Mormon
23 verses
In the three hundred sixty-third year, the Nephites took their armies out of the land of Desolation to fight against the Lamanites.
And now it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and third year the Nephites did go up with their armies to battle against the Lamanites, out of the land Desolation.
The armies of the Nephites were driven back again to the land of Desolation. While they were still weary, a fresh army of the Lamanites attacked them, and there was a fierce battle. The Lamanites took possession of the city Desolation, killed many of the Nephites, and took many prisoners.
And it came to pass that the armies of the Nephites were driven back again to the land of Desolation. And while they were yet weary, a fresh army of the Lamanites did come upon them; and they had a sore battle, insomuch that the Lamanites did take possession of the city Desolation, and did slay many of the Nephites, and did take many prisoners.
The rest fled and joined the people living in the city of Teancum. The city of Teancum was located on the border by the seashore, and it was also near the city of Desolation.
And the remainder did flee and join the inhabitants of the city Teancum. Now the city Teancum lay in the borders by the seashore; and it was also near the city Desolation.
The Nephite armies began to be defeated because they went up against the Lamanites; if they hadn't done that, the Lamanites would not have had any power over them.
And it was because the armies of the Nephites went up unto the Lamanites that they began to be smitten; for were it not for that, the Lamanites could have had no power over them.
The judgments of God will overtake the wicked, and the wicked are punished by other wicked people, because it is the wicked who stir up people's hearts to violence.
But, behold, the judgments of God will overtake the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of the children of men unto bloodshed.
The Lamanites prepared to attack the city of Teancum.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites did make preparations to come against the city Teancum.
In the three hundred sixty-fourth year, the Lamanites came against the city of Teancum to take possession of it as well.
And it came to pass in the three hundred and sixty and fourth year the Lamanites did come against the city Teancum, that they might take possession of the city Teancum also.
They were pushed back and driven away by the Nephites. When the Nephites saw that they had driven out the Lamanites, they started boasting about their own strength again. They went forward with their own power and took back the city of Desolation.
And it came to pass that they were repulsed and driven back by the Nephites. And when the Nephites saw that they had driven the Lamanites they did again boast of their own strength; and they went forth in their own might, and took possession again of the city Desolation.
All these things had happened, and thousands had been killed on both sides, both among the Nephites and the Lamanites.
And now all these things had been done, and there had been thousands slain on both sides, both the Nephites and the Lamanites.
After the three hundred and sixty-sixth year had passed, the Lamanites attacked the Nephites again; but the Nephites still did not repent of the evil they had done, and continued in their wickedness.
And it came to pass that the three hundred and sixty and sixth year had passed away, and the Lamanites came again upon the Nephites to battle; and yet the Nephites repented not of the evil they had done, but persisted in their wickedness continually.
It is impossible to fully describe or write a perfect account of the horrible bloodshed and carnage among the people, both Nephites and Lamanites. Every heart was hardened, and they took pleasure in shedding blood continually.
And it is impossible for the tongue to describe, or for man to write a perfect description of the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was among the people, both of the Nephites and of the Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they delighted in the shedding of blood continually.
There had never been such great wickedness among all the children of Lehi, or even among all the house of Israel, according to the words of the Lord, as there was among this people.
And there never had been so great wickedness among all the children of Lehi, nor even among all the house of Israel, according to the words of the Lord, as was among this people.
The Lamanites took control of the city Desolation because they outnumbered the Nephites.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites did take possession of the city Desolation, and this because their number did exceed the number of the Nephites.
They also marched against the city Teancum, drove the inhabitants out, took many prisoners—both women and children—and offered them as sacrifices to their idol gods.
And they did also march forward against the city Teancum, and did drive the inhabitants forth out of her, and did take many prisoners both women and children, and did offer them up as sacrifices unto their idol gods.
In the three hundred sixty-seventh year, the Nephites, angry because the Lamanites had sacrificed their women and children, went against the Lamanites with extremely great anger and defeated them again, driving them out of their lands.
And it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and seventh year, the Nephites being angry because the Lamanites had sacrificed their women and their children, that they did go against the Lamanites with exceedingly great anger, insomuch that they did beat again the Lamanites, and drive them out of their lands.
The Lamanites did not attack the Nephites again until the three hundred seventy-fifth year.
And the Lamanites did not come again against the Nephites until the three hundred and seventy and fifth year.
That year, they came down against the Nephites with all their strength, and their numbers were so great that they couldn't be counted.
And in this year they did come down against the Nephites with all their powers; and they were not numbered because of the greatness of their number.
From this time on, the Nephites had no power over the Lamanites and began to be destroyed by them, like dew before the sun.
And from this time forth did the Nephites gain no power over the Lamanites, but began to be swept off by them even as a dew before the sun.
The Lamanites came down against the city of Desolation, and there was an extremely fierce battle fought in the land of Desolation, in which they defeated the Nephites.
And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come down against the city Desolation; and there was an exceedingly sore battle fought in the land Desolation, in the which they did beat the Nephites.
They fled from them again and went to the city of Boaz. There they stood against the Lamanites with great courage, so the Lamanites did not defeat them until they attacked a second time.
And they fled again from before them, and they came to the city Boaz; and there they did stand against the Lamanites with exceeding boldness, insomuch that the Lamanites did not beat them until they had come again the second time.
When they came the second time, the Nephites were driven back and killed in an extremely great slaughter; their women and children were once again sacrificed to idols.
And when they had come the second time, the Nephites were driven and slaughtered with an exceedingly great slaughter; their women and their children were again sacrificed unto idols.
The Nephites fled from them again, taking all the inhabitants with them from both towns and villages.
And it came to pass that the Nephites did again flee from before them, taking all the inhabitants with them, both in towns and villages.
Now I, Mormon, saw that the Lamanites were about to conquer the land, so I went to the hill Shim and took all the records that Ammaron had hidden for the Lord.
And now I, Mormon, seeing that the Lamanites were about to overthrow the land, therefore I did go to the hill Shim, and did take up all the records which Ammaron had hid up unto the Lord.