Moroni

“ In the year B. C. 73 a severe war was being waged, in which Moroni had command of the Nephite armies and Amalickiah of those of the Lamanites. It is written that at this time Moroni erected small forts, or places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about, to enclose his armies, and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land; and in their weakest fortifications he did place the greater number of men; and thus he did fortify and strengthen the land which was possessed by the Nephites. ”

“ Alma Chapter 53
53:1 And it came to pass that they did set guards over the prisoners of the Lamanites, and did compel them to go forth and bury their dead, yea, and also the dead of the Nephites who were slain; and Moroni placed men over them to guard them while they should perform their labors.
53:2 And Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, and took command of the city and gave it unto Lehi. Now behold, this Lehi was a man who had been with Moroni in the more part of all his battles; and he was a man like unto Moroni, and they rejoiced in each other’s safety ”

“ Moroni had all the people in Manti gather to battle against the Lamanites--to defend their lands, country, rights and liberties.
Moroni hid part of his army in a valley near the west bank of the Sidon River, and then sent out spies to discover when the Lamanites would come. He knew it was the Lamanites' intention to kill their brethren, or to make them slaves and establish a kingdom for themselves over all the land. He also knew the Nephites only wanted to defend their lands, liberty and church. ”

“ If all men had been, or would be, like Moroni, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever, and the devil would have never had power over anyone's heart. Moroni was like Ammon, and also like Mosiah's other sons. He was also like Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God.
Helaman and his brethren's service to the Nephites was just as important as Moroni's service, for they preached God's word and baptized unto repentance all those who would listen to the gospel. Because of their words, the people humbled themselves. ”

“ Mulek, Gid, Omner, Morianton, Lehi, Aaron, Nephihah and Moroni (Alma li. 26) .
Moroni was situated by the seashore, on the borders of [Pg 322] the great wilderness, being the farthest from the city of Zarahemla of all the settlements of the Nephites in the south-east. Or, to use the language of the inspired historian, it was by the east sea; and it was on the south by the land of the possessions of the Lamanites (Alma l. 13) . ”

“ All the Moroni party ate them Italian fashion, as a sandwich between raw ham and bread; the contessa teased Bice.
“She knows there is nothing more delicious; it is only the Anglo-mania which prevents her doing as we do. I can forgive Kitty—but you, Bice!”
Ibbetson thought that young Moroni looked annoyed. “Why should the signorina have Anglo-mania?” he said hotly. “At any rate the signore has just said there are no such figs in England.”
“Ah, why, why, why?” cried out the girl gaily. “Do not let us ask questions or find fault. ”

“ Moroni attacked the malcontents in their cities and forts, slew about 4,000 of them, and cast into prison those who would not take up arms in defense of their country. This outbreak, which was led by those claiming to be of noble birth, resulted disastrously for the Nephites; for while Moroni was engaged in putting it down, the Lamanites made rapid advances northward, capturing many cities on their route. ”

“ He looked like what he was; a man who had aimed for an object and had lost it. Of Moroni he took no notice; it was Ibbetson to whom he attributed his defeat. But Moroni in the joy of his heart, bought a magnificent peacock made entirely of flowers, at which the Roman world had been staring for an hour or two, and gave orders for its being sent to Palazzo Capponi. And Jack, when he was called upon for advice that day, thought Giovanni’s views as to proceeding slowly were a good deal modified. At any rate, he saw Bice. ”

“ Behold, we are not of your faith; we do not believe that it is God that hath delivered us into your hands; but we believe that it is your cunning that hath preserved you from our swords. Behold, it is your breast-plates, and your shields that hath preserved you. And now when Zerahemnah had made an ending of speaking these words, Moroni returned the sword, and the weapons of war which he had received, unto Zerahemnah, saying, Behold, we will end the conflict. ”

“ The next year, Moroni sent them a reinforcement of 6,000 men and a sufficient supply of food, which was followed by a brilliant campaign, in which Moroni, Lehi and Teancum, by prearranged tactics and simultaneous movements, drove the Lamanites beyond the Nephite territory and ended the long-continued and exhausting series of wars. ”

“ Moroni heard that the Lamanites were coming to make war upon his people. He, therefore, got his armies ready to meet them. Feeling confident of an easy victory, the Lamanites marched towards the land of Jershon. As they drew near it they saw Moroni's army prepared to oppose them. Seeing how well the Nephite soldiers were protected, the Lamanites changed their minds, and instead of attacking Jershon they turned and proceeded towards the land of Manti. ”

