Alma 16:1
And it came to pa** in the eleventh year of the reign of the
judges over the people of Nephi, on the fifth day of the second
month, there having been much peace in the land of Zarahemla,
there having been no wars nor contentions for a certain number of
years, even until the fifth day of the second month in the
eleventh year, there was a cry of war heard throughout the land.
Alma 16:2
For behold, the armies of the Lamanites had come in upon the
wilderness side, into the borders of the land, even into the city
of Ammonihah, and began to slay the people and destroy the city.
Alma 16:3
And now it came to pa**, before the Nephites could raise a
sufficient army to drive them out of the land, they had destroyed
the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, and also some
around the borders of Noah, and taken others captive into the
wilderness.
Alma 16:4
Now it came to pa** that the Nephites were desirous to obtain
those who had been carried away captive into the wilderness.
Alma 16:5
Therefore, he that had been appointed chief captain over the
armies of the Nephites, (and his name was Zoram, and he had two
sons, Lehi and Aha)—now Zoram and his two sons, knowing that
Alma was high priest over the church, and having heard that he
had the spirit of prophecy, therefore they went unto him and
desired of him to know whither the Lord would that they should go
into the wilderness in search of their brethren, who had been
taken captive by the Lamanites.
Alma 16:6
And it came to pa** that Alma inquired of the Lord concerning
the matter. And Alma returned and said unto them: Behold, the
Lamanites will cross the river Sidon in the south wilderness,
away up beyond the borders of the land of Manti. And behold
there shall ye meet them, on the east of the river Sidon, and
there the Lord will deliver unto thee thy brethren who have been
taken captive by the Lamanites.
Alma 16:7
And it came to pa** that Zoram and his sons crossed over the
river Sidon, with their armies, and marched away beyond the
borders of Manti into the south wilderness, which was on the east
side of the river Sidon.
Alma 16:8
And they came upon the armies of the Lamanites, and the
Lamanites were scattered and driven into the wilderness; and they
took their brethren who had been taken captive by the Lamanites,
and there was not one soul of them had been lost that were taken
captive. And they were brought by their brethren to possess
their own lands.
Alma 16:9
And thus ended the eleventh year of the judges, the Lamanites
having been driven out of the land, and the people of Ammonihah
were destroyed; yea, every living soul of the Ammonihahites was
destroyed, and also their great city, which they said God could
not destroy, because of its greatness.
Alma 16:10
But behold, in one day it was left desolate; and the
carca**es were mangled by dogs and wild beasts of the wilderness.
Alma 16:11
Nevertheless, after many days their dead bodies were heaped
up upon the face of the earth, and they were covered with a
shallow covering. And now so great was the scent thereof that
the people did not go in to possess the land of Ammonihah for
many years. And it was called Desolation of Nehors; for they
were of the profession of Nehor, who were slain; and their lands
remained desolate.
Alma 16:12
And the Lamanites did not come again to war against the
Nephites until the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges
over the people of Nephi. And thus for three years did the
people of Nephi have continual peace in all the land.
Alma 16:13
And Alma and Amulek went forth preaching repentance to the
people in their temples, and in their sanctuaries, and also in
their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews.
Alma 16:14
And as many as would hear their words, unto them they did
impart the word of God, without any respect of persons,
continually.
Alma 16:15
And thus did Alma and Amulek go forth, and also many more who
had been chosen for the work, to preach the word throughout all
the land. And the establishment of the church became general
throughout the land, in all the region round about, among all the
people of the Nephites.
Alma 16:16
And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out
his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of
the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the
word which should be taught among them at the time of his
coming—
Alma 16:17
That they might not be hardened against the word, that they
might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they
might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into
the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord
their God.
Alma 16:18
Now those priests who did go forth among the people did
preach against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and
strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing,
plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of
lasciviousness, crying that these things ought not so to be—
Alma 16:19
Holding forth things which must shortly come; yea, holding
forth the coming of the Son of God, his sufferings and d**h, and
also the resurrection of the dead.
Alma 16:20
And many of the people did inquire concerning the place where
the Son of God should come; and they were taught that he would
appear unto them after his resurrection; and this the people did
hear with great joy and gladness.
Alma 16:21
And now after the church had been established throughout all
the land—having got the victory over the devil, and the word of
God being preached in its purity in all the land, and the Lord
pouring out his blessings upon the people—thus ended the
fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of
Nephi.