Alma 51:22-37

Moroni had successfully put down the king-men rebellion.  He was preparing for war with the Lamanites when the Lamanite army entered the land of Moroni, near the seashore.

The army, led by Amalickiah, drove the Nephites out of the land of Moroni. He was successful as those who attempted to defend the city were weaker than the Lamanite army.  The city fell under Amalickiah’s control. The Nephites fled to the city of Nephihah.  The people in the city of Lehi were preparing to face the Lamanite army.

Amalickiah kept part of the army in the city of Moroni and took the rest and continued attacking Nephite cities.  He took possession of Nephihah (“Mention of taking Nephihah in [Alma 51:26] is probably a scribal error, as it was captured much later; see Alma 59:5–11)”[1], Lehi, Morianton, Omner, Gid, and Mulek.  All of these cities were found along the Eastern sea shore.

Having taken control of a number of Nephite cities, Amalickiah continued his march.  They arrived came to the border of the land Bountiful, having killed many along the way.  There, they met Teancum and his army.  Earlier, Teancum had killed Morianton and defeated his army.  “And it came to pass that the army which was sent by Moroni, which was led by a man whose name was Teancum, did meet the people of Morianton; and so stubborn were the people of Morianton, (being inspired by his wickedness and his flattering words) that a battle commenced between them, in the which Teancum did slay Morianton and defeat his army, and took them prisoners, and returned to the camp of Moroni.  And thus ended the twenty and fourth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi” (Alma 50:35).

Amalickiah attacked Teancum’s army.  The Nephites were strong and more skilled in the arts of war.  They gained advantage over the Lamanite army.  The fighting continued until nighttime, and both armies withdrew.

Once everyone had gone to sleep, Teancum and a servant snuck into the Lamanite camp.  He found Amalickiah’s tent, went in, and placed a javelin through his heat, killing him instantly.  They returned to the camp, woke up his men, and told them what he had done.  He readied his army in case the Lamanites attacked. 

“And thus endeth the twenty and fifth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; and thus endeth the days of Amalickiah” (Alma 51:37).

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[1] Revisiting “A Key for Evaluating Book of Mormon Geographies,” John E. Clark, Mormon Studies Review 23/1 (2011): 20.