Alma 62

Alma 62:1

1 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle his heart did take courage, and was filled with exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoran, that he was not also a traitor to the freedom and cause of his country.

Alma 62:2

2 But he did also mourn exceedingly because of the iniquity of those who had driven Pahoran from the judgment-seat, yea, in fine because of those who had rebelled against their country and also their God.

Redaction: Mormon has used this technique before to express mixed emotions. He gives us the joy of Moroni, and then his sadness. Mormon wants us to understand the motivations behind these great men, and does it in an almost formulaic way where he presents two statements of emotion that are parallel, but expressing the opposite emotion. We have seen this paralleling of opposite emotions in Alma 7:5 and Alma 28:14.

Alma 62:3

3 And it came to pass that Moroni took a small number of men, according to the desire of Pahoran, and gave Lehi and Teancum command over the remainder of his army, and took his march towards the land of Gideon.

Alma 62:4

4 And he did raise the standard of liberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon.

The standard of liberty was the call to defend the Nephite way. This is precisely what this mission is intended to do. Moroni wants to remove the kingmen, which was the group against whom the title of liberty had been raised in the first place. Now as he marches to Gideon he attempts to augment his battle-hardened troops with other reserves who are in the country round about, and who are willing to fight for freedom, which is defined (in this case) as the traditional Nephite way of government and religion.

Alma 62:5

5 And it came to pass that thousands did flock unto his standard, and did take up their swords in the defence of their freedom, that they might not come into bondage.

Social: Moroni recruits men as he travels. The men that are being recruited are probably those who are in the fields, and are not part of the government of any large cities that they may have passed. Those who are already in the fields are those for whom there is no great advantage in the Lamanite system. They already enjoy their lives and lands, and the addition of an elite; does not immediately change their lives. Thus they are those willing to support the traditional Nephite way. There are thousands of them because these are the majority of the people in the land. The rebellion is led by city folk, and city-lineages who have the most to gain from a Lamanite takeover. The were able to take over in Zarahemla because they would be more numerous inside of a city, while the type of men rallying to Moroni’s standard of liberty would be most assuredly found in the fields. Of course cities like Gideon and surely Jershon remained faithful even inside the cities, but as we have seen in the Book of Mormon, rebellion among the Nephites is city-oriented (Ammonihah and Antionum of the Zoramites are two specific and recent examples).

Alma 62:6

6 And thus, when Moroni had gathered together whatsoever men he could in all his march, he came to the land of Gideon; and uniting his forces with those of Pahoran they became exceedingly strong, even stronger than the men of Pachus, who was the king of those dissenters who had driven the freemen out of the land of Zarahemla and had taken possession of the land.

Alma 62:7

7 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran went down with their armies into the land of Zarahemla, and went forth against the city, and did meet the men of Pachus, insomuch that they did come to battle.

Alma 62:8

8 And behold, Pachus was slain and his men were taken prisoners, and Pahoran was restored to his judgment-seat.

Narrative: The battle to retake Zarahemla is not described as difficult. Whether or not it was is something that Mormon elects not to tell us. From Mormon’s standpoint, he would just as much prefer that we understand it to be easy, because we have the just fighting the unjust, and it is in Mormon’s worldview to want to portray the victory of the just over the unjust.

Alma 62:9

9 And the men of Pachus received their trial, according to the law, and also those king-men who had been taken and cast into prison; and they were executed according to the law; yea, those men of Pachus and those king-men, whosoever would not take up arms in the defence of their country, but would fight against it, were put to death.

Alma 62:10

10 And thus it became expedient that this law should be strictly observed for the safety of their country; yea, and whosoever was found denying their freedom was speedily executed according to the law.

Moroni had been given the right to execute traitors, and the law was applied to those who had seized Zarahemla. They were clearly traitorous, and their actions had endangered the entire nation, not only because of their division of the land, but because they were in open collusion with the Lamanites (Alma 61:8).

Alma 62:11

11 And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; Moroni and Pahoran having restored peace to the land of Zarahemla, among their own people, having inflicted death upon all those who were not true to the cause of freedom.

Alma 62:12

12 And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Moroni immediately caused that provisions should be sent, and also an army of six thousand men should be sent unto Helaman, to assist him in preserving that part of the land.

Having established internal peace, Moroni is able to divert some of the troops to Helaman’s aid. At long last Helaman receives the reinforcements and provisions he has been asking for.

Alma 62:13

13 And he also caused that an army of six thousand men, with a sufficient quantity of food, should be sent to the armies of Lehi and Teancum. And it came to pass that this was done to fortify the land against the Lamanites.

