BoM Translation Guide



Alma 23

Alma 23:1 [LDS 51:1]
[And now] [it came to pass] [in the commencement] [of the twenty] [and fifth] year [of the reign] [of the Judges] over [the people] [of Nephi,] [they having established] peace between [the people] [of Lehi] [and the people] [of Morianton] concerning [their lands,] [and having commenced] [the twenty] [and fifth] year [in peace;]

Alma 23:2 [LDS 51:2]
Nevertheless, [they did <not> long] maintain [an <entire> peace] [in the land,] for [there began] [to be] [a contention] among [the people] concerning [the <chief> <judge,>{incorrect punctuation} Pahoran;] for behold, [there were a part] [of the people] [who desired] [that a <few> <particular> points] [of the law] [should be altered.]

Alma 23:3 [LDS 51:3]
[But behold,] Pahoran [would <not> alter,] nor suffer [the law] [to be altered;] [therefore he did <not> hearken] [to those who] [had sent in] [their voices] with [their petitions,] [concerning the altering] [of the law;]

Alma 23:4 [LDS 51:4]
[Therefore those who] [were desirous] [that the law] [should be altered,] [were angry] [with him,] [and desired] [that he should <no> longer] [be <chief> judge] over [the land;] [therefore there arose] [a <warm> dispute] concerning [the matter;] [but not] [unto bloodshed.]

Alma 23:5 [LDS 51:5]
[And it came to pass] [that those who] [were desirous] [that Pahoran] [should be dethroned] [from the <judgment> seat,] [were called] king-men, for [they were desirous] [that the law] [should be altered] [in a manner] [to overthrow] [the <free> government,] [and to establish] [a king] over [the land.]

Alma 23:6 [LDS 51:6]
[And those who] [were desirous] [that Pahoran] [should remain] chief judge over [the land,] took [upon them] [the name] [of freemen;] [and thus] was [the division] [among them;] [for the freemen] [had sworn] [or covenanted] [to maintain] [their rights,] [and the privileges] [of their religion,] [by a <free> government.]

Alma 23:7 [LDS 51:7]
[And it came to pass] [that this matter] [of their contention] [was settled,] [by the voice] [of the people.]

Alma 23:8 [LDS 51:7]
[And it came to pass] [that the voice] [of the people] came [in favor] [of the freemen,] [and Pahoran] retained [the <judgment> seat,] which [caused <much> rejoicing] among [the brethren] [of Pahoran,] [and also] many [of the people] [of liberty;] who also [[put [the king-men] to silence, ]] that [they durst not] oppose, [but were obliged] [to maintain] [the cause] [of freedom.]

Alma 23:9 [LDS 51:8]
[Now those] [who were] [in favor] [of kings,] [were those] [of <high> birth;] [and they sought] [to be kings;] [and they were supported] [by those who] sought power [and authority] over [the people.]

Alma 23:10 [LDS 51:9] [Note]
[But behold,] this was [a critical] time for [such contentions] [to be among] [the people] [of Nephi;] for behold, Amalickiah [had again] [stirred up] [the hearts] [of the people] [of the Lamanites,] against [the people] [of the Nephites,] [and he was gathering together] soldiers, from all parts [of his land,] [and arming them,] [and preparing] [for war,] [with all] diligence, for [he had sworn] [to drink] [the blood] [of Moroni.]

Alma 23:11 [LDS 51:10]
[But behold,] [we shall see] [that his promise] which [he made,] [was rash;] [nevertheless,{incorrect punctuation} he did prepare himself] [and his armies,] [to come] [to battle] against [the Nephites.]

Alma 23:12 [LDS 51:11]
[Now his armies] were not [so great] [as they had hitherto been,] [because of the <many> thousands] who [had been slain] [by the hand] [of the Nephites;]

Alma 23:13 [LDS 51:11]
[But notwithstanding] [their <great> <loss,>{incorrect punctuation} Amalickiah] [had gathered together] [a <wonderful> <great> army,] [insomuch that he feared] not [to come down] to [the land] [of Zarahemla.]

Alma 23:14 [LDS 51:12]
[Yea,{incorrect punctuation} even] Amalickiah [did himself come down,] [at the head] [of the Lamanites.]

