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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 22
MORONI FURTHER FORTIFIES THE LAND, VER. 1-25
Alma 22:1 And now it came to pass that Moroni did not stop making preparations for war, or to defend
his people against the Lamanites; for he caused that his armies should commence in the commencement
of the twentieth year of the reign of the Judges, that they should commence in digging up heaps of earth
round about all the cities, throughout all the land which was possessed by the Nephites;
This ingenious military leader doubtless 'believed that the best offense is a good defense. The kind
of fortifications he wanted meant much hard labor, and needed to be done while his country was at
peace. Heaps of earth were thrown up "round about all the cities, throughout all the land. ..by the
Nephites."
On top of these earthworks they built up timbers (fences) "to the height of a man" (2). "A frame of
pickets" was built on top of the wooden "fences," and towers were built to overlook the pickets.
(3), "Places of security" were built upon ,these towers from which they could throw stones and
arrows on their attackers, yet they could not be hit by the enemy ( 4, 5).
Alma 22:7 And it came to pass that Moroni caused that his armies should go forth into the east
wilderness; yea, and they went forth, and drove all the Lamanites who were in the east wilderness into
their own lands, which were south of the land of Zarahemla;
"The land of Nephi did run in a straight course from the east sea to the west” ( 8). This would
seem to exclude the possibility of the land of Nephi being in South America, since it and the land
of Zarahemla were almost surrounded by water (Alma 13:77). See map with comments on Chapter
13:10. Then he fortified the borders .to protect his people and "secure their armies" from the
enemy (Alma 22:10, 11). Thus the Nephites possessed "all the land northward; yea, even all the
land which was northward of the land Bountiful" (12). They worked with zeal on these defenses,
and then began the foundation of the city of Moroni, and "in that same year, ,to build many cities
on the north; one. ..they called Lehi" (14-16).
Alma 22:18 And they did prosper exceedingly, and they became exceeding rich; yea, and they did
multiply, and wax strong in the land.
This was evidence to them that God had been merciful and had fulfilled all his promises. Yet they
knew that the wars and destructions visited upon them were due to their own quarrels, murders,
whoredoms, and abominations (22). However, the righteous and faithful among them "were
delivered at all times” (23). The historian exclaims, "There never was a happier time among the
people of Nephi, since the days of Nephi [ about five hundred years] than in the days of Moroni"
(24). Later a similar expression was made (4 N.1:19) of all the people when they were all one.
THE REBELLION OF MORIANTON, VER. 26-44
Alma 22:27 For behold, the people who possessed the land of Morianton did claim a part of the land of
Lehi; therefore there began to be a warm contention between them, insomuch that the people of
Morianton took up arms against their brethren, and they were determined by the sword to slay them.