Omni 1:17

And at the time that Mosiah discovered them, they had become exceeding numerous. Nevertheless, they had had many wars and serious contentions, and had fallen by the sword from time to time; and their language had become corrupted; and they had brought no records with them and they denied the being of their Creator; and Mosiah, nor the people of Mosiah, could not understand them.

When Mosiah found them, they had become very numerous. But they had had many wars and serious fights. Many had been killed in battle over time. Their language had become mixed up. They had brought no records with them and did not believe in their Creator. Mosiah and his people could not understand their language.

By the time Mosiah found them, they’d grown very numerous. But they’d had many wars and bitter conflicts, and many had died by the sword. Their language had become garbled. They’d brought no records with them, and they denied that God even existed. Mosiah and his people couldn’t understand their language.