Alma 23:15 [LDS 51:12]
[And it was] in [the twenty] [and fifth] year [of the reign] [of the Judges;] [and it was] [at the <same> time] that [they had begun] [to settle] [the affairs] [of their contentions] [concerning the <chief> <judge,>{incorrect punctuation} Pahoran.]

Alma 23:16 [LDS 51:13]
[And it came to pass] [that when] [the men] who [were called] king-men, [had heard] [that the Lamanites] [were coming down] [to battle] [against them,] [they were glad] [in their hearts,] [and they refused] [to take up] arms; for [they were so wroth] with [the <chief> judge,] [and also] with [the people] [of liberty,] [that they would <not> take up] arms [to defend] [their country.]

Alma 23:17 [LDS 51:14]
[And it came to pass] [that when Moroni] [saw this,] [and also] saw [that the Lamanites] [were coming] [into the borders] [of the land,] [he was <exceeding> wroth,] [because of the stubbornness] [of <those> people,] whom [he had labored] with [so much] diligence [to preserve;] yea, [he was <exceeding> wroth;] [his soul] [was filled] [with anger] [against them.]

Alma 23:18 [LDS 51:15]
[And it came to pass] [that he sent] [a petition,] [with the voice] [of the people,] [unto the governor] [of the land,] desiring [that he should read it,] [and give] him [Moroni] power [to compel] those dissenters [to defend] [their country,] [or to put them to death;]

Alma 23:19 [LDS 51:16]
For [it was] [his <first> care] [to put an end] [to such contentions] [and dissensions] among [the people;] for behold, this [had been hitherto] [a cause] [of all] [their destruction.]

Alma 23:20 [LDS 51:16]
[And it came to pass] [that it was granted,] [according to the voice] [of the people.]

Alma 23:21 [LDS 51:17]
[And it came to pass] [that Moroni] commanded [that his army] [should go] against those king-men, [to pull down] [their pride] [and their nobility,] [and level them] with [the earth,] [or they should take up] arms [and support] [the cause] [of liberty.]

Alma 23:22 [LDS 51:18]
[And it came to pass] [that the armies] [did march forth] [against them;] [and they did pull down] [their pride] [and their nobility,] [insomuch,{incorrect punctuation} that as they did lift] [their weapons] [of war] [to fight] [against the men] [of Moroni,] [they were hewn down,] [and leveled] [to the earth.]

Alma 23:23 [LDS 51:19]
[And it came to pass] [that there were] four thousand [of <those> dissenters,] who [were hewn down] [by the sword;] [and those] [of their leaders] who [were <not> slain] [in battle,] [were taken] [and cast] [into prison,] for [there was] no time for [their trials] [at <this> period;]

Alma 23:24 [LDS 51:20]
[And the remainder] [of <those> dissenters,] [rather than to be smote down] [to the earth] [by the sword,] yielded [to the standard] [of liberty,] [and were compelled] [to hoist] [the title] [of liberty] upon [their towers,] [and in their cities,] [and to take up] arms [in defense] [of their country.]

Alma 23:25 [LDS 51:21] [Note]
[And thus] Moroni [put an end] [to <those> king-men,] [that there were] not [any known] [by the appellation] [of king-men;] [and thus] [he put an end] [to the stubbornness,] [and the pride] [of <those> people] [who professed] [the blood] [of nobility;]

Alma 23:26 [LDS 51:21]
[But they were brought down] [to humble themselves] [like unto their brethren,] [and to fight] valiantly [for their freedom] [from bondage.]

Alma 23:27 [LDS 51:22] [Note]
Behold, [it came to pass] [that while Moroni] [was <thus> breaking down] [the wars] [and contentions] among [his own people,] [and subjecting them] [to peace] [and civilization,] [and making] regulations [to prepare] [for war] [against the Lamanites,] behold, [the Lamanites] [had come] into [the land] [of Moroni,] [which was] [in the borders] [by the sea] shore.

Alma 23:28 [LDS 51:23]
[And it came to pass] [that the Nephites] [were <not> sufficiently] strong [in the city] [of Moroni;] [therefore Amalickiah] [did drive them,] slaying many.

