BoM Translation Guide



Alma 25

Alma 25:1 [LDS 54:1]
[And now] [it came to pass] [in the twenty] [and ninth] year [of the Judges,] [that Ammoron] sent unto Moroni, desiring [that he would exchange] prisoners.

Alma 25:2 [LDS 54:2]
[And it came to pass] [that Moroni] felt [to rejoice] exceedingly [at <this> request,] for [he desired] [the provisions] which [were impart] [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.]

Alma 25:3 [LDS 54:3]
[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;]

Alma 25:4 [LDS 54:4] [Note]
[Therefore Moroni] resolved upon [a stratagem,] [to obtain] [as many] prisoners [of the Nephites] [from the Lamanites,] [as it were possible;] [therefore] [he wrote] [an epistle,] [and sent] it [by the servant] [of Ammoron,] [the same] who [had brought] [an epistle] to Moroni.

Alma 25:5 [LDS 54:5]
[Now these] [are the words] which [he wrote] unto Ammoron, saying, 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.]

Alma 25:6 [LDS 54:6]
Behold [I would tell you] something 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 lands] [of your possessions,] which [is the land] [of Nephi;] yea, [I would tell you] these things, if [ye were capable] [of hearkening] [unto them;]

Alma 25:7 [LDS 54:7]
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;]

Alma 25:8 [LDS 54:9]
[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 25:9 [LDS 54:9]
[And now] behold, [we are prepared] [to receive you;] yea, [and except] [ye withdraw] [your purposes,] behold, [ye will pull down] [the wrath] [of <that> God] whom [you have rejected,] [upon you,] [even to] [your utter destruction;]

Alma 25:10 [LDS 54:10]
[But as the Lord] liveth, [our armies] [shall come] [upon you,] except [ye withdraw,] [and ye shall <soon> be visited] with death, for [we will retain] [our cities] [and our lands;] yea, [and we will maintain] [our religion] [and the cause] [of our God.]

Alma 25:11 [LDS 54:11]
[But behold,] [it supposeth me] [that I talk] [to you] concerning these things [in vain;] [or it supposeth me] [that thou] [art a child] [of hell;] therefore, [I will close] [my epistle,] [by telling you] that [I will <not> exchange] prisoners, save [it be] [on conditions] [that ye will deliver up] [a man,] [and his wife,] [and his children,] for one prisoner; if this be [the case] that [ye will do it,] [I will exchange.]

Alma 25:12 [LDS 54:12]
[And behold,] if [ye do] not this, [I will come] [against you] [with my armies;] [yea,{incorrect punctuation} even] [I will arm] [my women] [and my children,] [and I will come] [against you,] [and I will follow you] [even into] [your own land,] which [is the land] [of our <first> inheritance;] yea, [and it shall be] blood for blood; yea, life for life; [and I will give] you battle, [even until] you [are destroyed] [from off] [the face] [of the earth.]

Alma 25:13 [LDS 54:13]
Behold, [I am] [in my anger,] [and also] [my people;] [ye have sought] [to murder us,] [and we have <only> sought] [to defend ourselves.]

Alma 25:14 [LDS 54:13]
[But behold,] if [ye seek] [to destroy us] more, [we will seek] [to destroy you;] yea, [and we will seek] [our land,] [the lands] [of our <first> inheritance.]

Alma 25:15 [LDS 54:14]
[Now I close] [my epistle.] [I am] Moroni; [I am] [a leader] [of the people] [of the Nephites.]

Alma 25:16 [LDS 54:15]
[Now it came to pass] [that Ammoron,] [when he had received] this epistle [he was angry;] [and he wrote] another epistle unto Moroni; [and these] [are the words] which [he wrote,] saying, [I am] Ammoron [the king] [of the Lamanites;] [I am] [the brother] [of Amalickiah,] whom [ye have murdered.]

Alma 25:17 [LDS 54:16]
Behold, [I will avenge] [his blood] [upon you;] yea, [and I will come] [upon you] [with my armies,] for [I fear] not [your threatenings.]

Alma 25:18 [LDS 54:17]
For behold, [your fathers] [did wrong] [their brethren,] [insomuch that they did rob them] [of their right] [to the government,] [when it rightly belonged] [to them.]

Alma 25:19 [LDS 54:18]
[And now] behold, if [ye will lay down] [your arms,] [and subject yourselves] [to be governed] [by those] [to whom] [the government] [doth rightly belong,] [then will I cause that my people] [shall lay down] [their weapons,] [and shall be] [at war] no more.

Alma 25:20 [LDS 54:19]
Behold, [ye have breathed out] many threatenings [against me] [and my people;] [but behold,] [we fear] not [your threatenings;]

Alma 25:21 [LDS 54:20]
[Nevertheless,{incorrect punctuation} I will grant] [to exchange] prisoners [according to your request,] gladly, [that I may preserve] [my food] for [my men] [of war;]

Alma 25:22 [LDS 54:20] [Note]
[And we will wage] [a war] which shall be eternal, [either to the subjecting] [the Nephites] [to our authority,] or [to their <eternal> extinction.]

