Alma 50:1-10

Chapter 50

Moroni fortifies the lands of the Nephites—They build many new cities—Wars and destructions befell the Nephites in the days of their wickedness and abominations—Morianton and his dissenters are defeated by Teancum—Nephihah dies and his son Pahoran fills the judgment–seat. About 72–67 B.C.

¹ AND now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the ^*commencement of the twentieth year of the reign of the judges [72 B.C.], that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites. ² And upon the top of these ridges of earth he caused that there should be timbers, yea, works of timbers built up to the height of a man, round about the cities. ³ And he caused that upon those works of timbers there should be a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high.

⁴ And he caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers, that the stones and the arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them. ⁵ And they were prepared that they could cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay him who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city.

⁶ Thus Moroni did prepare strongholds against the coming of their enemies, round about every city in all the land.

Alma 50:1 – 6 (Emphasis mine)

Even though there was peace in the land, Moroni(1) continued his preparations for war.  He was positive that Amalickiah would not cease his efforts to conquer the Nephites.  (Remember, Amalickiah has sworn “with an oath that he would drink [Moroni(1)’s] blood” Alma 49:27). 

He continued his unique approach to defending the Nephite cities.  (Keep in mind that, when the Lamanites saw Moroni(1)’s efforts, they were, “to their uttermost astonishment, they were prepared for them, in a manner which never had been known among the children of Lehi” Alma 49:8.) 

They began to dig “up heaps of earth round about all the cities.”  On the top of these mounds, he placed timbers and used them to make “a frame of pickets … and they were strong and high.” 

Towers were then erected to “overlook those works of pickets.”  Places were added on top of the tower and stocked with “stones and arrows.”  They were strengthened and secured against Lamanite attacks.

In addition to the military purposes, these towers also served a psychological purpose.

“Fortifications were still another way to publicly display the power of a people and its rulers while impacting the landscape. Moroni₁ caused his men to ‘commence in digging up heaps of earth round about all the cities’ in Zarahemla (Alma 50:1). These were topped with log palisades (see Alma 50:6). The constructions, along with other military measures that Moroni₁ initiated, gave his people ‘assurance of protection” (Alma 50:12). Beyond the practical benefit of providing a safe haven in case of enemy attack, the successful construction of the fortifications demonstrated to folks whose morale may have been wavering that they were led by a decisive regime that they could trust. That is part of the psychology behind all massive public works, and such public works are essential in a civilization.”[1] (Emphasis mine)

⁷ And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his armies should go forth into the east wilderness; yea, and they went forth and drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their own lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla. ⁸ And the land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west.

⁹ And it came to pass that when Moroni had driven all the Lamanites out of the east wilderness, which was north of the lands of their own possessions, he caused that the inhabitants who were in the land of Zarahemla and in the land round about should go forth into the east wilderness, even to the borders by the seashore, and possess the land. ¹⁰ And he also placed armies on the south, in the borders of their possessions, and caused them to erect fortifications that they might secure their armies and their people from the hands of their enemies.

Alma 50:7 – 10 (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) also had geographical concerns.  There were Lamanites living in part of the land of Zarahemla.  He “caused that his armies should go froth … and grove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their own lands.”

“That extension along the west sea coast was matched on the east sea side of the land of Zarahemla; there, we are told, Lamanites inhabited a strip of wilderness that extended northward along the coast as far as the land Bountiful. Thus at this point in time the Nephite land of Zarahemla was surrounded on three sides by Lamanites. (See map 2.) But under Captain Moroni in the early part of the last century B.C., the Nephites expelled the Lamanite squatters along both coasts, driving them southward into the land of Nephi proper that was the traditional Lamanite possession (see Alma 50:7–11).”[2] (Emphasis mine)

Once the Lamanites had been forced back to their own lands, he had “inhabitants who were in the land of Zarahemla and in the land round about” to “possess the land.”  Once the Nephites possessed the land, he followed his usual practice.  He had them “erect fortifications that might secure their armies and their people from the hands of their enemies.

“Not long after Moroni₁ became the Nephites’ military commander (see Alma 43:16–17), he was so concerned about the vulnerability of this area that he ‘caused that his armies should go forth into the east wilderness . . . and [they] drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into their own lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla’ (Alma 50:7). One reason for Moroni₁’s concern had to have been that this coastal area was wide enough that it was hard to defend against a northward Lamanite attack that would ultimately target the narrow neck. Moroni₁ sent settlers to settle, farm, and garrison the area that had just been cleared of Lamanite squatters, and as part of this effort, he constructed a series of fortified ‘instant cities.’ He also installed fortifications farther south, along a ‘line between the Nephites and the Lamanites’ (see Alma 50:9–11). Clearly, he was dealing with a sizable territory that was quite unlike the narrow pass at the neck, where defenders could easily focus on an area small enough to allow them to intercept an attack (see Alma 50:34).”[3] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Civilization, John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 14, 2012.

[2] The Overall Configuration, John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 14, 2012.

[3] The Surface of the Land, John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 14, 2012.