Behold, now it came to pass that soon after Moroni had sent his epistle unto the chief governor, he received an epistle from ^aPahoran, the chief governor. And these are the words which he received:

 2 I, Pahoran, who am the chief governor of this land, do send these words unto Moroni, the chief captain over the army. Behold, I say unto you, Moroni, that I do not joy in your great ^aafflictions, yea, it grieves my soul.

 3 But behold, there are those who do joy in your afflictions, yea, insomuch that they have risen up in ^arebellion against me, and also those of my people who are ^bfreemen, yea, and those who have risen up are exceedingly numerous.

 4 And it is those who have sought to take away the judgment-seat from me that have been the cause of this great iniquity; for they have used great ^aflattery, and they have ^bled away the hearts of many people, which will be the cause of sore affliction among us; they have withheld our provisions, and have daunted our ^cfreemen that they have not come unto you.

 5 And behold, they have driven me out before them, and I have fled to the land of Gideon, with as many men as it were possible that I could get.

 6 And behold, I have sent a proclamation throughout this part of the land; and behold, they are ^aflocking to us ^bdaily, to their arms, in the defence of their country and their ^cfreedom, and to avenge our ^dwrongs.

 7 And they have come unto us, insomuch that those who have risen up in rebellion against us are set at defiance, yea, insomuch that they do fear us and durst not come out against us to battle.

 8 They have ^agot possession of the land, or the city, of Zarahemla; they have appointed a ^bking over them, and he hath written unto the king of the Lamanites, in the which he hath joined an alliance with him; in the which alliance he hath agreed to maintain the city of Zarahemla, which maintenance he supposeth will enable the Lamanites to conquer the remainder of the land, and he shall be placed king over this people when they shall be conquered ^cunder the Lamanites.

 9 And now, in your epistle you have ^acensured me, but it mattereth not; I am not angry, but do rejoice in the greatness of your heart. I, Pahoran, do not ^bseek for power, save only to retain my judgment-seat that I may preserve the rights and the liberty of my people. My soul standeth fast in that liberty in the which God hath made us ^cfree.