Alma 54:1-8

Chapter 54

Ammoron and Moroni negotiate for the exchange of prisoners—Moroni demands that the Lamanites withdraw and cease their murderous attacks—Ammoron demands that the Nephites lay down their arms and become subject to the Lamanites. About 63 B.C.

¹ AND now it came to pass in the commencement of the twenty and ninth year of the judges [63 B.C.], that Ammoron sent unto Moroni desiring that he would exchange prisoners. ² And it came to pass that Moroni felt to rejoice exceedingly at this request, for he desired the provisions which were imparted for the support of the Lamanite prisoners for the support of his own people; and he also desired his own people for the strengthening of his army. ³ Now the Lamanites had taken many women and children, and there was not a woman nor a child among all the prisoners of Moroni, or the prisoners whom Moroni had taken; therefore Moroni resolved upon a stratagem to obtain as many prisoners of the Nephites from the Lamanites as it were possible.

Alma 54:1 – 3 (Emphasis mine)

One tactic used by Moroni(1) was to “retain all the prisoners who fell into his hands; for as the Lamanites had taken many prisoners, that he should retain all the prisoners of the Lamanites as a ransom for those whom the Lamanites had taken” (Alma 52:8).  The time came when the strategy paid off.  Ammoron contacted Moroni(1) asking for an exchange of prisoners.

Moroni(1) was pleased because he would no longer have to provide for the prisoners, making the resources available for use by the Nephites.  He would also be able to strengthen his own army.

We learn about a major difference between the Nephites and Lamanites.  The Nephites only took combatants as prisoners.  On the other hand, the Lamanites had no problem with taking anyone as a prisoner – man, woman, or child. 

“Moroni resolved upon a stratagem to obtain as many prisoners of the Nephites from the Lamanites as it were possible” (verse 3).

“Moroni was a pragmatist as well as a prophet, and he was more likely to take prisoners (as opposed to letting captured soldiers go free with a covenant of peace) if he needed bargaining power to regain captured Nephites (see Alma 52:8). Yet unlike the Lamanites, Moroni's troops never took women or children prisoner (see Alma 54:3), largely because the Nephite soldiers never fought in Lamanite territory. Helaman's epistle to Moroni indicates that when Lamanite provisions became short, the Lamanites kept alive only the most valuable prisoners, the chief captains (see Alma 56:12).”[1] (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) responds to Ammoron.

⁴ Therefore he wrote an epistle, and sent it by the servant of Ammoron, the same who had brought an epistle to Moroni.  Now these are the words which he wrote unto Ammoron, saying:

⁵ Behold, Ammoron, I have written unto you somewhat concerning this war which ye have waged against my people, or rather which thy brother hath waged against them, and which ye are still determined to carry on after his death. ⁶ Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice of God, and the sword of his almighty wrath, which doth hang over you except ye repent and withdraw your armies into your own lands, or the land of your possessions, which is the land of Nephi. ⁷ Yea, I would tell you these things if ye were capable of hearkening unto them; yea, I would tell you concerning that awful hell that awaits to receive such murderers as thou and thy brother have been, except ye repent and withdraw your murderous purposes, and return with your armies to your own lands. ⁸ But as ye have once rejected these things, and have fought against the people of the Lord, even so I may expect you will do it again.

Alma 54:4 – 8 (Emphasis mine)

Here we see a form of communication in the Book of Mormon, the epistle.  Mormon’s inclusions of the entire epistles give us a better understanding of the issues faced by the participants as well as their thought processes.

“The first two are epistles dealing with the exchange of prisoners. These are found in Alma 54:5—14 and 54:16—24, respectively. A renegade Lamanite leader by the name of Ammoron asks one Moroni, a Nephite general, to exchange prisoners. Moroni writes the first recorded epistle of the Book of Mormon in answer to Ammoron's proposal. It is an exceedingly sharply worded reply in which he agrees to the Lamanite request on condition that the enemy deliver up a man and his family in exchange for each warrior in possession of the Nephites.”[2] (Emphasis mine)

Moroni(1) doesn’t immediately respond to the proposal to trade prisoners.  He begins by reminding Ammoron that this was is the responsibility of his brother, Amalickiah, and himself. 

He then tells him “somewhat concerning the justice of God, and the sword of his almighty wrath, which doth hang over you.” 

“There is always this refrain. He invites them to repent and withdraw their armies. He is carried away already. He preaches. ‘Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice of God …’ I would tell you that, but you won't listen. Well, he goes ahead and tells him anyway. He has to unburden his soul. ‘… repent and withdraw your armies … Yea, I would tell you these things if ye were capable of hearkening unto them [can you suggest another approach than this?]; yea, I would tell you concerning that awful hell that awaits to receive such murderers as thou and thy brother have been [he has to insult his brother too], except ye repent and withdraw your murderous purposes, and return with your armies to your own lands.’”[3]   (Emphasis mine)

Richard Rust analyzes Moroni(1)’s the epistle.

“Although at first Moroni rejoices at the request for an exchange, as he gets into his letter his pent-up anger flows forth. This is anger about years of conflict led by Ammoron's brother, the cunning and duplicitous Amalickiah; on a larger scale, it is a response to centuries of Lamanite-Nephite conflict. ‘Behold, I would tell you somewhat concerning the justice of God, and the sword of his almighty wrath, which doth hang over you except ye repent and withdraw your armies into your own lands,’ Moroni declares (Alma 54:6). In this cosmic context, God is on the side of the Nephites; the real battle is between God and Ammoron (both the man and the army.)”[4] (Emphasis mine)

---

[1] Law and War in the Book of Mormon, John W. Welch, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2012.

[2] Types of Literature in the Book of Mormon: Epistles, Psalms, Lamentations, Sidney B. Sperry, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2012.

[3] Lecture 70: Alma 52-54, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2012.

[4] "Their Fathers" - Letters and Autobiography, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed April 29, 2012.