Alma 25:23 [LDS 54:21]
[And as concerning] [that God] whom ye say [we have rejected,] behold, [we know] not [such a being;] [neither do ye;] [but if it so be] that [there is] [such a being,] [we know] not [but that] [he hath made] us [as well as] you;

Alma 25:24 [LDS 54:22] [Note]
[And if it so be] [that there is a devil] [and a hell,] behold, [will he <not> send] you there, [to dwell] with [my brother,] whom [ye have murdered,] whom [ye have hinted] [that he hath gone] [to such a place?] [But behold,] these things mattereth not.

Alma 25:25 [LDS 54:23]
[I am] Ammoron, [and a descendant] [of Zoram,] whom [your fathers] pressed [and brought] [out] [of Jerusalem.] [And behold,] now, [I am] [a bold] Lamanite.

Alma 25:26 [LDS 54:24]
Behold, this war [hath been waged,] [to avenge] [their wrongs,] [and to maintain] [and] [to obtain] [their rights] [to the government;] [and I close] [my epistle] [to Moroni.]

Alma 25:27 [LDS 55:1]
[Now it came to pass] [that when Moroni] [had received] this epistle, [he was more angry,] because [he knew] that Ammoron [had a <perfect> knowledge] [of his fraud;] yea, [he knew] that Ammoron knew that [it was] not [a just] cause [that had caused him to wage] [a war] against [the people] [of Nephi.]

Alma 25:28 [LDS 55:2]
[And he said,] Behold, [I will <not> exchange] prisoners [with Ammoron,] save [he will withdraw] [his purpose,] [as I have stated] [in my epistle;] for [I will <not> grant] [unto him] [[that he shall have [any more] power ]] than what [he hath got.]

Alma 25:29 [LDS 55:3]
Behold, [I know] [the place] where [the Lamanites] [doth guard] [my people,] whom [they have taken prisoners;] [and as Ammoron] [would <not> grant] [unto me] [mine epistle,] behold, [I will give] [unto him] [according to my words;] yea, [I will seek] death [among them,] until [they shall sue] [for peace.]

Alma 25:30 [LDS 55:4]
[And now] [it came to pass] [that when Moroni] [had said] these words, [he caused that a search should be made] among [his men,] [that perhaps] [he might find] [a man] [who was] [a descendant] [of Laman] [among them.]

Alma 25:31 [LDS 55:5]
[And it came to pass] [that they found] one, [whose name] [was Laman;] [and he was one] [of the servants] [of the king] who [was murdered] [by Amalickiah.]

Alma 25:32 [LDS 55:6]
[Now Moroni] [caused that Laman] [and a <small> number] [of his men,] [should go forth] unto [the guards] who [were over] [the Nephites.]

Alma 25:33 [LDS 55:7]
[Now the Nephites] [were guarded] [in the city] [of Gid;] [therefore Moroni] appointed Laman, [and caused that a <small> number] [of men] [should go] [with him.]

Alma 25:34 [LDS 55:8]
[And when it was] evening, Laman went to [the guards] who [were over] [the Nephites,] [and behold,] [they saw him] coming, [and they hailed him.]

Alma 25:35 [LDS 55:8]
[But he saith] [unto them,] Fear not. Behold, [I am] [a Lamanite.] Behold [we have escaped] [from the Nephites,] [and they sleepeth;] [and behold,] [we have taken] [of their wine,] [and brought] [with us.]

Alma 25:36 [LDS 55:9]
[Now when the Lamanites] heard these words, [they received him] [with joy.] [And they said] [unto him,] Give us [of your wine,] [that we may drink;] [we are glad] that [ye have <thus> taken] wine [with you,] for [we are weary.]

Alma 25:37 [LDS 55:10]
[But Laman] said [unto them,] [Let us keep] [of our wine,] till [we go] against [the Nephites] [to battle.] [But <this> <saying> only] [made them more desirous] [to drink] [of the wine.]

Alma 25:38 [LDS 55:11]
[For,{incorrect punctuation} said they,] [We are weary,] [therefore let us take] [of the wine,] [and by and by] [we shall receive] wine [for our rations,] which [will strengthen us] [to go] against [the Nephites.] [And Laman] said [unto them,] [You may do] [according to your desires.]

Alma 25:39 [LDS 55:13]
[And it came to pass] [that they did take] [of the wine] freely, [and it was pleasant] [to their taste;] therefore [they took of it] [more freely;] [and it was strong,] [having been prepared] [in its strength.]

Alma 25:40 [LDS 55:14]
[And it came to pass] [that they did drink] [and were merry,] [and by and by] [they were <all> drunken.]

Alma 25:41 [LDS 55:15]
[And now] [when Laman] [and his men] saw that [they were <all> drunken,] [and were] [in a deep sleep,] [they returned] to Moroni, [and told him] all [the things] [that had happened.] [And now] this was [according to the design] [of Moroni.]

