But behold, in one day it was left desolate--and it was on the fifth day of the second month in the eleventh year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

And there was a cry of war heard throughout the land, for behold, the armies of the Lamanites had come in upon the wilderness side, into the borders of the land, even into the city of Ammonihah, and began to slay the people.

Yea, every living soul of the Ammonihahites was destroyed; and also their great city was destroyed, which they said God could not destroy, because of its greatness.

But behold, in one day it was left desolate, and their lands remained desolate. And the carcasses of the slain were mangled by dogs and the wild beasts of the wilderness.

Nevertheless, after many days their dead bodies were heaped up upon the face of the earth, and they were covered with a shallow covering. And now so great was the scent thereof that the people did not go in to possess the land of Ammonihah for many years.

And it was called Desolation of Nehors; for they were of the profession of Nehor.

And now it came to pass that not until the end of the eleventh year of the judges could the Nephites raise a sufficient army to drive the Lamanites out of the Land.

Thus the Lamanites had destroyed the people who were in the city of Ammonihah, and also some around the borders of Noah, and taken others captive into the wilderness.

Nevertheless those taken captive were restored by their brethren to possess their own lands again; and there was not one soul of them had been lost;

Now they were regained by the Nephites, who were desirous to obtain those of their brethren who had been carried away captive by the Lamanites into the wilderness.

And it came to pass that the Lamanites were scattered and driven into the wilderness by the armies of Zoram and his two sons, Lehi and Aha (and Zoram was he that had been appointed chief captain over the armies of the Nephites).

And it had been after Zoram and his sons crossed over the river Sidon, with their armies, and marched away beyond the borders of Manti into the south wilderness, which was on the east side of the river Sidon, that they came upon the armies of the Lamanites.

For behold, Zoram and his two sons, knowing that Alma was high priest over the church, and having heard that he had the spirit of prophecy, discovered from him that the Lamanites would cross the river Sidon in the south wilderness, away up beyond the borders of the land of Manti.

For Zoram and his two sons had gone unto Alma and desired of him to know whither the Lord would that they should go into the wilderness in search of their brethren, who had been taken captive by the Lamanites.

And he said unto them: Behold there shall ye meet them, on the east of the river Sidon, and there the Lord will deliver unto thee thy brethren who have been taken captive by the Lamanites.

For behold, Alma had inquired of the Lord concerning the matter, and returned and related these things unto them.

And it came to pass that the Lamanites did not come again to war against the Nephites until the end of the fourteenth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi.

And thus for three years did the people of Nephi have continual peace in all the land, the Lord pouring our his blessings upon them.

And Alma and Amulek, and also many more who had been chosen for the work, went forth preaching repentance, yea imparting the word of God in its purity to as many as would hear their words, throughout all the land, without any respect of persons, continually: in their temples, and in their sanctuaries, and also in their synagogues, which were built after the manner of the Jews.

And the establishment of the church became general throughout all the land, in all the region round about, among all the people of the Nephites.

And there was no inequality among them, having got the victory over the devil.

And the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land, that the people might hear the voice of the Lord, to prepare the minds of the children of men with great joy and gladness, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word--even he who would appear unto them after his resurrection.

And they were taught that when he should manifest himself unto them in the flesh, the things which he should teach them should they observe to do.⁽¹⁾

And the many people who did inquire concerning the place where the Son of God should come knew that it would be among them, holding forth that the time for these things was shortly to come;

Yea, they did hold forth the coming of the Son of God, that they might not be hardened against his word and thereby be guilty of his sufferings and death; for he is the Word and the Resurrection.

Now, that the people might not be unbelieving, those priests who did go forth did preach against all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness, crying that these things ought not so to be, lest the people go on to destruction.

And the Lord did pour out his Spirit that the people might receive the word with joy, and they entered into the rest of the Lord their God.

Yea, as a branch of the tree of Israel ⁽²⁾ they were grafted into the true vine, who is Jesus Christ, the Son of God the Father, who is the husbandman.⁽³⁾

And now, my beloved brethren, I am the Branch which was to be broken off, nevertheless to be remembered in the covenants of the Lord. I can do nothing of myself save I abide in the true vine, which is the Holy One of Israel, even Jesus Christ, the Messiah.

I would that ye should receive his word with joy, that ye might enter into the rest of the Lord your God, and be not unbelieving, lest ye go on to destruction; for this grieveth my soul.

Therefore, put off all lyings, and deceivings, and envyings, and strifes, and malice, and revilings, and stealing, robbing, plundering, murdering, committing adultery, and all manner of lasciviousness;

For the time is shortly at hand for the second coming of the Son of God.

And those who will not hearken to the voice of the Lord, neither give ear to the words of his servants which he hath chosen and sent forth among them, but harden their hearts, are the same who receive him not, and it would be better for them if they had not been born.

Behold, he who brought to pass the resurrection from the dead now brings forth and gathers his people and his word into one, with power, making bare his arm.

Yea, he is the same who came among his own, and his own received him not; and now, when he calls again with the voice of his servants among you to teach you, will there be none to answer? Behold, his arm is not shortened at all that he cannot redeem, neither his power, to deliver.

Therefore, prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight, receive his word with all your hearts, for the time of his appearing is nigh at hand.

Yea, hearken to the voice of the Lord with great joy and gladness, that he might pour out his Spirit upon you to prepare your minds--

That the time may come when Satan may have no more power over the hearts of the children of men, but that they might be persuaded to do good continually and come unto the fountain of all righteousness and be saved, doing away with all inequality and secret combinations which are built up to get power and gain, and which grind upon the face of the poor.

Yea, seek to establish His righteousness, that the gospel of the kingdom might be preached in its purity to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people, that they may repent, and hearken unto the word of God until they come unto a fullness and all things; that the kingdom of God may fill all the earth.

And there is no eye that shall not see, neither ear that shall not hear, but they shall see eye to eye, when the Lord shall bring again Zion. And all are alike unto God; and none are forbidden.

For this is the time when the Lord will set his hand again the second time to recover his people who are a remnant of the house of Israel, that they might be established in all their lands of promise, no more to be thrown down, the Lord pouring out his blessings upon all people, even the glories prepared for his saints, that tongue cannot describe--