“ By B. C. 63 the Lamanites had made it a very strong place, and stationed a heavy garrison therein, with large quantities of provisions. In this year Moroni made preparations to recapture, it but whether he succeeded at that time, or not until later, is not clear from the record. We think it is probable that owing to the rebellion at Zarahemla, headed by Pachus, which demanded Moroni's presence there, that he did not retake Morianton until B. B. 61, when the neighboring city of Lehi was captured, and also all the other cities in the hands of the Lamanites, except Moroni. ”

“ My people and I are very angry, for you have sought to murder us while we have only sought to defend ourselves. If you seek to destroy us anymore, we will seek to destroy you and take the land of our first inheritance. This is the end of my letter. I am Moroni, the leader of the Nephite armies."
Angry, Moroni makes a plan... (compare Alma, chapter 55)
Upon reading Moroni's letter, Ammoron became angry. He responded to Moroni's letter as follows: "I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites. I am the brother of Amalickiah, whom you have murdered. ”

“ Moroni, who was among the few Nephites who were spared, and in whose possession was the abridgment which had been made by his father, Mormon, was commanded to hide up that abridgment in the hill Cumorah, near the town of Manchester, Ontario County, State of New York. ”

“ This city was strongly fortified by Moroni, so that when the armies of Amalickiah attempted to carry it by assault (B. C. 73) , being unable to force the gates, they endeavored to dig down the wall built by Moroni; but in this vain attempt they left more than a thousand dead and wounded in the ditch surrounding it, while the Nephites, had not one soldier slain, and only about fifty were wounded. ”

“ Then, coming from the north side of Riplah Hill, the Lamanite army passed by the hill, and came into the valley where part of Moroni's army was hiding. As they passed through the valley and began to cross the Sidon River, part of Moroni's army, led by Lehi, attacked the Lamanites from behind.
When the Lamanites saw the Nephites coming from behind, they turned and fought Lehi's army. Men on both sides died, but it was more dreadful for the Lamanites. Their bare skin was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephite swords and scimitars, which brought death at almost every stroke. ”

“ The Lamanites, who appear to have developed no capacity for originating, but were apt in copying, also, in course of time, adopted defensive armor, and when they captured a weak Nephite city they frequently made it a stronghold by surrounding it with ditches and walls, after the system introduced and put into execution by Moroni.
The foundation of Moroni's system of fortifications was earthworks encircling the place to be defended. The earth was dug from the outside, by which means a ditch was formed. ”

“ When the guards awoke from their drunken sleep they found themselves surrounded by the armies of Moroni without, and the prisoners armed and marshaled within. Deeming discretion the better part of valor, their officers surrendered and the new prisoners were set to work increasing the strength of the fortifications of Gid, while the released Nephite warriors joined the forces of Moroni, to whom they were a great help. ”

“ A few years later (B. C. 55) , the colonization of the northern continent began, which was continued with increasing numbers of emigrants during the succeeding years. In B. C. 53, dissension again had place among the Nephites, numbers went over to the Lamanites and stirred up strife. An invasion followed, which was speedily repulsed by the forces of Moronihah, the son of Moroni. The character of Pahoran is best shown in his epistle to Moroni (Alma, ch. 61) . ”

“ Moroni, the last prophet of the Nephites, when engaged in completing the record of his father, Mormon, and adding thereto matters of his own knowledge, wrote concerning these three disciples of the Lord, that they "did tarry in the land until the wickedness of the people was so great, that the Lord would not suffer them to remain with the people ”

“ Moroni, the general of the Nephites, by rapid marches, reached the wilderness, where he intercepted them in their flight, when Amalickiah and a few others escaped to the Lamanites, while the great majority were taken prisoners and carried back to Zarahemla. The Amalickiahites were then given the opportunity to make convenant to sustain the cause of liberty or be put to death. ”

“ MORONI, CITY OF. An important city on the Atlantic coast, in the extreme southeast of the Nephite possessions. It was, doubtless, named after the illustrious Nephite general who was commander-in-chief of their armies at the time this city was founded (B. C. 72) . It was built as an outpost to protect that portion of the Nephite dominions from Lamanite invasion and was, consequently, strongly fortified. ”

“ Moroni Chapter 9
9:1 My beloved son, I write unto you again that ye may know that I am yet alive; but I write somewhat of that which is grievous.
9:2 For behold, I have had a sore battle with the Lamanites, in which we did not conquer; and Archeantus has fallen by the sword, and also Luram and Emron; yea, and we have lost a great number of our choice men.
9:3 And now behold, my son, I fear lest the Lamanites shall destroy this people; for they do not repent, and Satan stirreth them up continually to anger one with another. ”