Alma 55

Alma 55:1

1 Now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle he was more angry, because he knew that Ammoron had a perfect knowledge of his fraud; yea, he knew that Ammoron knew that it was not a just cause that had caused him to wage a war against the people of Nephi.

Ammoron had countered each of Moroni’s accusations, but of course he did so with his own justifications, and clearly those reasons were not justified in Moroni’s eyes. Even though Moroni had achieved the basic intent of his letter (to have a prisoner exchange at three to one), he is nevertheless angry at Ammoron’s distortion of the causes of the events. Moroni knows that Ammoron has the true knowledge of the nature of the Nephite and Lamanite relations because Ammoron was Nephite until recently. Moroni sees the blatantly Lamanite reasoning in Ammoron’s epistle as a “fraud.” It is a new justification of the world that Ammoron has conveniently adopted.

One of Ammoron’s justifications for war was the death of Amalickiah. Of course that death occurred during a war that was already being waged, so that could not be seen as a justification for the original attack.

Alma 55:2

2 And he said: Behold, I will not exchange prisoners with Ammoron save he will withdraw his purpose, as I have stated in my epistle; for I will not grant unto him that he shall have any more power than what he hath got.

Moroni draws an interesting conclusion from his anger. Since Ammoron will not exchange prisoners and leave, Moroni does not want to increase Ammoron’s army in any way, if it can be helped. Likely Ammoron’s quick acquiescence to the exchange reminded Moroni that it really was to Ammoron’s advantage to have fewer people to feed, and to have the return of battle-hardened troops. Moroni decides to deny Ammoron that advantage.

Alma 55:3

3 Behold, I know the place where the Lamanites do guard my people whom they have taken prisoners; and as Ammoron would not grant unto me mine epistle, behold, I will give unto him according to my words; yea, I will seek death among them until they shall sue for peace.

Moroni had originally attempted to exchange prisoners. His clear intention was not simply the exchange, however, but the cessation of the war. Since it was now clear that the war would continue, the desire to exchange the prisoners is less, even if the imperative to rescue his own people remains important. Moroni decides to retake his people who are held prisoners by stratagem and force rather than exchange.

Alma 55:4

4 And now it came to pass that when Moroni had said these words, he caused that a search should be made among his men, that perhaps he might find a man who was a descendant of Laman among them.

Alma 55:5

5 And it came to pass that they found one, whose name was Laman; and he was one of the servants of the king who was murdered by Amalickiah.

Alma 55:6

6 Now Moroni caused that Laman and a small number of his men should go forth unto the guards who were over the Nephites.

Alma 55:7

7 Now the Nephites were guarded in the city of Gid; therefore Moroni appointed Laman and caused that a small number of men should go with him.

Alma 55:8

8 And when it was evening Laman went to the guards who were over the Nephites, and behold, they saw him coming and they hailed him; but he saith unto them: Fear not; behold, I am a Lamanite. Behold, we have escaped from the Nephites, and they sleep; and behold we have taken of their wine and brought with us.

Geographic: The Nephite prisoners were being held in the city of Gid. Gid is not far from Bountiful on the eastern front, telling us that while Moroni has had a great victory at Mulek, there are still pockets of Lamanite strength. Using Sorenson’s map, we have Gid between Bountiful and Mulek, but not on the direct path of march. It is also closer to the center of the Nephites, away from the coast that forms that eastern border. It is possible that the stratagem employed against the Lamanites in Gid served not only to preserve life, but to lessen the risk to the city itself, since Gid was a Nephite city until its capture by the Lamanites.

Social: The stratagem to retake the Nephites who are held prisoner requires a Lamanite. Moroni searches through his army, and finds a Lamanite who is one of the former retinue of the Lamanite king that was forced out of his homeland by Amalickiah’s treachery. It is not surprising to see someone so wronged pick up arms against the man (and now that man’s brother) who had so wrongly driven him from home.