Alma 23:29 [LDS 51:23]
[And it came to pass] [that Amalickiah] [took possession] [of the city;] yea, possession [of all] [their fortifications.]

Alma 23:30 [LDS 51:24]
[And those who] [fled out] [of the city] [of Moroni,] came to [the city] [of Nephihah;] [and also] [the people] [of the city] [of Lehi] [gathered themselves together,] [and made preparations,] [and were ready] [to receive] [the Lamanites] [to battle.]

Alma 23:31 [LDS 51:25]
[But it came to pass] [that Amalickiah] [would <not> suffer] [the Lamanites] [to go] against [the city] [of Nephihah] [to battle,] [but kept them down] [by the sea-] shore, leaving men [in every] city [to maintain] [and defend it;]

Alma 23:32 [LDS 51:26]
[And thus] [he went on,] [taking possession] [of <many> cities:] [the city] [of Nephihah,] [and the city] [of Lehi,] [and the city] [of Morianton,] [and the city] [of Omner,] [and the city] [of Gid,] [and the city] [of Mulek,] all [of which] [were on the <east> borders,] [by the sea-] shore.

Alma 23:33 [LDS 51:27]
[And thus] [had the Lamanites] obtained, [by the cunning] [of Amalickiah,] [so <many> cities,] [by their <numberless> <hosts,>{incorrect punctuation} all] [of which] [were <strongly> fortified,] [after the manner] [of the fortifications] [of Moroni;] all [of which] afforded strongholds [for the Lamanites.]

Alma 23:34 [LDS 51:28]
[And it came to pass] [that they marched] [to the borders] [of the land] Bountiful, driving [the Nephites] [before them,] [and slaying] many.

Alma 23:35 [LDS 51:29]
[But it came to pass] [that they were met] [by Teancum,] who [had slain] Morianton, [and had headed] [his people] [in his flight.]

Alma 23:36 [LDS 51:30]
[And it came to pass] [that he headed] Amalickiah also, [as he was marching forth] with [his <numerous> army,] [that he might take possession] [of the land] Bountiful, [and also] [the land] northward.

Alma 23:37 [LDS 51:31]
[But behold,] [he met] [with a disappointment,] [by being repulsed] [by Teancum] [and his men,] for they were great warriors: for every man [of Teancum] [did exceed] [the Lamanites] [in their strength,] [and in their skill] [of war,] [insomuch that] [they did gain] advantage over [the Lamanites.]

Alma 23:38 [LDS 51:32]
[And it came to pass] [that they did harass them,] [insomuch that they did slay them] [even until] [it was dark.]

Alma 23:39 [LDS 51:32]
[And it came to pass] [that Teancum] [and his men] [did pitch] [their tents] [in the borders] [of the land] Bountiful; [and Amalickiah] [did pitch] [his tents] [in the borders] [on the beach] [by the sea-] shore, [and after this manner] [were they driven.]

Alma 23:40 [LDS 51:33]
[And it came to pass] [[that when [the night] had come, ]] Teancum [and his servant] [stole forth] [and went out] [by night,] [and went] into [the camp] [of Amalickiah;] [and behold,] sleep [had overpowered them,] [because of their <much> fatigue,] which [was caused by the labors] [and heat] [of the day.]

Alma 23:41 [LDS 51:34]
[And it came to pass] [that Teancum] stole privily into [the tent] [of the king,] [and put] [a javelin] to [his heart;] [and he did cause] [the death] [of the king] immediately, that [he did <not> awake] [his servants.]

Alma 23:42 [LDS 51:35]
[And he returned again] privily to [his own camp,] [and behold,] [his men] [were asleep;] [and he awoke them,] [and told them] all [the things] that [he had done.]

Alma 23:43 [LDS 51:36]
[And he caused that his armies] [should stand] [in readiness,] lest [the Lamanites] [had awakened,] [and should come] [upon them.]

Alma 23:44 [LDS 51:37]
[And thus] ended [the twenty] [and fifth] year [of the reign] [of the Judges] over [the people] [of Nephi;] [and thus] ended [the days] [of Amalickiah.]