Alma 50:11-23

¹¹ And thus he cut off all the strongholds of the Lamanites in the east wilderness, yea, and also on the west, fortifying the line between the Nephites and the Lamanites, between the land of Zarahemla and the land of Nephi, from the west sea, running by the head of the river Sidon—the Nephites possessing all the land northward, yea, even all the land which was northward of the land Bountiful, according to their pleasure. ¹² Thus Moroni, with his armies, which did increase daily because of the assurance of protection which his works did bring forth unto them, did seek to cut off the strength and the power of the Lamanites from off the lands of their possessions, that they should have no power upon the lands of their possession.

Alma 50:11 – 12 (Emphasis mine)

Here Mormon gives us a geographical description of Moroni(1)’s strategy of protecting the people in the land of Zarahemla.  He wanted to “cut off the strength and the power of the Lamanites from off the lands of their possessions, that they should have no power upon the lands of the possession.

The effect of his efforts was that his armies “did increase daily because of the assurance of protection which his works did bring unto them.” 

¹³ And it came to pass that the Nephites began the foundation of a city, and they called the name of the city Moroni; and it was by the east sea; and it was on the south by the line of the possessions of the Lamanites. ¹⁴ And they also began a foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron, joining the borders of Aaron and Moroni; and they called the name of the city, or the land, Nephihah.

¹⁵ And they also began in that same year to build many cities on the north, one in a particular manner which they called Lehi, which was in the north by the borders of the seashore. ¹⁶ And thus ended the twentieth year.

¹⁷ And in these prosperous circumstances were the people of Nephi in the commencement of the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi [71 B.C.]. ¹⁸ And they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceedingly rich; yea, and they did multiply and wax strong in the land.

Alma 50:13 – 18 (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) also had cities built.  Near the east see, they built the city Moroni.  They also began to build the city Aaron.  Nephite city building followed a specific pattern.

“A city would be planned and built all at one time, like a house. Cities were not the product of a slow gradual accretion from hamlet to village to town to city to metropolis as Fustel de Coulanges and the other evolutionists once had everybody believing; but if we believe the Book of Mormon, they were built up all at once. Thus we read that ‘the Nephites began the foundation of a city, and they called the name of the city Moroni; … and they also began a foundation for a city between the city of Moroni and the city of Aaron; … and they called the name of the city, or the land, Nephihah’ (Alma 50:13—14). The Book of Mormon method is the correct one historically.”[1]     (Emphasis mine)

John L. Sorenson explains these “instant cities.”

 “A type of city that was sometimes small was the military garrison city that was established quickly. Antiparah, Zeezrom, and Cumeni, which all lay between Manti and the west sea, were of this sort (see Alma 50:10–11; 56:9–10, 13–16). More of these ‘instant cities’ were installed near the east sea coast (see Alma 50:13–15). (They are reminiscent of the small fortified settlements, or even isolated fortresses, that existed in Old Testament times in the land of Israel but were labeled cities in the Bible because they were surrounded by defensive walls.)”[2] (Emphasis mine)

During this city building period, the people continued to prosper.  Mormon tells us “they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceedingly rich; yea, and they did multiply and wax strong in the land.”

Mormon breaks into his account and shares his observations.

¹⁹ And thus we see how merciful and just are all the dealings of the Lord, to the fulfilling of all his words unto the children of men; yea, we can behold that his words are verified, even at this time, which he spake unto Lehi, saying: ²⁰ Blessed art thou and thy children; and they shall be blessed, inasmuch as they shall keep my commandments they shall prosper in the land.  But remember, inasmuch as they will not keep my commandments they shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.

²¹ And we see that these promises have been verified to the people of Nephi; for it has been their quarrelings and their contentions, yea, their murderings, and their plunderings, their idolatry, their whoredoms, and their abominations, which were among themselves, which brought upon them their wars and their destructions. ²² And those who were faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times, whilst thousands of their wicked brethren have been consigned to bondage, or to perish by the sword, or to dwindle in unbelief, and mingle with the Lamanites.

²³ But behold there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi, than in the days of Moroni, yea, even at this time, in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges.

Alma 50:19 – 23 (Emphasis mine)

Mormon tells us, when the Lord deals with us, His dealings are “merciful and just.”  This fulfills Lehi’s promise that when the Nephites are righteous and obey the commandments, they shall prosper.  When they are wicked and fail to keep the commandments, they “shall be cut off from the presence of the Lord.”

David tells us that “[b]lessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper” (Psalms 1:1 - 3).

Alma(2) told his Helaman, “remember, my son Helaman, how strict are the commandments of God.  And he said: If ye will keep my commandments ye shall prosper in the land—but if ye keep not his commandments ye shall be cut off from his presence” (Alma 37:13).

On the other hand, “[f]ret not thyself because of evildoers, neither be thou envious against the workers of iniquity. For they shall soon be cut down like the grass, and wither as the green herb” (Psalms 37:1 - 2).  Alma(2) told his Corianton, “[d]o not suppose, because it has been spoken concerning restoration, that ye shall be restored from sin to happiness.  Behold, I say unto you, wickedness never was happiness” (Alma 41:10).

When the people experience wars and destruction, it was because of “their quarrelings and their contentions, yea, their murderings, and their plunderings, their idolatry, their whoredoms, and their abominations.”  This is in line with Mormon’s view of war.  “[Mormon] saw the wars in Nephite history as a verification (to use his own word) of the prophecies of Lehi regarding the terms and conditions for occupying the promised land (see Alma 50:19-20). These wars were often viewed as occasions of divine punishment and retribution on the one hand and of divine deliverance on the other…”[3]  He “teaches that war is a result of iniquity. Wars and destructions were brought upon the Nephites because of the contentions, murderings, idolatry, whoredoms, and abominations ‘which were among themselves," while those who were "faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord were delivered at all times’ from captivity, death, or unbelief (Alma 50:21—22).”[4]

During this time of prosperity, Mormon tells us that “there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi.”  You can sense Mormon’s longing for a happier time.  He knows the end of his people is near, and he has nothing but sorrow.  He yearns for happiness. 

These same things apply to us today.  We will suffer when we are unrighteous and we will prosper when we are righteous.

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[1] The Nature of Book of Mormon Society, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 15, 2012.

[2] Civilization, John L. Sorenson, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 15, 2012.

[3] Why Is So Much of the Book of Mormon Given Over to Military Accounts? R. Douglas Phillips, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 15, 2012.

[4] Warfare in the Book of Mormon, William J. Hamblin, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 15, 2012.