And now it came to pass that when Moroni had received this epistle his heart did take courage, and was filled with exceedingly great joy because of the faithfulness of Pahoran, that he was not also a ^atraitor to the freedom and cause of his country.

 2 But he did also mourn exceedingly because of the iniquity of those who had driven Pahoran from the judgment-seat, yea, in fine because of those who had rebelled against their country and also their God.

 3 And it came to pass that Moroni took a small number of men, according to the desire of Pahoran, and gave Lehi and Teancum command over the remainder of his army, and took his march towards the land of Gideon.

 4 And he did raise the ^astandard of ^bliberty in whatsoever place he did enter, and gained whatsoever force he could in all his march towards the land of Gideon.

 5 And it came to pass that thousands did ^aflock unto his standard, and did take up their swords in the defence of their freedom, that they might not come into bondage.

 6 And thus, when Moroni had gathered together whatsoever men he could in all his march, he came to the land of Gideon; and uniting his forces with those of Pahoran they became exceedingly strong, even stronger than the men of Pachus, who was the ^aking of those dissenters who had driven the ^bfreemen out of the land of Zarahemla and had taken possession of the land.

 7 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran went down with their armies into the land of Zarahemla, and went forth against the city, and did meet the men of Pachus, insomuch that they did come to battle.

 8 And behold, Pachus was slain and his men were taken prisoners, and Pahoran was restored to his judgment-seat.

 9 And the men of Pachus received their trial, according to the law, and also those king-men who had been taken and ^acast into prison; and they were ^bexecuted according to the law; yea, those men of Pachus and those ^cking-men, whosoever would not take up arms in the defence of their country, but would fight against it, were put to death.

 10 And thus it became expedient that this law should be strictly observed for the safety of their country; yea, and whosoever was found denying their freedom was speedily ^aexecuted according to the law.

 11 And thus ended the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi; Moroni and Pahoran having restored peace to the land of Zarahemla, among their own people, having ^ainflicted death upon all those who were not true to the cause of freedom.

 12 And it came to pass in the commencement of the thirty and first year of the reign of the judges over the people of Nephi, Moroni immediately caused that provisions should be sent, and also an army of six thousand men should be sent unto Helaman, to assist him in preserving that part of the land.

 13 And he also caused that an army of six thousand men, with a sufficient quantity of food, should be sent to the armies of Lehi and Teancum. And it came to pass that this was done to fortify the land against the Lamanites.

 14 And it came to pass that Moroni and Pahoran, leaving a large body of men in the land of Zarahemla, took their march with a large body of men towards the land of Nephihah, being determined to ^aoverthrow the Lamanites in that city.

 15 And it came to pass that as they were marching towards the land, they took a large body of men of the Lamanites, and slew many of them, and took their provisions and their weapons of war.

 16 And it came to pass after they had taken them, they caused them to enter into a ^acovenant that they would no more take up their weapons of war against the Nephites.

 17 And when they had entered into this covenant they sent them to ^adwell with the people of Ammon, and they were in number about four thousand who had not been slain.

 18 And it came to pass that when they had sent them away they pursued their march towards the land of ^aNephihah. And it came to pass that when they had come to the city of Nephihah, they did pitch their tents in the plains of Nephihah, which is near the city of Nephihah.

 19 Now Moroni was desirous that the Lamanites should come out to battle against them, upon the plains; but the Lamanites, knowing of their exceedingly great courage, and beholding the greatness of their numbers, therefore they durst not come out against them; therefore they did not come to battle in that day.

 20 And when the night came, Moroni went forth in the darkness of the night, and came upon the top of the wall to spy out in what part of the city the Lamanites did camp with their army.

 21 And it came to pass that they were on the east, by the entrance; and they were all asleep. And now Moroni returned to his army, and caused that they should prepare in haste strong cords and ladders, to be let down from the top of the ^awall into the inner part of the wall.

 22 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his men should march forth and come upon the top of the wall, and let ^athemselves down into that part of the city, yea, even on the west, where the Lamanites did not camp with their armies.

 23 And it came to pass that they were all let down into the city by night, by the means of their strong cords and their ladders; thus when the morning came they were all within the walls of the city.

 24 And now, when the Lamanites awoke and saw that the armies of Moroni were within the walls, they were affrighted exceedingly, insomuch that they did flee out by the pass.

 25 And now when Moroni saw that they were fleeing before him, he did cause that his men should march forth against them, and slew many, and surrounded many others, and took them prisoners; and the remainder of them fled into the land of Moroni, which was in the borders by the seashore.

 26 Thus had Moroni and Pahoran obtained the ^apossession of the city of Nephihah without the loss of one soul; and there were many of the Lamanites who were slain.

 27 Now it came to pass that many of the Lamanites that were prisoners were desirous to ^ajoin the people of Ammon and become a free people.

 28 And it came to pass that as many as were desirous, unto them it was granted according to their desires.

 29 Therefore, all the prisoners of the Lamanites did join the people of Ammon, and did begin to labor exceedingly, tilling the ground, raising all manner of grain, and flocks and herds of every kind; and thus were the Nephites relieved from a great burden; yea, insomuch that they were relieved from all the prisoners of the Lamanites.

 30 Now it came to pass that Moroni, after he had obtained possession of the city of Nephihah, having taken many prisoners, which did reduce the armies of the Lamanites exceedingly, and having regained many of the Nephites who had been taken prisoners, which did strengthen the army of Moroni exceedingly; therefore Moroni went forth from the land of Nephihah to the land of ^aLehi.

 31 And it came to pass that when the Lamanites saw that Moroni was coming against them, they were again frightened and fled before the army of Moroni.

 32 And it came to pass that ^aMoroni and his army did pursue them from city to city, until they were met by Lehi and Teancum; and the Lamanites fled from Lehi and Teancum, even down upon the borders by the seashore, until they came to the land of Moroni.

 33 And the armies of the Lamanites were all gathered together, insomuch that they were all in one body in the land of Moroni. Now Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites, was also with them.

 34 And it came to pass that Moroni and Lehi and Teancum did encamp with their armies round about in the borders of the land of Moroni, insomuch that the Lamanites were encircled about in the borders by the wilderness on the south, and in the borders by the wilderness on the east.