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Book of Mormon Commentary
Alma Chapter 25
AMMORON AND MORONI EXCHANGE EPISTLES, VER. 1-26
Alma 25:1 And now it came to pass in the twenty and ninth year of the Judges, that Ammoron sent unto
Moroni, desiring that he would exchange prisoners.
The necessity of feeding prisoners of war was burdensome on both sides. Moroni was glad to get
this request; however, there were "many women and children" among the prisoners held by the
Lamanites but only soldiers held by the Nephites. Moroni decided to bargain with Ammoron that
he "deliver up a man, and his wife, and his children, for one prisoner" (11). In case Am- moron
would not accept these terms, Moroni threatened to arm his women and children, and fight to
extinction (12).
25: 16 II I am Ammoron the king of the Lamanites; I am the brother of Amalickiah, whom -vou
have murdered."-
He continued by threatening to avenge the blood of his brother. He wrote, "If ye will lay down
your arms, and subject yourselves to be governed by those to whom the government doth rightly
belong" (19), the war would cease. However, he did accept Moroni's offer for the exchange of
prisoners "that I may preserve my food for my men of war" (21). Otherwise he was ready to
continue the war to extinction (22). "As concerning that God whom ye say we have rejected,
behold, we know not such a being; neither do ye" (23). He also denied "that there is a devil and a
hell" (24). He ended his epistle by declaring that' 'this war hath been waged, to avenge their
wrongs" (26).
NEPHITES TAKE THE CITY OF GID AND FREE NEPHITE PRISONERS, VER. 27-63
Alma 25:28 And he said, Behold, I will not exchange prisoners with Ammoron, save he will withdraw
his purpose, as I have stated in my epistle; for I will not grant unto him that he shall have any more
power than what he hath got.
Moroni quit writing and deter- mined to continue the conflict, "yea, I will seek death among them,
until they shall sue for peace" (29). Next he sent out spies to find where the prisoners held by
Ammoron were kept. Learning that they were in the city of Gid, he searched among his people for
one who was a descendant of Laman. He found one by the name of Laman, and sent him to Gid
with a few men. When it was evening Laman approached the guards of the city, "and they hailed
him” (34).
Alma 25:35 But he saith unto them, Fear not. Behold, I am a Lamanite. Behold we have escaped from
the Nephites, and they sleepeth; and behold, we have taken of their wine, and brought with us.
Because of their weariness, the guards were very anxious for the wine. Laman put them off by
saying, "Let us keep of our wine till we go against the Nephites to battle," They pleaded that when
they got their rations of wine, they would be strengthened to go against the Nephites. Then Laman
consented, "You may do according to your desires" (38). They drank freely, for "it was pleasant to
their taste. ..and it was strong." Soon they were drunken and in a deep sleep. This was promptly
reported to Moroni. He moved up his army that night with an extra supply of arms, which were
passed in for the prisoners.