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.
Even though the wars had ended, Moroni continued to make
preparations for future was that he knew would occur. He continued the process of building earthen
barriers to protect the cities. “Yea, he
had been strengthening the armies of the Nephites, and erecting small forts, or
places of resort; throwing up banks of earth round about to enclose his armies,
and also building walls of stone to encircle them about, round about their
cities and the borders of their lands; yea, all round about the land” (Alma
48:8). In the previous war, they
barriers had protected the cities against Lamanite attacks. “But behold, how
great was their disappointment; for behold, the Nephites had dug up a ridge of
earth round about them, which was so high that the Lamanites could not cast
their stones and their arrows at them that they might take effect, neither
could they come upon them save it was by their place of entrance” (Alma 49:4).
On top of the barriers, Moroni had a wall made of wood
built. They wall was to be “the height
of a man” (Alma 50:2). A frame of
pickets were then placed on top of the wall.
He also had towers built to watch for advancing armies. The towers were built in a manner that would
protect anyone in the towers. This is similar to what was done during Old
Testament times. “Therefore he said unto
Judah, Let us build these cities, and make about them walls, and towers, gates, and bars, while the land is yet
before us; because we have sought the LORD our God, we have sought him, and he hath given us rest on every
side. So they built and prospered. And
Asa had an army of men that bare
targets [OR large shields] and spears, out of Judah three hundred thousand; and
out of Benjamin, that bare shields and drew bows, two hundred and fourscore
thousand: all these were mighty men
of valour” (2 Chronicles 14:7-8).
Those in the towers were able to throw stones to help
protect the cities. Moroni did this
throughout the land. Finally, Moroni had the Nephite armies chase the Lamanite
armies back into their own lands.
Some Book of Mormon Lands[1]
Moroni was able to
cut off the Lamanites in their wilderness.
He fortified defensive lines between Zarahemla and Nephi. He continued to fortify these lines to
prevent Lamanite attack.
The Nephites began building a city by the east sea, calling
it Moroni. They also built a city,
between Aaron and Moroni in the land of Nephihah.
The Nephite, having lived righteously, were prosperous. They became rich and had numerous
children. “And now, because of the
steadiness of the church they began to be exceedingly rich, having abundance of
all things whatsoever they stood in need—an abundance of flocks and herds, and
fatlings of every kind, and also abundance of grain, and of gold, and of
silver, and of precious things, and abundance of silk and fine-twined linen,
and all manner of good homely cloth” (Alma 1:29).
Mormon here breaks into his narrative to make an
observation. He reminds us the Lord is
merciful to his people and he will fulfill the words He spoke to Lehi, “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” (Alma
50:20).
We don’t have the exact words Mormon attributes to Lehi in
the Book of Mormon. He could very well have
that quote on his records. Even so, the
meaning of the words are important. Lord promised the Israelites, “Wherefore ye
shall do my statutes, and keep my judgments [HEB decrees or laws], and do them;
and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. And the land shall yield her fruit,
and ye shall eat your fill, and dwell therein in safety” (Leviticus 25:18-19).
David wrote, “But his delight is in the law [HEB teaching, direction, doctrine] 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 1:2-3).
Alma told his son, Helaman, “O remember, 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).
The consequences of not following God’s commandments are
also clear. “Fret 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).
“And the arm of the Lord shall be revealed; and the day
cometh that they who will not hear the voice of the Lord, neither the voice of
his servants, neither give heed to the words of the prophets and apostles,
shall be cut off from among the people” (D&C 1:14).
Mormon reminds us the Nephites paid when they become a
wicked people, turning away from the Lord.
“Do 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). Wars were fought where the Nephites suffered
the consequences of their wickedness. Those who were righteous were spared
while those who were wicked either died, became slaves, or affiliated with the
Lamanites.
This time was the happiest time for the Nephites since the
days of Nephi. “And it came to pass that we lived after the manner of happiness”
(2 Nephi 5:27).
King Benjamin would promise the people, “And moreover, I
would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those
that keep the commandments of God. For
behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if
they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby
they may dwell with God in a state of never–ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are
true; for the Lord God hath spoken it” (Mosiah 2:41).
But, the happiest time for the Nephites was the two centuries
after Christ’s ministry. “And it came to pass that there was no contention in
the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the
people. And there were no envyings, nor strifes, nor tumults, nor whoredoms,
nor lyings, nor murders, nor any manner of lasciviousness; and surely there
could not be a happier people among all the people who had been created by the
hand of God. There were no robbers, nor murderers, neither were there
Lamanites, nor any manner of –ites; but they were in one, the children of
Christ, and heirs to the kingdom of God. And how blessed were they! For the Lord did bless them in all their
doings; yea, even they were blessed and prospered until an *hundred
and ten years had passed away; and the first generation from Christ had passed
away, and there was no contention in all the land” (4 Nephi 1:15- 18).
[1] Revisiting
“A Key for Evaluating Book of Mormon Geographies,” John E. Clark, Mormon
Studies Review 23/1 (2011):38.
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