Alma 27:1
Now it came to pa** that when those Lamanites who had gone to
war against the Nephites had found, after their many struggles to
destroy them, that it was in vain to seek their destruction, they
returned again to the land of Nephi.
Alma 27:2
And it came to pa** that the Amalekites, because of their
loss, were exceedingly angry. And when they saw that they could
not seek revenge from the Nephites, they began to stir up the
people in anger against their brethren, the people of
Anti-Nephi-Lehi; therefore they began again to destroy them.
Alma 27:3
Now this people again refused to take their arms, and they
suffered themselves to be slain according to the desires of their
enemies.
Alma 27:4
Now when Ammon and his brethren saw this work of destruction
among those whom they so dearly beloved, and among those who had
so dearly beloved them—for they were treated as though they were
angels sent from God to save them from everlasting
destruction—therefore, when Ammon and his brethren saw this
great work of destruction, they were moved with compa**ion, and
they said unto the king:
Alma 27:5
Let us gather together this people of the Lord, and let us go
down to the land of Zarahemla to our brethren the Nephites, and
flee out of the hands of our enemies, that we be not destroyed.
Alma 27:6
But the king said unto them: Behold, the Nephites will destroy
us, because of the many murders and sins we have committed
against them.
Alma 27:7
And Ammon said: I will go and inquire of the Lord, and if he
say unto us, go down unto our brethren, will ye go?
Alma 27:8
And the king said unto him: Yea, if the Lord saith unto us go,
we will go down unto our brethren, and we will be their slaves
until we repair unto them the many murders and sins which we have
committed against them.
Alma 27:9
But Ammon said unto him: It is against the law of our
brethren, which was established by my father, that there should
be any slaves among them; therefore let us go down and rely upon
the mercies of our brethren.
Alma 27:10
But the king said unto him: Inquire of the Lord, and if he
saith unto us go, we will go; otherwise we will perish in the
land.
Alma 27:11
And it came to pa** that Ammon went and inquired of the Lord,
and the Lord said unto him:
Alma 27:12
Get this people out of this land, that they perish not; for
Satan has great hold on the hearts of the Amalekites, who do stir
up the Lamanites to anger against their brethren to slay them;
therefore get thee out of this land; and blessed are this people
in this generation, for I will preserve them.
Alma 27:13
And now it came to pa** that Ammon went and told the king all
the words which the Lord had said unto him.
Alma 27:14
And they gathered together all their people, yea, all the
people of the Lord, and did gather together all their flocks and
herds, and departed out of the land, and came into the wilderness
which divided the land of Nephi from the land of Zarahemla, and
came over near the borders of the land.
Alma 27:15
And it came to pa** that Ammon said unto them: Behold, I and
my brethren will go forth into the land of Zarahemla, and ye
shall remain here until we return; and we will try the hearts of
our brethren, whether they will that ye shall come into their
land.
Alma 27:16
And it came to pa** that as Ammon was going forth into the
land, that he and his brethren met Alma, over in the place of
which has been spoken; and behold, this was a joyful meeting.
Alma 27:17
Now the joy of Ammon was so great even that he was full; yea,
he was swallowed up in the joy of his God, even to the exhausting
of his strength; and he fell again to the earth.
Alma 27:18
Now was not this exceeding joy? Behold, this is joy which
none receiveth save it be the truly penitent and humble seeker of
happiness.
Alma 27:19
Now the joy of Alma in meeting his brethren was truly great,
and also the joy of Aaron, of Omner, and Himni; but behold their
joy was not that to exceed their strength.
Alma 27:20
And now it came to pa** that Alma conducted his brethren back
to the land of Zarahemla; even to his own house. And they went
and told the chief judge all the things that had happened unto
them in the land of Nephi, among their brethren, the Lamanites.
Alma 27:21
And it came to pa** that the chief judge sent a proclamation
throughout all the land, desiring the voice of the people
concerning the admitting their brethren, who were the people of
Anti-Nephi-Lehi.
Alma 27:22
And it came to pa** that the voice of the people came,
saying: Behold, we will give up the land of Jershon, which is on
the east by the sea, which joins the land Bountiful, which is on
the south of the land Bountiful; and this land Jershon is the
land which we will give unto our brethren for an inheritance.
Alma 27:23
And behold, we will set our armies between the land Jershon
and the land Nephi, that we may protect our brethren in the land
Jershon; and this we do for our brethren, on account of their
fear to take up arms against their brethren lest they should
commit sin; and this their great fear came because of their sore
repentance which they had, on account of their many murders and
their awful wickedness.
Alma 27:24
And now behold, this will we do unto our brethren, that they
may inherit the land Jershon; and we will guard them from their
enemies with our armies, on condition that they will give us a
portion of their substance to a**ist us that we may maintain our
armies.
Alma 27:25
Now, it came to pa** that when Ammon had heard this, he
returned to the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi, and also Alma with
him, into the wilderness, where they had pitched their tents, and
made known unto them all these things. And Alma also related
unto them his conversion, with Ammon and Aaron, and his brethren.
Alma 27:26
And it came to pa** that it did cause great joy among them.
And they went down into the land of Jershon, and took possession
of the land of Jershon; and they were called by the Nephites the
people of Ammon; therefore they were distinguished by that name
ever after.
Alma 27:27
And they were among the people of Nephi, and also numbered
among the people who were of the church of God. And they were
also distinguished for their zeal towards God, and also towards
men; for they were perfectly honest and upright in all things;
and they were firm in the faith of Christ, even unto the end.
Alma 27:28
And they did look upon shedding the blood of their brethren
with the greatest abhorrence; and they never could be prevailed
upon to take up arms against their brethren; and they never did
look upon d**h with any degree of terror, for their hope and
views of Christ and the resurrection; therefore, d**h was
swallowed up to them by the victory of Christ over it.
Alma 27:29
Therefore, they would suffer d**h in the most aggravating
and distressing manner which could be inflicted by their
brethren, before they would take the sword or cimeter to smite
them.
Alma 27:30
And thus they were a zealous and beloved people, a highly
favored people of the Lord.