4:1 And now it came to pass that in the three
hundred and sixty and third year the Nephites did go up
with their armies to battle against the Lamanites, out of
the land Desolation. |
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4:2 And it came to pass that the armies of the
Nephites were driven back again to the land of
Desolation. And while they were yet weary, a fresh army
of the Lamanites did come upon them; and they had a sore
battle, insomuch that the Lamanites did take possession
of the city Desolation, and did slay many of the
Nephites, and did take many prisoners. |
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4:3 And the remainder did flee and join the
inhabitants of the city Teancum. Now the city Teancum lay
in the borders by the seashore; and it was also near the
city Desolation. |
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4:4 And it was because the armies of the Nephites
went up unto the Lamanites that they began to be smitten;
for were it not for that, the Lamanites could have had no
power over them. |
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4:5 But, behold, the judgments of God will overtake
the wicked; and it is by the wicked that the wicked are
punished; for it is the wicked that stir up the hearts of
the children of men unto bloodshed. |
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4:6 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did make
preparations to come against the city Teancum. |
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4:7 And it came to pass in the three hundred and
sixty and fourth year the Lamanites did come against the
city Teancum, that they might take possession of the city
Teancum also. |
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4:8 And it came to pass that they were repulsed and
driven back by the Nephites. And when the Nephites saw
that they had driven the Lamanites they did again boast
of their own strength; and they went forth in their own
might, and took possession again of the city Desolation. |
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4:9 And now all these things had been done, and
there had been thousands slain on both sides, both the
Nephites and the Lamanites. |
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4:10 And it came to pass that the three hundred and
sixty and sixth year had passed away, and the Lamanites
came again upon the Nephites to battle; and yet the
Nephites repented not of the evil they had done, but
persisted in their wickedness continually. |
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4:11 And it is impossible for the tongue to
describe, or for man to write a perfect description of
the horrible scene of the blood and carnage which was
among the people, both of the Nephites and of the
Lamanites; and every heart was hardened, so that they
delighted in the shedding of blood continually. |
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4:12 And there never had been so great wickedness
among all the children of Lehi, nor even among all the
house of Israel, according to the words of the Lord, as
was among this people. |
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4:13 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did take
possession of the city Desolation, and this because their
number did exceed the number of the Nephites. |
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4:14 And they did also march forward against the
city Teancum, and did drive the inhabitants forth out of
her, and did take many prisoners both women and children,
and did offer them up as sacrifices unto their idol gods.
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4:15 And it came to pass that in the three hundred
and sixty and seventh year, the Nephites being angry
because the Lamanites had sacrificed their women and
their children, that they did go against the Lamanites
with exceedingly great anger, insomuch that they did beat
again the Lamanites, and drive them out of their lands. |
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4:16 And the Lamanites did not come again against
the Nephites until the three hundred and seventy and
fifth year. |
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4:17 And in this year they did come down against the
Nephites with all their powers; and they were not
numbered because of the greatness of their number. |
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4:18 And from this time forth did the Nephites gain
no power over the Lamanites, but began to be swept off by
them even as a dew before the sun. |
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4:19 And it came to pass that the Lamanites did come
down against the city Desolation; and there was an
exceedingly sore battle fought in the land Desolation, in
the which they did beat the Nephites. |
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4:20 And they fled again from before them, and they
came to the city Boaz; and there they did stand against
the Lamanites with exceeding boldness, insomuch that the
Lamanites did not beat them until they had come again the
second time. |
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4:21 And when they had come the second time, the
Nephites were driven and slaughtered with an exceedingly
great slaughter; their women and their children were
again sacrificed unto idols. |
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4:22 And it came to pass that the Nephites did again
flee from before them, taking all the inhabitants with
them, both in towns and villages. |
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4:23 And now I, Mormon, seeing that the Lamanites
were about to overthrow the land, therefore I did go to
the hill Shim, and did take up all the records which
Ammaron had hid up unto the Lord. |
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