34 And it came to pass that the Lamanites came up on the north of the hill, where a part of the army of Moroni was concealed.
35 And as the Lamanites had passed the hill Riplah, and came into the valley, and began to cross the river Sidon, the army which was concealed on the south of the hill, which was led by a man whose name was Lehi, and he led his army forth and encircled the Lamanites about on the east in their rear.
36 And it came to pass that the Lamanites, when they saw the Nephites coming upon them in their rear, turned them about and began to contend with the army of Lehi.
Alma 43:34-36 (Emphasis mine)
The Lamanites continued their march to Manti. Their chose path took the past a part of the Nephite army. This group was commanded by Lehi(2). He had his army surround the Lamanites from the rear.
The Lamanites saw then Nephite army coming towards them from their rear. They turned around and the battle began.
37 And the work of death commenced on both sides, but it was more dreadful on the part of the Lamanites, for their nakedness was exposed to the heavy blows of the Nephites with their swords and their cimeters, which brought death almost at every stroke.
38 While on the other hand, there was now and then a man fell among the Nephites, by their swords and the loss of blood, they being shielded from the more vital parts of the body, or the more vital parts of the body being shielded from the strokes of the Lamanites, by their breastplates, and their armshields, and their head–plates; and thus the Nephites did carry on the work of death among the Lamanites.
39 And it came to pass that the Lamanites became frightened, because of the great destruction among them, even until they began to flee towards the river Sidon.
40 And they were pursued by Lehi and his men; and they were driven by Lehi into the waters of Sidon, and they crossed the waters of Sidon. And Lehi retained his armies upon the bank of the river Sidon that they should not cross.
Alma 43:37-40 (Emphasis mine)
It was a bloody battle. Mormon describes it as “the work of death.” Not surprisingly, the Lamanites suffered the most casualties. They had nothing to protect them from the blows of the Nephites swords and cimeters.
The Nephite armor protected the soldiers in the Nephite army. There were casualties, but far fewer than those suffered by the Lamanites.
Seeing that things were not going well (they were losing), they retreated and feel back at the river Sidon. Lehi(2)’s army drove them beyond the river Sidon. He kept his armies there to prevent the Lamanites from returning.
41 And it came to pass that Moroni and his army met the Lamanites in the valley, on the other side of the river Sidon, and began to fall upon them and to slay them.
42 And the Lamanites did flee again before them, towards the land of Manti; and they were met again by the armies of Moroni.
43 Now in this case the Lamanites did fight exceedingly; yea, never had the Lamanites been known to fight with such exceedingly great strength and courage, no, not even from the beginning.
44 And they were inspired by the Zoramites and the Amalekites, who were their chief captains and leaders, and by Zerahemnah, who was their chief captain, or their chief leader and commander; yea, they did fight like dragons, and many of the Nephites were slain by their hands, yea, for they did smite in two many of their head–plates, and they did pierce many of their breastplates, and they did smite off many of their arms; and thus the Lamanites did smite in their fierce anger.
Alma 43:41-44 (Emphasis mine)
Moroni(1)’s army met the Lamanites in the valley. The Lamanites continued the battle. It was a ferocious battle. The Lamanites fought as they had never fought before. Many Nephites died during the battle.
45 Nevertheless, the Nephites were inspired by a better cause, for they were not fighting for monarchy nor power but they were fighting for their homes and their liberties, their wives and their children, and their all, yea, for their rites of worship and their church.
46 And they were doing that which they felt was the duty which they owed to their God; for the Lord had said unto them, and also unto their fathers, that: Inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain by the hands of your enemies.
47 And again, the Lord has said that: Ye shall defend your families even unto bloodshed. Therefore for this cause were the Nephites contending with the Lamanites, to defend themselves, and their families, and their lands, their country, and their rights, and their religion.
Alma 43:45-47 (Emphasis mine)
Mormon tells us that the Nephites had the advantage. First, they were fighting a defensive war. They didn’t start this. They didn’t ask for war. The Lamanites and Nephite dissenters were responsible for this war.
Next, they were fighting for things that matter – home, family, liberty, and religion.
The Lord had set forth rules of water. If you’re not guilty of the first or second offense, then war is justified. It must be a defensive war. And it must be fought for home, family, liberty, and religion.
The Nephites had the Lord on their side.
Here are two commentaries that explain the importance of the Nephite motivation.
“Not only is a preemptive strike out of the question, but Moroni's people have to let the enemy attack at least twice before responding, to guarantee that their own action is purely defensive (see Alma 43:46). The highest compliment that Alma can pay Moroni is: ‘Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon’ (Alma 48:18), who, as we have seen, renounced all military solutions to the Lamanite problem.” [1] (Emphasis mine)
William Hamblin adds:
“The Book of Mormon implicitly condemns wars of aggression. Until their final calamity, all Nephite military objectives were strictly defensive. It was a mandatory, sacred obligation of all able-bodied Nephite men to defend their families, country, and religious freedoms (Alma 43:47; 46:12), but only as God commanded them.” [2] (Emphasis mine)
Hugh Nibley observes:
“But the Nephites had the better cause, as Mormon explains, since they were fighting strictly on the defensive. This was no pious cant, for the Nephites in this case were really not the aggressors; they had observed the rule that God had given them, that ‘inasmuch as ye are not guilty of the first offense, neither the second, ye shall not suffer yourselves to be slain’ (Alma 43:46). The Lamanites, on the other hand, were fighting for monarchy and power, and made no secret of their intention of subduing and ruling (Alma 43:45).” [3] (Emphasis mine)
[1] Scriptural Perspectives on How to Survive the Calamities of the Last Days, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 16, 2011.
[2] Warfare in the Book of Mormon, William J. Hamblin, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 16, 2011.
[3] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 16, 2011.
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