What is interesting in this situation is the requirement of a Lamanite. Why was one needed? What was there about this man that could not be replicated by a non-Lamanite? Of course the first presumption, conditioned by years of assumptions, is that he must be darker skinned while the Nephites were “white.” If we accept this reason, then it is the visual clue that is important.

That is unlikely, given the description we have in verse 8. There are several aspects of the description of the arrival of this Lamanite that are important. The very first is that he is not alone. Moroni has selected other men to go with him. When he arrives at the Lamanite camp, he is not alone, but has the others with him. Moroni had searched through his army for a Lamanite, and came up with one. These others that were with him were, therefore, not Lamanites. However, they approach with the one “true” Lamanite. If the visual clue of skin color were adequate, then these others would immediately be given away as Nephites. The skin color issue is further complicated by the fact that the Lamanite armies are being led by a recent Nephite dissenter. In addition to the leader, we know that many of those who were in the city of Nephi and who had ejected the people of Ammon were also Nephite dissenters. Even if skin color had ever been diagnostic, it was surely impossible to use skin color as the defining difference.

The next clue to the need for a “true” Lamanite comes when we see that particular person doing the talking. It is he who verbally declares himself a Lamanite. If the visual clues would have been insufficient, the verbal assertion is accepted immediately. What this tells us is that there is a language difference between the two. Clearly the language barrier is not great, because Nephite dissenters are able to easily assimilate into the Lamanite ranks. However, there must be some differences, either in dialect or accent. It is for this reason that the “true” Lamanite was required. When the target Lamanites heard his voice, they needed to be able to recognize it as truly “Lamanite,” rather than whatever audible clue they would have had that the party was actually Nephite. As long as the rest of the Nephite party were silent, this ruse would be sufficient.

Alma 55:9

9 Now when the Lamanites heard these words they received him with joy; and they said unto him: Give us of your wine, that we may drink; we are glad that ye have thus taken wine with you for we are weary.

Alma 55:10

10 But Laman said unto them: Let us keep of our wine till we go against the Nephites to battle. But this saying only made them more desirous to drink of the wine;

Alma 55:11

11 For, said they: We are weary, therefore let us take of the wine, and by and by we shall receive wine for our rations, which will strengthen us to go against the Nephites.

Alma 55:12

12 And Laman said unto them: You may do according to your desires.

The ruse is made more effective by making it appear that there is no hurry in accepting the wine. This may be one of the earliest uses of the concept of reverse psychology, where the impetus to do something is increased by suggesting that it be delayed. The ruse works, and the Lamanites indulge.

Much is now know of the ancient Maya since the translation of the glyphs, but none of them talk about drunkenness or problems with drunkenness. We don’t have good data until the time of the conquest, and that data is for the Aztecs. While it may not be directly applicable, we may yet presume some similarity with the older cultures based on the other traits that can be traced to the past. For the Aztecs we find very strict laws against drunkenness (Warwick Bray. Everyday Life of the Aztecs. Peter Bedrick Books, 1968, p. 41). Such severe laws, and particular the types of exemptions made (for the old and infirm, and certain festivals) tell us that this was something to be kept under tight control. Typically, laws are created to legislate where is a problem, and we may expect that the Aztec laws against drunkenness are an indication that there were known problems with drunkenness in the society.

Relative to the specific suggestion that the wine be reserved for the coming battle, there is interesting confirmation of a similar practice for the Aztecs. In a section of the Florentine Codex describing the characteristics of different types of drunks, we find a description of some of the people who were allowed to drink. In this case, we take notice of the warriors:

“…only those who could drink…. The intrepid warriors, the bold, the foolish, who paid the debt with their heads and their breasts. That is, they would ber captured sometime when war was declared; or else on issuing forth [to battle] they sould capture others and take prisoners. So [by drinking] they went about mocking death.” (Florentine Codex. University of Utah, 1957, 4:17. )

Apparently the addition of a little alcohol aided the warriors in bravely facing the battle to come, some where the liquid assistance might help them capture, some where it might help when they were captured. The Lamanite warriors may have had a similar practice, and it was to that practice that the spy was referring. In any case, this time the Lamanites decide not to defer, and they drink, clearly to excess.

