Captain Moroni Defeats Zerahemnah

Zerahemnah, the leader of the Lamanites, wanted them to continue to hate the Nephites and to make slaves of them. Alma 43:5–8

The Nephites wanted their land and their families to remain free, and they wanted to be able to worship according to their desires. Alma 43:9

Captain Moroni was the leader of the Nephite armies. When the Lamanites came to fight, though he did not want to fight, Moroni and his armies met them in the land of Jershon. Alma 43:15–16

Captain Moroni prepared his army with many weapons of war, with shields and armor, and with thick clothing. Alma 43:18–19

The Lamanites had a larger army but they wore very little clothing. They were afraid when they saw the armor of the Nephites. Alma 43:20–21

The Lamanite army dared not fight Captain Moroni’s army. They fled into the wilderness to attack another Nephite city. Alma 43:22

Moroni sent spies to watch the Lamanites. He also asked Alma to ask the Lord for help. The Lord revealed where the Lamanites would attack. Alma 43:23–24

When Moroni received Alma’s message, he left some soldiers to guard Jershon, then marched the rest of them to meet the Lamanites. Alma 43:25

Captain Moroni’s soldiers hid on both sides of the river Sidon and waited to trap the Lamanite army when it came to the river. Alma 43:27, 31–35

A battle began, and the Lamanites tried to escape across the river—but more Nephites were on the other side! Alma 43:36, 39–41

Fighting harder than they ever had before, Zerahemnah and his army killed many Nephites. The Nephites cried to the Lord for help. Alma 43:43–44, 49

The Lord gave the Nephite army power. They surrounded the Lamanites, and Moroni ordered the fighting to stop. Alma 43:50–54

Moroni told Zerahemnah that the Nephites did not want to kill the Lamanites or make slaves of them and that the Lord had helped the Nephites. Alma 44:1–3

He said that the Lamanites could not destroy the Nephites’ faith in Jesus Christ, that God would help the Nephites as long as they were faithful. Alma 44:4

Ordering Zerahemnah to give up his weapons, Moroni said that the Lamanites would not be killed if they promised to never fight the Nephites again. Alma 44:5–6

Zerahemnah gave Moroni his weapons but would not promise to never fight again. So Moroni returned the weapons so that they could defend themselves. Alma 44:8, 10

Zerahemnah rushed at Moroni to kill him, but a Nephite soldier hit and broke Zerahemnah’s sword. Alma 44:12

Then the soldier cut off Zerahemnah’s scalp and, while Zerahemnah went back to his army, put it on the tip of his sword and held it out. Alma 44:13

The Lamanites would fall to the earth as the scalp had fallen, he told them, unless they gave up their weapons and promised to be peaceful. Alma 44:14

Many Lamanites threw down their weapons at Moroni’s feet and promised not to fight again. They were allowed to go free. Alma 44:15

Furious, Zerahemnah stirred up the rest of his soldiers to fight again, but Moroni’s soldiers killed many of them. Alma 44:16–18

When Zerahemnah saw that he and all his men would be killed, he begged Moroni to spare them and promised to never fight the Nephites again. Alma 44:19

Moroni stopped the fighting and took the Lamanites’ weapons. After they made a covenant of peace, they left and the Nephites returned home. Alma 44:20, 23

Illustrated by Jerry Thompson