# Alma 28

*Paraphrase*

### The Aftermath of War

After the people of Ammon were settled in Jershon and had set up a church there, the Nephite armies formed a defensive ring around Jershon—and all along the borders of Zarahemla. But the Lamanite armies followed their fellow Lamanites into the wilderness.

What followed was a massive battle—the bloodiest anyone had seen since Lehi left Jerusalem. Tens of thousands of Lamanites were killed and scattered across the land. But the Nephites suffered terrible losses too. Still, the Lamanites were driven back, and the Nephites returned home.

### A Nation Mourns

Then came a time of deep mourning. You could hear grief echoing across the entire land among the Nephite people. The crying of widows mourning their husbands. Fathers mourning their sons. Daughters mourning their brothers. Brothers mourning their fathers. Everyone was grieving someone they loved who had been killed.

It was a heartbreaking time—a solemn season of fasting and prayer.

So ended the fifteenth year of the judges’ rule over the Nephites.

### Closing the Record

This is the story of Ammon and his brothers—their travels through the land of Nephi, all they suffered there, their sorrow, their hardships, and their overwhelming joy. It’s the story of how the converts found safety and welcome in Jershon. May the Lord, who saves us all, bless them forever.

This is also the record of the wars and conflicts among the Nephites, and the wars between Nephites and Lamanites. The fifteenth year of the judges came to a close. From the first year to the fifteenth, thousands upon thousands had died. It was a horrifying bloodbath.

The bodies of thousands lay buried in the earth. The bodies of thousands more lay rotting in heaps. And thousands were left mourning for those they’d lost, fearing—according to God’s promises—that their loved ones were now trapped in endless suffering. But thousands of others also mourned their dead, yet they celebrated at the same time. They had hope—no, they knew—that their loved ones were raised to live at God’s right hand in never-ending happiness.

### Lessons from the Bloodshed

So you can see the vast difference between people because of sin and rebellion, and because of the devil’s power—the clever traps he sets to capture human hearts. And you can see how urgent it is for people to work hard in the Lord’s vineyard. You can see the reason for both sorrow and joy: sorrow over death and destruction, and joy over the light of Christ that leads to life.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/alma/28)*
