the land of Moroni, which was in the borders, by the sea shore.

26. Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the possession of the "city of Nephihah, without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain.

27. Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were prisoners, were desirous to join the 'people of Ammon, and become a free people.

28. And it came to pass that as many as were desirous, unto them it was granted, according to their desires;

29. Therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammon, and did begin to labour exceedingly, tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain, and flocks, and herds of every kind; and thus were the Nephites relieved from a great burthen; yea, insomuch that they were relieved from all the prisoners of the Lamanites.

30. Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had obtained possession of the city of Nephihah, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having retained many of the Nephites who had been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moroni exceedingly; therefore Moroni went forth from the land of Nephihah to the "land of Lehi.

31. And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Moroni was coming against them, they were again frightened, and fled before the army of Moroni.

32. And it came to pass that Moroni and his army did pursue them from city to city, until they were met by Lehi and Teancum; and the Lamanites fled from Lehi and Teancum, even down upon the borders by the sea shore, until they came to the "land of Moroni.

33. And the armies of the Lamanites were all gathered together, insomuch that they were all in one body, in the land of Moroni. Now Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites, was also with them.

34. And it came to pass that Moroni, and Lehi, and Teancum, did encamp with their armies round about in the borders of the land of Moroni, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about in the borders by the wilderness, on the south, and in the borders by the wilderness, on the east;

35. And thus they did encamp for the night. For behold, the Nephites and the Lamanites also, were weary because of the greatness of the march; therefore they did not resolve upon any stratagem in the night time, save it were Teancum; for he was exceeding angry with Ammoron, insomuch that he considered that Ammoron, and Amalickiah

7, see k, Alma 50.

r, see l, Alma 50.

8, Alma 27: 26.

t, scel

Alma 50. u, seem, Alma 50. v, see k, Alma 50.

his brother, had been the cause of this great and lasting war between them and the Lamanites, which had been the cause of so much war and bloodshed, yea, and so much famine.

36. And it came to pass that Teancum in his anger did go forth into the camp of the Lamanites, and did let himself down over the walls of the city. And he went forth with a cord, from place to place, insomuch, that he did find the king; and he did cast a javelin at him, which did pierce him near the heart. But behold, the king did awake his servant before he died, insomuch that they did pursue Teancum, and slew him.

37. Now it came to pass that when Lehi and Moroni knew that Teancum was dead, they were exceeding sorrowful for behold he had been a man who had fought valiantly for his country, yea, a true friend to liberty; and he had suffered very many exceeding sore afflictions. But behold, he was dead, and had gone the way of all the earth.

38. Now it came to pass that_Moroni marched forth on the morrow, and came upon the Lamanites, insomuch that they did slay them with a great slaughter; and they did drive them out of the land; and they did flee, even that they did not return at that time against the Nephites.

39. And thus ended the thirty and first year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi; and thus they had had wars, and bloodsheds, and famine, and affliction, for the space of many years.

40. And there had been murders, and contentions, and dissensions, and all manner of iniquity, among the people of Nephi; nevertheless for the righteous' sake, yea, because of the "prayers of the righteous, they were spared.

41. But behold, because of the exceeding great length of the war between the Nephites and the Lamanites, many had become hardened, because of the exceeding great length of the war; and many were softened, because of their afflictions, insomuch that they did humble themselves before God, even in the depth of humility.

42. And it came to pass that after Moroni had fortified those parts of the land which were most exposed to the Lamanites, until they were sufficiently strong, he returned to the city of Zarahemla, and also Helaman returned to the place of his inheritance; and there was once more peace established among the people of Nephi.

43. And Moroni yielded up the command of his armies into the hands of his son, whose name was Moronihah; and he retired to his own house that he might spend the remainder of his days in peace.

44. And Pahoran did return to his judgment seat; and Helaman did take upon him again to preach unto the people

w, Alma 51: 34. 2, Alma 46: 12, 13, 36. z, see c, Alma 48. 2 a, see h, Omni 1.

y, see e, II. Nep. 32.

the word of God: for because of so many wars and contentions, it had become expedient that a regulation should be made again in the church:

45. Therefore Helaman and his brethren went forth, and did declare the word of God with much power, unto the convincing of many people of their wickedness, which did cause them to repent of their sins, and to be baptized unto the Lord their God.

2

46. And it came to pass that they did establish again the church of God, throughout all the land;

47. Yea, and regulations were made concerning the law. 2cAnd their judges, and their chief judges were chosen.

48. And the people of Nephi began to prosper again in the land, and began to multiply and to wax exceeding strong again in the land. And they began to grow exceed

ing rich;

49. But notwithstanding their riches, or their strength, or their prosperity, they were not lifted up in the pride of their eyes; neither were they slow to remember the Lord their God; but they did humble themselves exceedingly before him;

50. Yea, they did remember how great things the Lord had done for them, that he had delivered them from death, and from bonds, and from prisons, and from all manner of afflictions; and he had delivered them out of the hands of their enemies.