Alma 25:42 [LDS 55:16]
[And Moroni] [had prepared] [his men] [with weapons] [of war;] [and he sent] to [the city] [of Gid,] [while the Lamanites] were [in a deep sleep,] [and drunken,] [and cast in] [the weapons] [of war] [in unto] [the prisoners,] [insomuch that they were <all> armed;] [yea,{incorrect punctuation} even] to [their women,] [and all] those [of their children,] [as many as] [were able to use] [a weapon] [of war;] [when Moroni] [had armed] those prisoners.

Alma 25:43 [LDS 55:17]
[And all] those things [were done] [in a <profound> silence.] [But had they awakened] [the Lamanites,] behold [they were drunken] [and the Nephites] [could have slain them.]

Alma 25:44 [LDS 55:19]
[But behold,] this [was <not> the desire] [of Moroni.] [He did <not> delight] [in murder] [or bloodshed;] [but he delighted] [in the saving] [of his people] [from destruction;] [and for <this> cause] [he might <not> bring] [upon him] injustice, [he would <not> fall] upon [the Lamanites] [and destroy them] [in their drunkenness.]

Alma 25:45 [LDS 55:20]
[But he had obtained] [his desires;] for [he had armed] those prisoners [of the Nephites] [who were] [within the wall] [of the city,] [and had given them] power [to gain possession] [of those parts] [which were] [within the walls;]

Alma 25:46 [LDS 55:21]
[And then he caused the men] [who were] [with him,] [to withdraw] [a pace] [from them,] [and surround] [the armies] [of the Lamanites.]

Alma 25:47 [LDS 55:22]
Now behold, this [was done] [in the <night> time,] [so that when] [the Lamanites] awoke [in the morning,] [they beheld] that [they were surrounded] [by the Nephites] without, [and that their prisoners] [were armed] within.

Alma 25:48 [LDS 55:23]
[And thus] [they saw] that [the Nephites] [had power] [over them;] [and in these] circumstances [they found] that [it was <not> expedient] [that they should fight] with [the Nephites;]

Alma 25:49 [LDS 55:23]
[Therefore their chief captains] demanded [their weapons] [of war,] [and they brought them forth,] [and cast them] [at the feet] [of the Nephites,] pleading [for mercy.] Now behold, this [was the desire] [of Moroni.]

Alma 25:50 [LDS 55:23] [Note]
[He took them] prisoners [of war,] [and took possession] [of the city,] [and caused that all] [the prisoners] [should be liberated,] who [were Nephites;] [and they did join] [the army] [of Moroni,] [and were a <great> strength] [to his army.]

Alma 25:51 [LDS 55:25]
[And it came to pass] [that he did cause] [the Lamanites] whom [he had taken] prisoners, [that they should commence] [a labor] [in strengthening] [the fortifications] [round about] [the city] Gid.

Alma 25:52 [LDS 55:26]
[And it came to pass] [that when he had fortified] [the city] Gid [according to his desires,] [he caused that his prisoners] [should be taken] to [the city] Bountiful.

Alma 25:53 [LDS 55:26]
[And he <also> guarded] [that city] [with an <exceeding> <strong> force.]

Alma 25:54 [LDS 55:27]
[And it came to pass] [that they did,] notwithstanding all [the intrigues] [of the Lamanites,] keep [and protect] all [the prisoners] whom [they had taken,] [and also] maintain all [the ground] [and the advantage] which [they had retaken.]

Alma 25:55 [LDS 55:28]
[And it came to pass] [that the Nephites] began again [to be victorious,] [and to reclaim] [their rights] [and their privileges.]

Alma 25:56 [LDS 55:29] [Note]
Many times [did the Lamanites] [attempt to encircle them about] [by night,] [but in these] attempts [they did lose] many prisoners.

Alma 25:57 [LDS 55:30] [Note]
[And <many> times] [did they attempt to administer] [of their wine] to [the Nephites,] [that they might destroy them] [with poison] [or with drunkenness.]

Alma 25:58 [LDS 55:31]
[But behold,] [the Nephites] [were <not> slow] [to remember] [the Lord] [their God,] [in this] [their times] [of affliction.]

Alma 25:59 [LDS 55:31]
[They could <not> be taken] [in their snares;] yea, [they would <not> partake] [of their wine;] yea, [they would <not> partake] [of wine,] save [they had <firstly> given] [to some] [of the Lamanite] prisoners.

Alma 25:60 [LDS 55:32] [Note]
[And they were <thus> cautious,] [that <no> poison] [should be administered] [among them;] for if [their wine] [would poison] [a Lamanite,] [it would <also> poison] [a Nephite;] [and thus] [they did try] all [their liquors.]

Alma 25:61 [LDS 55:33]
[And now] [it came to pass] that [it was expedient] [for Moroni] [to make preparations] [to attack] [the city] Morianton.

Alma 25:62 [LDS 55:34]
For behold, [the Lamanites had,] [by their labors,] fortified [the city] [of Morianton] until [it had become] [an <exceeding> stronghold;] [and they were <continually> bringing] new forces [into that city,] [and also] new supplies [of provisions.]

Alma 25:63 [LDS 55:35]
[And thus] ended [the twenty] [and ninth] year [of the reign] [of the Judges,] over [the people] [of Nephi.]