Amalickiah Is Dead
In the 26th year of the judges, the Lamanites woke up on the first morning of the first month. They found that Amalickiah was dead in his own tent. They also saw that Teancum was ready to fight them that day. When the Lamanites saw this, they were scared. They gave up their plan to march north. They ran back to the city of Mulek with all their army. They looked for safety in their forts.
Amalickiah’s brother was made king over the people. His name was Ammoron. So King Ammoron, the brother of King Amalickiah, was made king in his place. He told his people to keep the cities they had taken by fighting and losing blood. They had not taken any cities without losing many lives.
Teancum saw that the Lamanites wanted to keep those cities and the land they had taken. He also saw how many of them there were. Teancum thought it was not wise to attack them in their forts. But he kept his men nearby. It looked like he was getting ready for war. He was preparing to defend against them by building walls and getting safe places ready. He kept getting ready for war until Moroni sent many men to make his army stronger.
Moroni Sends Orders to Teancum
Moroni also told him to keep all the prisoners he caught. Since the Lamanites had taken many prisoners, he should keep all the Lamanite prisoners. He could trade them for the prisoners the Lamanites had taken. Moroni also told him to make the land Bountiful safe. He needed to protect the narrow pass that led north. If the Lamanites got control of that pass, they could attack them from all sides. Moroni also asked him to be faithful in protecting that part of the land. He wanted him to look for every chance to attack the Lamanites there as much as he could. Maybe he could take back those cities that had been captured. He could use a plan or some other way. He also wanted him to make the other cities stronger so they would not be captured. Moroni also said to him: I would come to you. But the Lamanites are attacking us along the coast by the West Sea. I am going to fight them. So I cannot come to you.
King Ammoron Attacks
King Ammoron had left the land of Zarahemla. He had told the queen that his brother had died. He had gathered many men. He had marched against the Nephites along the coast by the West Sea. He was trying to attack the Nephites. He wanted to pull some of their armies to that part of the land. At the same time, he told the men he left behind to keep the cities he had taken. They should also attack the Nephites along the coast by the East Sea. They should take as much land as they could with their armies.
The Nephites were in danger at the end of the 26th year of the judges.
Plans to Take Back Mulek
But in the 27th year of the judges, Teancum did something. Moroni had told him to set up armies to protect the south and west borders of the land. Teancum started marching toward the land Bountiful. He wanted to help Teancum and his men take back the cities they had lost.
Teancum got orders to attack the city of Mulek and take it back if he could. Teancum got ready to attack the city of Mulek. He marched with his army against the Lamanites. But he saw that he could not beat them while they were in their forts. So he gave up his plans. He went back to the city Bountiful. He would wait for Moroni to come and bring more soldiers to his army.
Moroni did arrive with his army in the land of Bountiful. This happened at the end of the 27th year of the judges.
At the start of the 28th year, Moroni and Teancum and many of the main captains had a meeting about war. They talked about what they should do to make the Lamanites come out and fight. Or maybe they could trick them to come out of their strong forts. Then they could win against them and take back the city of Mulek.
They sent messengers to the Lamanite army that protected the city of Mulek. Their leader’s name was Jacob. They asked him to come out with his armies to meet them on the open land between the two cities. But Jacob was a Zoramite. He would not come out with his army to meet them on the open land.
Moroni’s Trick
Moroni had no hope of meeting them on fair ground. So he came up with a plan to trick the Lamanites to come out of their strong forts.
He had Teancum take a small group of men. They marched down near the coast. Moroni and his army marched at night into the wilderness west of the city Mulek. The next morning, the Lamanite guards saw Teancum. They ran and told their leader Jacob. The Lamanite armies marched out against Teancum. They thought they could beat Teancum because he had so few men. When Teancum saw the Lamanite armies coming at him, he started running down the coast to the north.
When the Lamanites saw that he started running, they got brave. They chased him hard. While Teancum was leading away the Lamanites who were chasing him, Moroni told part of his army to march into the city and take it over. They did this. They killed all the men who had been left to protect the city. They killed all who would not give up their weapons. Moroni took control of the city Mulek with part of his army. He marched with the rest of his men to meet the Lamanites when they came back from chasing Teancum.
The Lamanites Are Trapped
The Lamanites chased Teancum until they came near the city Bountiful. Then they met Lehi and a small army. Lehi had been left there to protect the city Bountiful. When the main captains of the Lamanites saw Lehi with his army coming at them, they ran away in fear. They were afraid they might not get back to the city Mulek before Lehi caught them. They were tired from their long march. But the men with Lehi were not tired.
The Lamanites did not know that Moroni had been behind them with his army. All they were afraid of was Lehi and his men. Lehi did not want to catch up to them until they met Moroni and his army.
Before the Lamanites had run very far, the Nephites surrounded them. Moroni’s men were on one side. Lehi’s men were on the other side. All of them were not tired and full of strength. But the Lamanites were tired from their long march. Moroni told his men to attack them until they gave up their weapons.
Jacob Fights Back
Jacob was their leader. He was also a Zoramite. He had a spirit that would not give up. He led the Lamanites to fight with great anger against Moroni. Moroni was in their way. So Jacob wanted to kill them and fight his way through to the city of Mulek. But Moroni and his men were more powerful. They did not let the Lamanites pass. They fought on both sides with great anger. Many were killed on both sides. Moroni was hurt. Jacob was killed. Lehi pushed hard against the back of their army with his strong men. The Lamanites in the back gave up their weapons. The rest of them were very confused. They did not know whether to run or to fight.
The Lamanites Surrender
When Moroni saw they were confused, he said to them: If you will bring out your weapons and give them up, we will stop killing you. When the Lamanites heard these words, their main captains who had not been killed came forward. They threw down their weapons at Moroni’s feet. They also told their men to do the same.
But many would not give up their swords. Those who would not were tied up. Their weapons were taken from them. They had to march with their brothers to the land Bountiful.
The number of prisoners they took was more than the number of people who had been killed. It was more than those who had been killed on both sides.