# Alma 49

*Paraphrase*

### The Lamanites Attack a Rebuilt City

On the tenth day of the eleventh month in the nineteenth year, the Lamanite armies appeared on the horizon, marching toward Ammonihah. The city had been rebuilt. Moroni stationed an army along the borders and had them pile up earthen walls to shield them from Lamanite arrows and stones—that’s what they fought with back then. Now, I should clarify: the city was only partially rebuilt. The Lamanites had destroyed it once before because of the people’s wickedness, so they figured it would be easy pickings again. But they were in for a shock. The Nephites had raised massive earthen ridges all around the city—so high that the Lamanite arrows and stones couldn’t clear them. And there was no way in except through a single entrance.

The Lamanite commanders were stunned by how brilliantly the Nephites had fortified their positions. The Lamanite leaders had assumed that with their huge army, they could just waltz in like before. They’d even prepared for battle—shields, armor, thick leather clothing to protect themselves. Fully armed and ready, they figured they’d easily crush the Nephites, enslave them, or slaughter them at will. But to their absolute amazement, the Nephites were prepared in ways no one among Lehi’s people had ever seen. They were ready for battle exactly as Moroni had taught them. The Lamanites—or Amalickiahites, as some were called—couldn’t believe the level of preparation they were facing.

### The March to Noah

Now, if King Amalickiah himself had led the charge out of Nephi, he might have ordered an attack on Ammonihah anyway. He didn’t care how much blood was spilled. But Amalickiah didn’t come down to fight. And his commanders didn’t dare attack Ammonihah. Moroni had completely transformed the Nephite defenses, leaving the Lamanites with nowhere to retreat and no way to break through. So they pulled back into the wilderness, made camp, and marched toward the land of Noah. They figured that would be their next best target. They had no idea Moroni had fortified every single city in the region. They pressed on toward Noah with fierce determination. Their commanders even swore an oath to destroy everyone in that city.

But when they arrived, they got another shock. Noah had always been weak, but now—thanks to Moroni—it was stronger than even Ammonihah. This was Moroni’s brilliance at work. He’d predicted they’d be intimidated by Ammonihah and head for Noah since it used to be the weakest spot. And that’s exactly what happened. Moroni had put Lehi in command of Noah—the same Lehi who had fought the Lamanites in the valley east of the Sidon River.

### The Battle at the Entrance

When the Lamanites realized Lehi was defending the city, their hearts sank. They were terrified of him. But their commanders had sworn an oath to attack, so they brought up their armies. The Lamanites couldn’t get into the fortress any way except through the entrance. The earthen walls were too high, and the ditches dug around them were too deep. The Nephites were ready to destroy anyone who tried to climb the walls by raining down stones and arrows. They had their strongest men posted at the entrance—armed with swords and slings—ready to cut down anyone who tried to force their way in. That’s how they defended themselves against the Lamanites.

The Lamanite captains brought their armies to the entrance and tried to fight their way in. But they were driven back again and again. The losses were staggering. When they realized they couldn’t break through the entrance, they started trying to dig down the earthen walls to create a new opening and level the playing field. But as they worked, they were cut down by a hail of stones and arrows. Instead of tearing down the walls, they ended up filling the ditches with their own dead and wounded. The Nephites had total control. The Lamanites kept attacking until every one of their commanders was dead. More than a thousand Lamanites were killed. Not a single Nephite died. About fifty Nephites were wounded—hit by arrows that came through the entrance. But their shields, breastplates, and helmets protected their vital areas. Most of the wounds were on their legs, and some were serious.

### Aftermath

When the Lamanites saw that all their commanders were dead, they fled into the wilderness. Eventually they made it back to the land of Nephi to tell King Amalickiah—a Nephite by birth—about their crushing defeat. He was furious with his people. He hadn’t gotten what he wanted. The Nephites weren’t enslaved. He was absolutely enraged. He cursed God and Moroni, swearing an oath that he would drink Moroni’s blood—all because Moroni had obeyed God’s commands and protected his people.

Meanwhile, the Nephites thanked the Lord their God for his incredible power in saving them from their enemies. And so the nineteenth year of the judges came to an end. There was lasting peace and tremendous growth in the church, because the people carefully listened to God’s word as taught by Helaman, Shiblon, Corianton, Ammon and his brothers, and everyone else who had been ordained in God’s holy order, baptized as a sign of repentance, and sent out to preach among the people.

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/paraphrase/alma/49)*
