The Nephites had arrived at the city of Jashon. This was the
land where Ammaron had hidden the plates. Mormon tells us he had gone and
obtained the plates of Nephi.
He explains he has made a full account of the wickedness and
abominations of the Nephites; however, he did not include this information on
his abridged plates. “In his turn, Mormon keeps a ‘full account’ of his own
period. In addition, he is eventually directed by God to abridge all the
previous contributions to the large plates. Having done so, he instructs his
son Moroni to complete the Nephite record, abridge the Jaredite record, and ‘seal
up’ the collection of plates in view of their ‘coming forth’ in the last days.”[1]
Mormon’s heart is filled with sorrow because of the
wickedness of the Nephites. But, he knows he “shall be lifted up at the last
days” (Mormon 2:19). “Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same
shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people”
(Mosiah 23:22).
The Nephites continued to fight, but they were on the
offensive. They were forced out of Jashon and moved north into the land of
Shem.
The people were gathered in Shem. The city was fortified for
additional protection.
Mormon continued to prepare the army for the battle. He urged them to fight for their wives,
children, house, and homes. “Notice that the whole operation is strictly
defensive—the whole problem is one of survival, and every move is made with
great reluctance. In the city and land of Shem, Mormon made a passionate appeal
to his people to ‘fight for their . . . houses, and their homes’ (Mormon 2:23) …”[2]
When the Lamanites attacked, the Nephite army held strong. The
Lamanite army consisted of 50,000 men. The Nephite army was only 30,000 strong.
Nevertheless, they were able to withstand the attack when the Lamanites fled.
The Nephite army pursued them and defeated the Lamanites. “Though
they were past feeling, Mormon was not. He could see that even in their
occasional victory ‘we were left to ourselves, that the Spirit of the Lord did
not abide in us’ (Mormon 2:26).”[3]
Mormon sorrowed in the Nephite wickedness. Even so, he
continued to lead the army. They were able to defeat the Gadianton robbers and
Lamanites and retake the lands of their inheritance.
Eventually, the Nephites were forced to make a treaty with
the Lamanites and the Gadianton robbers. The end result was the lands of their
inheritance were divided three ways.
The Lamanites gave the Nephites the land northward to a
narrow passage which led to the land southward. The Lamanites were given that
land.
[1] Memory
and Identity in the Book of Mormon, Steven L. Olsen, Journal of the Book of Mormon and Other Restoration Scripture 22/2
(2013): 49.
[2] An Approach
to the Book of Mormon, Strategy for Survival, Hugh Nibley, Maxwell
Institute website.
[3] Hubris and Atē: A Latter-day Warning from the Book of
Mormon, Richard D. Draper, Maxwell Institute website.
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