# Alma 54

*Simple English*

### Ammoron Asks to Trade Prisoners

In the 29th year of the judges, Ammoron sent a message to Moroni. He wanted to trade prisoners. Moroni was very happy about this request. He wanted the food that was being used for the Lamanite prisoners. He needed it for his own people. He also wanted to get his own people back to make his army stronger. The Lamanites had taken many women and children. But Moroni had not captured any women or children. So Moroni made a plan to get as many Nephite prisoners back from the Lamanites as he could. He wrote a letter. He sent it with Ammoron’s servant, the same one who had brought a letter to Moroni. Here are the words he wrote to Ammoron:

### Moroni’s Letter to Ammoron

“Ammoron, I have written to you about this war you have started against my people. Or I should say, your brother started it against them. You are still fighting after his death. I want to tell you something about God’s justice and his powerful anger. It hangs over you. Unless you say sorry and take your armies back to your own lands, the land of Nephi. Yes, I would tell you these things if you were able to listen. I would tell you about that terrible place that waits for murderers like you and your brother. Unless you say sorry and stop your plans to murder, and take your armies back to your own lands. But you have rejected these things. You have fought against the Lord’s people. So I think you will do it again. We are ready for you. And unless you change your plans, you will bring down the anger of the God you have rejected. He will destroy you completely. As the Lord lives, our armies will come after you unless you leave. You will soon die. We will keep our cities and our lands. We will keep our religion and the cause of our God.

But I think I am wasting my time talking to you about these things. I think you are a child of hell. So I will end my letter by telling you this: I will not trade prisoners unless you give me a man, his wife, and his children for one prisoner. If you will do this, I will trade. And if you do not do this, I will come against you with my armies. I will even arm my women and my children. I will come against you. I will follow you into your own land, the land we first lived in. It will be blood for blood. Life for life. I will fight you until you are destroyed from the earth. I am angry, and my people are angry. You have tried to murder us. We have only tried to defend ourselves. But if you try to destroy us more, we will try to destroy you. We will take back our land, the lands we first lived in.

I close my letter. I am Moroni. I am a leader of the Nephite people.“

### Ammoron’s Angry Reply

When Ammoron got this letter, he was angry. He wrote another letter to Moroni. Here are the words he wrote:

“I am Ammoron, the king of the Lamanites. I am the brother of Amalickiah, whom you murdered. I will get revenge for his blood. I will come after you with my armies. I am not scared of your threats. Your ancestors did wrong to their brothers. They took away their right to rule when it belonged to them. If you will put down your weapons and let the people who should rule govern you, then I will make my people put down their weapons. We will not be at war anymore. You have made many threats against me and my people. But we are not scared of your threats.

But I will agree to trade prisoners like you asked. I am happy to do this. I can save my food for my warriors. We will fight a war that goes on forever. Either the Nephites will obey us, or they will be destroyed forever. You say we have rejected your God. We do not know of such a being. You don’t either. But if there is such a being, maybe he made us just like he made you. And if there is a Devil and a hell, will he not send you there? Will you go live with my brother, whom you murdered? You said he went to such a place. But these things don’t matter.

I am Ammoron. I am related to Zoram, whom your ancestors forced to come from Jerusalem. I am a proud Lamanite. This war has been fought to get revenge for their wrongs. We want to get our rights to rule. I close my letter to Moroni.“

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*Source: [The Book of Mormon](https://bookofmormon.com/simple/alma/54)*