51. And they did 2dpray unto the Lord their God continually, insomuch that the Lord did bless them, according to his word, so that they did wax strong, and prosper in the land.

52. And it came to pass that all these things were done. And Helaman died, in the thirty and fifth year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi.

CHAPTER 63.

1. AND it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi, that "Shiblon took possession of those 'sacred things which had been delivered unto Helaman by Alma;

2. And he was a just man, and he did walk uprightly before God; and he did observe to do good continually, to keep the commandments of the Lord his God; and also did his brother.

2b, see u, II. Nep. 9. 2 c, Mos. 29: 39. 2d, see e, II. Nep. 32. a, Alma 38. b, Alma 37.

c, see heading to 39.

3. And it came to pass that Moroni died also. And thus ended the thirty and sixth year of the reign of the Judges.

4. And it came to pass that in the thirty and seventh year of the reign of the Judges, there was a large company of men, even to the amount of five thousand and four hundred men, with their wives and their children, departed out of the land of Zarahemla, into the land which was northward.

5. And it came to pass that Hagoth, he being an exceeding curious man, therefore he went forth and built him an exceeding large ship, on the borders of the land Bountiful, by the land Desolation, and launched it forth into the west sea, by the narrow neck which led into the land northward.

6. And behold, there were many of the Nephites who did enter therein and did sail forth with much provisions, and also many women and children; and they took their course northward. And thus ended the thirty and

seventh year.

7. And in the thirty and eighth year, this man built *other ships. And the first ship did also return, and many more people did enter into it; and they also took much provisions, and set out again to the land northward.

8. And it came to pass that they were never heard of more. And we suppose that they were drowned up in the depths of the sea. And it came to pass that one other ship also did sail forth; and whither she did go, we know not.

9. And it came to pass that in this year, there were many people who went forth into the land northward. And thus ended the thirty and eighth year.

10. And it came to pass in the thirty and ninth year of the reign of the Judges, 'Shiblon died also, and "Coriauton had gone forth to the land northward, in a "ship, to carry forth provisions unto the people who had gone forth into that land;

11. Therefore it became expedient for Shiblon to confer those 'sacred things, before his death, upon the son of Helaman, who was called Helaman, being called after the name of his father.

12. Now behold, all those engravings which were in the possession of Helaman, "were written and sent forth among the children of men throughout all the land, save it were those parts which had been commanded by Alma should not go forth.

13. Nevertheless, these things were to be kept sacred,

d, see h, Omni 1. g, see 2k, Alma 22. America. k, see f.

e, North America.

f, vers. 6-10.

h, see 21, Alma 22. i, see 2 v, Alma 22. j, North

l, see a.

m, see c.

Hela. 3 10, 14. n, see ƒ. o, Alma 37. p, these numerous copies of sacred books were undoubtedly transcribed directly from, or compared with, the records on the original metallic plates. q, Alma 37: 27-32.

and handed down from "one generation to another; therefore, in this year, they had been conferred upon Helaman, before the 'death of Shiblon.

14. And it came to pass also in this year, that there were some dissenters who had gone forth unto the Lamanites; and they were stirred up again to anger against the Nephites.

15. And also in this same year, they came down with a numerous army to war against the people of "Moronihah, or against the army of Moronihah, in the which they were beaten, and driven back again to their own lands, suffering great loss.

16. And thus ended the thirty and ninth year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi.

17. And thus ended the account of Alma, and Helaman his son, and also Shiblon, who was his son.

THE BOOK OF HELAMAN.

An account of the Nephites. Their wars and contentions, and their dissensions. And also the prophecies of many holy prophets, before the coming of Christ, according to the records of Helaman, who was the son of Helaman, and also according to the records of his sons, even down to the coming of Christ. And also many of the Lamanites are converted. An account of their conversion. account of the righteousness of the Lamanites, and the wickedness and abominations of the Nephites, according to the record of Helaman and his sons, even down to the coming of Christ, which is called the book of Helaman, &c.

CHAPTER 1.

An

1. AND now behold, it came to pass in the commencement of the fortieth year of the reign of the Judges over the people of Nephi, there began to be a serious difficulty among the people of the Nephites.

2. For behold, "Pahoran had died, and gone the way of all the earth; therefore there began to be a serious contention concerning who should have the judgment seat among the brethren, who were the sons of Pahoran.

3. Now these are their names who did contend for the

r, Alma 37: 4. a, Alma 50; 40.

8, ver. 11.

t, ver. 10. u, Alma 62: 43.