A contingent of six thousand men is also sent to the eastern front. Moroni equitably distributes the available manpower between the two fronts.

Alma 62:14

14 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran, leaving a large body of men in the land of Zarahemla, took their march with a large body of men towards the land of Nephihah, being determined to overthrow the Lamanites in that city.

Moroni returns to his military objectives. He has stabilized Zarahemla and left it defended. He has sent troops and provisions to the east and west. He still has a large army with him, and now he turns to the next major military objective, Nephihah. As we saw earlier, Nephihah is strategically important, and a dangerous place to have a strong Lamanite garrison. To really strengthen the lower Sidon valley defenses, Nephihah must be retaken.

Alma 62:15

15 And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war.

Alma 62:16

16 And it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a covenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites.

Mormon skims over this conflict. We do not know why the Lamanites were in the field. Perhaps they were a contingent being sent to accept the surrender of Zarahemla by the kingmen, an event precluded by Moroni’s victory over the kingmen. In Mormon’s brief account we simply learn that Moroni is victorious, and that he does not take prisoners, but rather extracts an oath. Of course we have seen Moroni accept the oath of a defeated army in a prior engagement (Alma 45:20). Moroni expected those who took the oath to obey it, and this prevented the necessity of having to guard these defeated men as prisoners.

It is significant that Moroni takes from the defeated army the provisions and the weapons. The confiscation of the weapons not only denied them to the Lamanites who had taken the oath, but also strengthened the military capacity of Moroni’s forces, many of whom were likely men of the fields who had brought their hunting armaments with them, and may not have had offensive weapons such as would have been carried by a formal war division, such as the Lamanites were. The provisions, of course, were always important to an army, but particularly so to one on the move and entering an area controlled by a hostile force.

Alma 62:17

17 And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to dwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain.

We have previously seen that disaffected Lamanites are sent to the people of Ammon. The guards of the Lamanite king who were accused of his death by Amalickiah find their way to the people of Ammon (Alma 47:29). The relatively recent arrival of the people of Ammon from the heartland of the Lamanites would suggest this as the best location for more of the Lamanites. We also saw in the incident with Laman, one of those king’s guards who had gone to Ammon, but became a spy for Moroni, that there was probably a language difference in the two peoples (see the commentary following Alma 55:8). Thus language would have been another reason for the assignment to the land of Jerson and the Ammonites.

In verse 16 we learn that part of the covenant that the Lamanites have made is not to take up weapons again. Whether or not this was the equivalent oath to that taken by the people of Ammon, there was still a common aspect between the people of Ammon and the newly arrived Lamanites – there would be no weapons. With the people of Ammon, perhaps the newly arrived Lamanites might not be so tempted to breach their oath since weapons were not within easy access.

Alma 62:18

18 And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they pursued their march towards the land of Nephihah. And it came to pass that when they had come to the city of Nephihah, they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near the city of Nephihah.

Geographic: Moroni arrives not just in the “land” of Nephihah, but the “plains” of Nephihah. Clearly the geographic location of Nephihah requires a relatively flat area of land, but the distrinction afforded the plains of Nephihah perhaps suggests that not all of the land surrounding Nephihah was flat (Sorenson, 1990, p. 296). A location along the river bed in a valley would appear to make some sense, where a plain might exist between the city and the river, but perhaps foothills would arise on the other side.

Alma 62:19

19 Now Moroni was desirous that the Lamanites should come out to battle against them, upon the plains; but the Lamanites, knowing of their exceedingly great courage, and beholding the greatness of their numbers, therefore they durst not come out against them; therefore they did not come to battle in that day.

There is a large Lamanite army in Nephihah. This is the remnant of the “innumerable” army that Helaman chased from Manti, as well as other troops of the Lamanites (Alma 59:5-8). It is possible that the Lamanites even had superior numbers, but declined to fight the Nephites on open ground.

Alma 62:20

20 And when the night came, Moroni went forth in the darkness of the night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out in what part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their army.

Alma 62:21

21 And it came to pass that they were on the east, by the entrance; and they were all asleep. And now Moroni returned to his army, and caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders, to be let down from the top of the wall into the inner part of the wall.

Alma 62:22

22 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his men should march forth and come upon the top of the wall, and let themselves down into that part of the city, yea, even on the west, where the Lamanites did not camp with their armies.

