No sooner had the Ammonites taken up their refuge in the Land of Jershon, and had established a Church of God therein, and notwithstanding that the Nephite armies had ringed them about with protective strength, the armies of the Lamanites came upon the Ammonites intent upon destroying their former brethren who had escaped their wrath in the Land of Nephi. But the Nephites had been made ready. Not only were the forces of the Nephites deployed around the Ammonites' new home in Jershon, but the Nephites expecting a general assault by the Lamanites upon all their settlements both far and near, posted their warriors "in all the borders round about the Land of Zarahemla." The Nephites did this to anticipate any sudden raid by the Lamanite hordes in any district whatsoever, and to ready themselves for the coming conflict which promised to be fierce and decisive.