Alma 59

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Alma 59 is short, and it turns on a request that never seemed to get an answer. It opens with good news. Helaman's long letter (Alma 56-58) has reached Moroni, and Moroni is exceedingly rejoiced at how Helaman's small army has been prospered. He tells everyone around him so they can rejoice too, and he writes at once to Pahoran, the chief judge, asking for men to help Helaman hold what he has regained.

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Alma 59:1-4That They Might Rejoice Also

1Now it came to pass in the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, after Moroni had received and had read Helaman's epistle, he was exceedingly rejoiced because of the welfare, yea, the exceeding success which Helaman had had, in obtaining those lands which were lost. 2Yea, and he did make it known unto all his people, in all the land round about in that part where he was, that they might rejoice also.

Moroni has just read Helaman's letter about the two thousand young soldiers and the cities they regained. His first reaction is joy for Helaman.

Moroni shares the good news with all his people that they might rejoice also. Joy grows when it is shared.

3And it came to pass that he immediately sent an epistle to Pahoran, desiring that he should cause men to be gathered together to strengthen Helaman, or the armies of Helaman, insomuch that he might with ease maintain that part of the land which he had been so miraculously prospered in regaining. 4And it came to pass when Moroni had sent this epistle to the land of Zarahemla, he began again to lay a plan that he might obtain the remainder of those possessions and cities which the Lamanites had taken from them.

Moroni writes right away to Pahoran, the chief judge, asking him to send men to help Helaman hold the cities he has regained.

Alma 59:5-10Easier to Keep Than to Retake

5And 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. 6Yea, 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. 7And 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. 8And 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.

While Moroni plans, the Lamanites attack the city of Nephihah. Their army has grown with soldiers driven out of Manti by Helaman. The survivors of Nephihah flee to Moroni.

9And now as Moroni had supposed that there should be men sent to the city of 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. 10Therefore he retained all his force to maintain those places which he had recovered.

Moroni assumed the government would send men to defend Nephihah, so he kept his own army where it was. The assumption was reasonable, but it was wrong.

Alma 59:11-13Moroni Was Angry with the Government

11And 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. 12Now 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.

When Nephihah falls, Moroni is very sad and begins to doubt. He wonders whether the people's wickedness will keep God from saving them. His captains wonder the same thing.

13And it came to pass that Moroni was angry with the government, because of their indifference concerning the freedom of their country.

Moroni is angry because the government seems not to care about the freedom of the country. He does not yet know that rebels have driven Pahoran out of Zarahemla.

Research trail

Sources & further study

These references support the historical, linguistic, manuscript, and contextual notes in this chapter. Scripture remains the primary text; external sources are provided so readers can inspect the research directly.

Where this echoes in Scripture

That They Might Rejoice Also

Easier to Keep Than to Retake

Moroni Was Angry with the Government