The strength of a defended city was in its walls, and the weakest point was the entrance. Thus we saw the Lamanite attack on Noah that the Lamanites attempted to breach the defenses at the gate (Alma 49:18-19). Rather than face the Lamanite army where they were most strongly gathered, Moroni scales the walls in the dark.

Moroni’s actions against Nephihah have an eerie parallel to the Aztec taking of the city of Quetzaltepec:

“When the Aztecs tried to conquer the six-walled fortress of Quetzaltepec, scouts were sent at night to find a way to enter, as was standard practice, but the found none. As a result, the Aztecs constructed wooden ladders, used them to scale the walls, and conquered the fortress.” (Hassig 1998, p. 107-8).

As with many other occasions we have seen with Moroni, he used tactics that became standard practice in later Mesoamerican warfare. While it is possible that he was the ultimate innovator of these strategies, it may also be that he simply used them well, and they were already known by his time. However, Moroni is living at a time when there is both increased inter-city warfare among the Maya, and a greater concentration of walled cities. The tactics for attacking walled cities may have just been developing around Moroni’s time. Whether he was the originator or not, he was certainly effective in his employment of these tactics.

Alma 62:23

23 And it came to pass that they were all let down into the city by night, by the means of their strong cords and their ladders; thus when the morning came they were all within the walls of the city.

Alma 62:24

24 And now, when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies of Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass.

The “pass” probably refers to the gates of the city rather than to a geographic feature. The army of the Lamanites had been encamped by that gate, and therefore this would be the easiest way out of the city.

Alma 62:25

25 And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him, he did cause that his men should march forth against them, and slew many, and surrounded many others, and took them prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore.

Alma 62:26

26 Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the possession of the city of Nephihah without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain.

The flight of the Lamanites apparently led to confusion in the ranks. When the army was confused and in flight, they would be less able to effectively engage their enemy. Thus the pursuing army has all the advantage. It is not, therefore, overly surprising that there were no Nephite deaths, and the Nephite army would have the advantage of better organization and coordination in the attack. Even though there were no casualties, we should not suppose that there were no injuries.

Alma 62:27

27 Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were prisoners were desirous to join the people of Ammon and become a free people.

Alma 62:28

28 And it came to pass that as many as were desirous, unto them it was granted according to their desires.

Alma 62:29

29 Therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammon, and did begin to labor exceedingly, tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain, and flocks and herds of every kind; and thus were the Nephites relieved from a great burden; yea, insomuch that they were relieved from all the prisoners of the Lamanites.

The option is given to these prisoners to become part of the people of Ammon as had the prisoners from the battle Moroni fought on the way to Nephihah (verse 17). Once again, there is an oath not to take up arms that may parallel the Ammonite oath. We also learn that when these Lamanites joined with the people of Ammon, they also joined in that people’s efforts to support the Nephite war effort by providing provisions. The increase in the number of men attending to the production of food would have increased the availability of those supplies, and it is in this sense that “the Nephites [were] relieved from al great burden.”

Alma 62:30

30 Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had obtained possession of the city of Nephihah, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who had been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moroni exceedingly; therefore Moroni went forth from the land of Nephihah to the land of Lehi.

Alma 62:31

31 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Moroni was coming against them, they were again frightened and fled before the army of Moroni.

Nephihah was the most important stronghold of the Lamanites, and the one likely possessed of the largest army. With the fall of Nephihah, Moroni now moves to break the impasse in the eastern border. His combined forces are now considerable. Not only did he not lose any troops in the retaking of Nephihah, but he regained those Nephites who had been prisoner in that land. While Mormon does not tell us, it is quite likely that the Lamanites in the land of Lehi were aware of the defeat of Nephihah, and the presence of this large army as well as their reputation for the overwhelming defeat of the large Lamanite army give us sufficient reason to belief that the Lamanites in the land of Lehi would have seen themselves in a precarious position and have fled before Moroni and his advancing army.

Alma 62:32

32 And it came to pass that Moroni and his army did pursue them from city to city, until they were met by Lehi and Teancum; and the Lamanites fled from Lehi and Teancum, even down upon the borders by the seashore, until they came to the land of Moroni.

The eastern front had been bogged down in a stalemate for over a year. Now that Moroni is able to receive reinforcements, he has the offensive power to push the Lamanites from the area. The Lamanites appear to easily retreat from many of the cities they held, and retreat to join forces at Moroni, a city that is apparently the last defensive location for the Lamanites in the former Nephite land.

Alma 62:33

33 And the armies of the Lamanites were all gathered together, insomuch that they were all in one body in the land of Moroni. Now Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites, was also with them.

