Moroni and Teancum on the Eastern Front

The Fall of Nephihah

Alma 59:5–8

The Lamanites that had been evicted from the land of Manti by Helaman’s army make their way up to the city of Nephihah, and attack the people there.

And it came to pass that while Moroni was thus making preparations to go against the Lamanites to battle, behold, the people of Nephihah, who were gathered together from the city of Moroni and the city of Lehi and the city of Morianton, were attacked by the Lamanites. Yea, even those who had been compelled to flee from the land of Manti, and from the land round about, had come over and joined the Lamanites in this part of the land.

And thus being exceedingly numerous, yea, and receiving strength from day to day, by the command of Ammoron they came forth against the people of Nephihah, and they did begin to slay them with an exceedingly great slaughter. And their armies were so numerous that the remainder of the people of Nephihah were obliged to flee before them; and they came even and joined the army of Moroni.

Alma 59:9–10

Moroni garrisons the Nephite cities, knowing that maintaining a city is easier than regaining a city.

And now as Moroni had supposed that there should be men sent to the city Nephihah, to the assistance of the people to maintain that city, and knowing that it was easier to keep the city from falling into the hands of the Lamanites than to retake it from them, he supposed that they would easily maintain that city. Therefore he retained all his force to maintain those places which he had recovered.

Alma 59:11–12

Nephihah succumbs to the Lamanite attack, and Moroni begins to doubt the Nephites, knowing they have started to become wicked.

And now, when Moroni saw that the city of Nephihah was lost he was exceedingly sorrowful, and began to doubt, because of the wickedness of the people, whether they should not fall into the hands of their brethren. Now this was the case with all his chief captains.

They doubted and marveled also because of the wickedness of the people, and this because of the success of the Lamanites over them.