were killed by Moroni and his army before they could escape. 26 So Moroni and Pahoran took the city of Nephihah without losing a single soul, while killing many Lamanites. 27-29 Many of the Lamanites that were captured in the battle wanted to join the people of Ammon. 31-33 Moroni and his army went throughout the land chasing Lamanites from city to city. The remaining Lamanites fled to the land of Moroni with Ammoron, the Lamanite king.
36 That night, when it was dark, Teancum snuck into the Lamanite’s camp and threw a javelin through King Ammoron’s heart. But the king alerted his servants before he died, and they chased down Teancum and killed him.
38 The next day, Moroni attacked the Lamanites and killed them with a great slaughter. 39 And with that, the year 61 BCE ended. 42-43 After the battles, Moroni returned to the city of Zarahemla and gave command of his armies to his son, Moronihah. And the Nephites prospered and became exceedingly strong, rich, and humble. 52 Helaman died in 57 BCE.
63 1 In the beginning of 56 BCE, Shiblon took possession of the sacred things that had delivered to Helaman by Alma. 3 Then, at the end of the same year, Moroni died. 4 The next year, 5,400 men, along with many women and children, left the land of Zarahemla going north.
5 Hagoth was an exceedingly curious man who built an exceedingly large ship, which he launched into the west sea. 6 Many Nephites and their families put their provisions on the ship and sailed northward.
7 The year after that, Hagoth built other ships. The first ship returned, and many more people boarded it, and set off to the northward. 8 They were never heard of again and probably drowned. Another ship sailed off, too, but we don’t know where it went. 9 Many other people left to the land northward at the end of year.
10 Shiblon died in 53 BCE. And Corianton left to the northward land in ship to carry provisions to those who had left previously. 11 Before Shiblon died, he gave the sacred things to Helaman’s son, Helaman Jr. 17 And thus ends the account of Alma, and Helaman his son, and Shiblon, who is his son.
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