We do not know where Ammoron has been up to this time, but we find that he is definitely here in this last stand on the eastern front. The presence of the king of the Lamanites further reinforces our understanding that this is the last stand of the invading army.

Alma 62:34

34 And it came to pass that Moroni and Lehi and Teancum did encamp with their armies round about in the borders of the land of Moroni, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about in the borders by the wilderness on the south, and in the borders by the wilderness on the east.

Moroni establishes his forces and settles in for what may be a long siege.

Alma 62:35

35 And thus they did encamp for the night. For behold, the Nephites and the Lamanites also were weary because of the greatness of the march; therefore they did not resolve upon any stratagem in the night-time, save it were Teancum; for he was exceedingly angry with Ammoron, insomuch that he considered that Ammoron, and Amalickiah his brother, had been the cause of this great and lasting war between them and the Lamanites, which had been the cause of so much war and bloodshed, yea, and so much famine.

Moroni had been successful in the past with various strategies, in particular those that involved the use of the cover of night. In this case, Mormon lets us know that Moroni had no plans on this night. He has troops that are weary of marching and battle, and Moroni knows that time is on his side. Moroni does not come up with any stratagem. Teancum, however, is not so complacent. We may understand Teancum a little more if we remember that he has acted unilaterally and impulsively in the past. In addition, this man of action had been forced to play a waiting game on the eastern front for a couple of years. Under those conditions, it is perhaps not surprising that Teancum takes matters into his own hands.

Alma 62:36

36 And it came to pass that Teancum in his anger did go forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and did let himself down over the walls of the city. And he went forth with a cord, from place to place, insomuch that he did find the king; and he did cast a javelin at him, which did pierce him near the heart. But behold, the king did awaken his servants before he died, insomuch that they did pursue Teancum, and slew him.

Teancum attempts a repeat of the strategy that led to the death of Amalickiah, and now leads to the death of Ammoron, Amalickiah’s brother. In this case, he is not so lucky and he does not escape with his life.

Polemic: From a storyteller’s point of view, the death of Teancum is the loss of a great hero, and a tragic interruption of otherwise great Nephite victories. A storyteller bent on exalting the Nephites should have had Teancum continue to be the hero, and survive this account. If this were fiction being written in the overly contrived style of some of the literature of the early 1800’s we should expect that Teancum lives to receive his hero’s welcome. Teancum’s death is either remarkably poignant use of artistic drama, or simply the relation of a historical event. With the rest of the military descriptions in the Book of Mormon ringing so true to Mesoamerican warfare, it is difficult to see this as an example of anything but a historical record.

Alma 62:37

37 Now it came to pass that when Lehi and Moroni knew that Teancum was dead they were exceedingly sorrowful; for behold, he had been a man who had fought valiantly for his country, yea, a true friend to liberty; and he had suffered very many exceedingly sore afflictions. But behold, he was dead, and had gone the way of all the earth.

Alma 62:38

38 Now it came to pass that Moroni marched forth on the morrow, and came upon the Lamanites, insomuch that they did slay them with a great slaughter; and they did drive them out of the land; and they did flee, even that they did not return at that time against the Nephites.

We cannot tell from this information whether or not the attack was precipitated by the death of Teancum or not, but since we have not contrary evidence, it is satisfying to imagine the death of Teancum providing the impetus to the Nephite army, and a new focus point – the loss of a heroic figure who was doubtless well-loved by his people.

Alma 62:39

39 And thus ended the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and thus they had had wars, and bloodsheds, and famine, and affliction, for the space of many years.

At the end of the thirty first year of the reign of the judges (approximately 63 BC) we have the end of this long war. As a summary, Mormon quickly notes that the Nephites have suffered “wars, and bloodsheds, and famine, and affliction, for the space of many years.” This is an accurate description of the ravages of war on a people who not only must fight, but must attempt to live during the time when conflicts take productive people out of the fields to fight. In long wars, the possibility of famine was always present.

Alma 62:40

40 And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the righteous' sake, yea, because of the prayers of the righteous, they were spared.