Historical: The wine of Mesoamerica was the fermented juice of the maguey plant, known as octli.

Alma 55:13

13 And it came to pass that they did take of the wine freely; and it was pleasant to their taste, therefore they took of it more freely; and it was strong, having been prepared in its strength.

Alma 55:14

14 And it came to pass they did drink and were merry, and by and by they were all drunken.

Alma 55:15

15 And now when Laman and his men saw that they were all drunken, and were in a deep sleep, they returned to Moroni and told him all the things that had happened.

With the Lamanite guards incapacitated with drink, the Nephite spies return to Moroni and report.

Alma 55:16

16 And now this was according to the design of Moroni. And Moroni had prepared his men with weapons of war; and he went to the city Gid, while the Lamanites were in a deep sleep and drunken, and cast in weapons of war unto the prisoners, insomuch that they were all armed;

Alma 55:17

17 Yea, even to their women, and all those of their children, as many as were able to use a weapon of war, when Moroni had armed all those prisoners; and all those things were done in a profound silence.

Rather than break in, Moroni arms the prisoners. We do not know how the prisoners were notified to be on the alert for assistance, perhaps one of the spies broke off from the drinking party to inform them to watch. The arms are “cast in.” Gid would have been a fortified city, so the weapons would have to be thrown over the walls at a point where they would be accessible to the prisoners.

Alma 55:18

18 But had they awakened the Lamanites, behold they were drunken and the Nephites could have slain them.

Alma 55:19

19 But behold, this was not the desire of Moroni; he did not delight in murder or bloodshed, but he delighted in the saving of his people from destruction; and for this cause he might not bring upon him injustice, he would not fall upon the Lamanites and destroy them in their drunkenness.

Moroni could have easily slaughtered the guards and released the prisoners. Mormon suggests that it is because Moroni was not bloodthirsty. No doubt this was true. Moroni may also have been under a code of war that accepted personal combat, but frowned on the slaughter of innocents. If the Lamanite guards had been met in the open, Moroni would have had no compunction about fighting them. Moroni’s hesitation was for the less honorable method of achieving his ends.

Alma 55:20

20 But he had obtained his desires; for he had armed those prisoners of the Nephites who were within the wall of the city, and had given them power to gain possession of those parts which were within the walls.

Alma 55:21

21 And then he caused the men who were with him to withdraw a pace from them, and surround the armies of the Lamanites.

Alma 55:22

22 Now behold this was done in the night-time, so that when the Lamanites awoke in the morning they beheld that they were surrounded by the Nephites without, and that their prisoners were armed within.

Alma 55:23

23 And thus they saw that the Nephites had power over them; and in these circumstances they found that it was not expedient that they should fight with the Nephites; therefore their chief captains demanded their weapons of war, and they brought them forth and cast them at the feet of the Nephites, pleading for mercy.

Instead of fighting, Moroni creates a situation in which the Lamanite guards could tell that their situation was hopeless. Moroni waits for that situation to occur naturally. Perhaps one of the reasons he waited for the drunkenness to work off was to avoid the possibility of the drink-influenced bravery to attempt a fight where none should be given. When the Lamanites awakened in at least somewhat greater control of their faculties, they are able to recognize their situation, and the situation is resolved without bloodshed.

Alma 55:24

24 Now behold, this was the desire of Moroni. He took them prisoners of war, and took possession of the city, and caused that all the prisoners should be liberated, who were Nephites; and they did join the army of Moroni, and were a great strength to his army.

Alma 55:25

25 And it came to pass that he did cause the Lamanites, whom he had taken prisoners, that they should commence a labor in strengthening the fortifications round about the city Gid.

Moroni achieved his objective of liberating the prisoners, and of increasing his ranks with the men who had been captured. The women and children were certainly sent away from the front lines, and they would have been put to work with the rest of the population in tending the fields and providing the logistical support for Moroni’s army.

