The people of Nephihah occupied the city of Nephihah and had been gathered there from the cities of Moroni, Lehi, and Morianton (Alma 59:5). They were attacked while Captain Moroni was preparing to march against the Lamanites.
By the command of Ammoron the Lamanite armies, growing more numerous and stronger from day to day, came against the people of Nephihah and began to slay them with “an exceedingly great slaughter” (Alma 59:7-8). The survivors were forced to flee the city and joined the army of Moroni (Alma 59:8).
Moroni had expected the city to be held and had not sent men to reinforce it, judging it easier to keep than to retake (Alma 59:9-10). When the city of Nephihah was lost, he and his chief captains were sorrowful and began to doubt because of the wickedness of the people, and Moroni was angry with the government over its indifference toward the country’s freedom (Alma 59:11-13).