Redaction: We are seeing Mormon’s conclusion to this war, and in Mormon’s concluding statements we have the opportunity to examine his reasons for including them. Here we see one of the overriding themes that Mormon wants us to see. Even though there were “murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity among the people of Nephi,” the eventual triumph came at the hands of faithful men. The stories of Helaman and his Ammonites were selected because they not only described victory, but described a people with firm faith in the Nephite religion. The story of Pahoran is again the story of a faithful man beset by betrayal, but triumphing in the end through his continued faithfulness. Of course we also have the example of Moroni, who is given to us as the ultimate example of a righteous man fighting for the Nephite ideals. In this very short verse, Mormon tells us the reason he has selected these stories. They all tell us that in the midst of dire troubles and tribulations, there is protection in our faith in God, and in our acceptance of his laws and requirements. From our obedience and faith comes God’s intervention and our ultimate protection, according to the promise he has made.

Alma 62:41

41 But behold, because of the exceedingly great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites many had become hardened, because of the exceedingly great length of the war; and many were softened because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.

The story of the Nephites’ struggles with the outside world is not over, even though this conflict is. Mormon points out the very human results of a long war: that some are hardened in their hearts because of the difficulties endured, and some are softened by those same conditions. Those who are hardened will not see the hand of the Lord in their deliverance, and they will be among the first to revive the contentions when the opportunity arises. Those whose hearts were softened understood the hand of the Lord in their salvation, and would have remained even more firm in their dedication to the Nephite ideals.

Alma 62:42

42 And it came to pass that after Moroni had fortified those parts of the land which were most exposed to the Lamanites, until they were sufficiently strong, he returned to the city of Zarahemla; and also Helaman returned to the place of his inheritance; and there was once more peace established among the people of Nephi.

Alma 62:43

43 And Moroni yielded up the command of his armies into the hands of his son, whose name was Moronihah; and he retired to his own house that he might spend the remainder of his days in peace.

Alma 62:44

44 And Pahoran did return to his judgment-seat; and Helaman did take upon him again to preach unto the people the word of God; for because of so many wars and contentions it had become expedient that a regulation should be made again in the church.

Narrative: Mormon tells us that the country returns to stability. Moroni retires from the military, Pahoran returns to the judgment seat, and Helaman returns to the spiritual ministry.

Alma 62:45

45 Therefore, Helaman and his brethren went forth, and did declare the word of God with much power unto the convincing of many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins and to be baptized unto the Lord their God.

Alma 62:46

46 And it came to pass that they did establish again the church of God, throughout all the land.

The revival of religious commitment is doubtless due to the humbling circumstances of the war. We may assume that those that Mormon described as being “softened” in verse 41 were those who were converted to the church. While this particular verse is presented as a positive, we should be reminded that the Nephite polity was not uniformly accepting of the Nephite way of life and religion. It is for this reason that there were many who could be converted and become part of the church because they had not been part of the church previously. This condition of differing opinions over the way the world ought to be has been the seed of contention in Nephite society, and unfortunately will again become a division in the people.

Alma 62:47

47 Yea, and regulations were made concerning the law. And their judges, and their chief judges were chosen.

Alma 62:48

48 And the people of Nephi began to prosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceedingly strong again in the land. And they began to grow exceedingly rich.

Alma 62:49

49 But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him.

Alma 62:50

50 Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of afflictions and he had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies.

Alma 62:51

51 And they did pray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong and prosper in the land.

Redaction: One of the subthemes that Mormon continually presses is the economic advantage of living the gospel. Rather than simply tell us that things returned to normal, Mormon makes sure that we understand that they also returned to prosperity. The foundational promise of the Nephites was:

2 Nephi 1:20

20 … Inasmuch as ye shall keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land; but inasmuch as ye will not keep my commandments ye shall be cut off from my presence. (note also the negative formulation of this in Omni 1:6).

The resolution of the wars demonstrated the protection of the people, but Mormon must also make sure that we understand that God also kept his promise concerning the ability of the people to prosper in the land. Mormon presents the people at this point in time as repentant, and as joining the church. With that definition of righteousness, Mormon needs to let us know that God saw their efforts and fulfilled his part of the promise.

Alma 62:52

52 And it came to pass that all these things were done. And Helaman died, in the thirty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

Helaman’s father, Alma, passes from the earth in the nineteenth year of the reign of the judges, and Helaman follows in the thirty fifth year. We do not know how old Helaman was when he died, only that he survived his father for fifteen to sixteen years. This is not unreasonable for one who might have been born when his father was in his early twenties. What this does mean is that Helaman is fighting wars up to five years before his death, and actively preaching more recently than that.

Textual: Mormon’s chapter ends because the story he has been telling has ended. Mormon’s purpose in including these military battles has demonstrated his theme of preservation through faith on the Lord. What remains is a cleanup chapter that will finish the formal record of the book of Alma.