Le déclin et la chute des Néphites

Les Deux Attaques Lamanites sur la Terre de Désolation

Mormon 3:4

Le roi Lamanite envoie une lettre à Mormon et l’informe qu’ils viennent pour faire la guerre.

And it came to pass that after this tenth year had passed away, making, in the whole, three hundred and sixty years from the coming of Christ, the king of the Lamanites sent an epistle unto me, which gave unto me to know that they were preparing to come again to battle against us.

Mormon 3:5–6

Mormon rassemble tout son peuple à la Désolation ; les Néphites fortifient leur terre autant que possible.

And it came to pass that I did cause my people that they should gather themselves together at the land Desolation, to a city which was in the borders, by the narrow pass which led into the land southward. And there we did place our armies, that we might stop the armies of the Lamanites, that they might not get possession of any of our lands; therefore we did fortify against them with all our force.

Mormon 3:7

Les Lamanites arrivent, une bataille éclate et les Néphites sont victorieux—les Lamanites battent en retraite et retournent dans leur propre pays.

And it came to pass that in the three hundred and sixty and first year the Lamanites did come down to the city of Desolation to battle against us; and it came to pass that in that year we did beat them, insomuch that they did return to their own lands again.

Mormon 3:8

Deux ans plus tard, les Lamanites attaquent de nouveau, et sont à nouveau défaits.

And in the three hundred and sixty and second year they did come down again to battle. And we did beat them again, and did slay a great number of them, and their dead were cast into the sea.

Mormon 3:9–10

Les Néphites, fiers de leurs victoires, commencent à se vanter de leur propre force et jurent de venger ces Néphites morts au combat.

And now, because of this great thing which my people, the Nephites, had done, they began to boast in their own strength, and began to swear before the heavens that they would avenge themselves of the blood of their brethren who had been slain by their enemies. And they did swear by the heavens, and also by the throne of God, that they would go up to battle against their enemies, and would cut them off from the face of the land.