The Lamanite prisoners are used as slave labor in Gid, just as they had been in Mulek. As long as Moroni had to feed them and guard them, he has them perform the labor of creating new defenses for Gid, thus being of use in the Nephite defense rather than simply a drain on food reserves.

Alma 55:26

26 And it came to pass that when he had fortified the city Gid, according to his desires, he caused that his prisoners should be taken to the city Bountiful; and he also guarded that city with an exceedingly strong force.

Bountiful was a stronghold in the northern section of the land of Zarahemla. Moroni is treating it as a safe location to which he might send prisoners to be guarded. Deep in Nephite territory, and inside a well protected city, they might have been resigned to their capture.

Alma 55:27

27 And it came to pass that they did, notwithstanding all the intrigues of the Lamanites, keep and protect all the prisoners whom they had taken, and also maintain all the ground and the advantage which they had retaken.

Alma 55:28

28 And it came to pass that the Nephites began again to be victorious, and to reclaim their rights and their privileges.

Alma 55:29

29 Many times did the Lamanites attempt to encircle them about by night, but in these attempts they did lose many prisoners.

Alma 55:30

30 And many times did they attempt to administer of their wine to the Nephites, that they might destroy them with poison or with drunkenness.

Mormon tells us that the Lamanites used intrigues of their own to entrap the Nephites. After noting that in verse 27, he gives specifics in verses 29 and 30. The Lamanites attempted to use the cover of night to surround the Nephites, but this tactic did not work. Rather, the Lamanites lost men. Secondly they attempted to use the trick of getting the Nephites drunk, a trick that does not work.

Textual: We do not know how many intrigues the Lamanites might have used, but Mormon records only two of them, and it appears that he selected those two carefully. Both of these intrigues are methods that Moroni has used. The surrounding by night was the key element in the retaking of the city of Mulek, and the administering of wine was a key to freeing the prisoners in Gid. The Lamanites clearly found out about these tactics and attempted to use them against the Nephites. Because Moroni had already used them, he was aware that they might be used against him, and he was ready.

Mormon tells us these two specific examples because they were the same tactics as used by Moroni, but with different results. What Mormon wants to highlight is that it is not the stratagem, but the quality of the person that made the difference.

Alma 55:31

31 But behold, the Nephites were not slow to remember the Lord their God in this their time of affliction. They could not be taken in their snares; yea, they would not partake of their wine, save they had first given to some of the Lamanite prisoners.

Alma 55:32

32 And they were thus cautious that no poison should be administered among them; for if their wine would poison a Lamanite it would also poison a Nephite; and thus they did try all their liquors.

The ultimate success of the Nephites against the intrigues of the Lamanites is that they “were not slow to remember the Lord their God.” This is Mormon’s message, and he reminds us that it is still his message. The wars may have been unavoidable, but their outcome could be favorable if the Nephites obeyed the Lord.

Alma 55:33

33 And now it came to pass that it was expedient for Moroni to make preparations to attack the city Morianton; for behold, the Lamanites had, by their labors, fortified the city Morianton until it had become an exceeding stronghold.

Alma 55:34

34 And they were continually bringing new forces into that city, and also new supplies of provisions.

Alma 55:35

35 And thus ended the twenty and ninth year of the reign of the judges over the people of

Nephi.

Geographic: With Gid secured and fortified, Moroni turns his attention to Morianton. Morianton lay at an important crossroads that could guard both the path into Mulek and Bountiful, but also into Lehi and up the river valley into the heart of Nephite territory (see map 12, John L. Sorenson. An Ancient American Setting for the Book of Mormon. FARMS 1980, p. 241). Morianton is therefore a very strategically important city, and Moroni puts his efforts into improving the defenses of that city. The end of the twenty ninth year of the judges comes with no resolution in this long war. The Nephites have recovered some of their territory, but the war is far from over.

Textual: This is the end of a chapter in the 1830 edition. Mormon ends this chapter that has focused on Moroni’s efforts, and begins the next chapter where the focus changes to Helaman and his young warriors who were briefly introduced to us in chapter 53 of our current text, but within this same chapter according to the 1830 edition.