Mormon — Narrative Events
25 narrative events.
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And it came to pass in this year there began to be a war between the Nephites… and this war was between the Nephites, and the Lamanites and the Lemuelites and the Ishmaelites… in the borders of Zarahemla, by the waters of Sidon.
A wide-ranging armed conflict begins among multiple groups, with the setting defined at the borders of Zarahemla near the waters of Sidon, linking collective identity with place and war.
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And it came to pass that the Nephites had gathered together a great number of men, even to exceed the number of thirty thousand… the Nephites did beat the Lamanites and did slay many of them… there was peace settled in the land; and peace did remain for the space of about four years
The text describes the Nephites gathering a large military force, their victory, and the withdrawal of their opponents, before peace is established for a limited period.
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Therefore it came to pass that in my sixteenth year I did go forth at the head of an army of the Nephites, against the Lamanites;
At the age of sixteen, Nephi goes forth to the battlefield at the head of the Nephite army against the Lamanites, highlighting his early transition into a military leadership role.
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the Lamanites did come upon us with exceedingly great power, insomuch that they did frighten my armies; therefore they would not fight, and they began to retreat towards the north countries. … we did fortify the city with our might; but notwithstanding all our fortifications the Lamanites did come upon us and did drive us out of the city.
The intense Lamanite attack instills fear in Nephi’s army, causing them to retreat northward. The Nephites attempt to fortify the city of Angola but are driven out despite their preparations.
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the people of Nephi again were hunted and driven. … we did fortify the city of Shem, and we did gather in our people as much as it were possible, that perhaps we might save them from destruction.
The expulsion and pursuit of the Nephite people recur, leading them to fortify the city of Shem and gather their people there in hopes of saving them from destruction.
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we did go forth against the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, until we had again taken possession of the lands of our inheritance. … we made a treaty with the Lamanites and the robbers of Gadianton, in which we did get the lands of our inheritance divided.
The Nephites reclaim their inherited lands after fighting against the Lamanites and the Gadianton robbers, culminating in a treaty that divides the land between the two parties, granting the north to the Nephites and the south to their opponents.
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And it came to pass that the Lamanites did not come to battle again until ten years more had passed away. And behold, I had employed my people, the Nephites, in preparing their lands and their arms against the time of battle.
The text postpones military confrontation for another ten years, while simultaneously describing Nephi/Mormon’s people preparing their lands and arms in anticipation of the upcoming battle.
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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.
The text precisely marks the time and mentions a letter from the king of the Lamanites revealing their preparations for a new attack, reigniting the conflict.
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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. 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 numbe…
The narrative records consecutive victories over the Lamanites at the city of Desolation, noting significant casualties and the disposal of bodies into the sea.
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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.
The narrative begins with the Nephites mobilizing their armies and departing from the land of Desolation to confront the Lamanites, opening a series of battles in this chapter.
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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.
The Nephite armies are pushed back to the land of Desolation while exhausted, and a fresh Lamanite army attacks them, resulting in the loss of the city and significant Nephite casualties and captures.
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And it came to pass that the Lamanites did make preparations to come against the city Teancum. 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. And it came to pass that they were repulsed and driven back by the Nephites.
The Lamanites prepare to attack Teancum and do so, but the Nephites successfully repel them, forcing a retreat.
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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. 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. And it came to pass that in the…
The fall of Desolation is attributed to the numerical superiority of the Lamanites, who then expand the war to Teancum, driving out the inhabitants and capturing many women and children to be offered as sacrifices to their idol gods. The Nephites respond with great anger and reclaim the land.
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And the Lamanites did not come again against the Nephites until the three hundred and seventy and fifth year. 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. 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.
After a period of relative calm, the Lamanites return with an overwhelming and uncountable force, marking the beginning of the Nephites’ continuous decline until they seem to be swiftly erased.
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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. 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 co…
Defeat recurs in Desolation and then in Boaz; the Nephites resist with temporary courage, but the second assault ends in a new massacre and the slaughter of women and children for idol worship.
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And it came to pass that I did go forth among the Nephites, and did repent of the oath which I had made that I would no more assist them; and they gave me command again of their armies
The leader returns to the Nephite people after regretting his previous oath, regaining command of their armies, which reestablishes his position within the conflict.
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the Lamanites did come against us as we had fled to the city of Jordan; but behold, they were driven back that they did not take the city at that time.
The text describes the Lamanite attack on the city to which the Nephites had fled, noting that they were forced to retreat and did not succeed in capturing it.
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there were also other cities which were maintained by Nephites, which strongholds did cut them off … and thus three hundred and seventy and nine years passed away.
The narrative shows that some cities held by the Nephites formed strongholds that hindered the enemy’s advance, linking this to a long passage of time marked by war and decline.
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in the three hundred and eightieth year the Lamanites did come again against us to battle, and we did stand against them boldly; but it was all in vain … we did again take to flight
The attack renews in the three hundred and eightieth year, with the Nephites resisting bravely but to no avail, leading them to flee once more under the pressure of numerical superiority.
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And I, Mormon, wrote an epistle unto the king of the Lamanites, and desired of him that he would grant unto us that we might gather together our people unto the land of Cumorah… And it came to pass that the king of the Lamanites did grant unto me the thing which I desired.
Mormon sends a letter to the king of the Lamanites requesting permission to gather his people in the land of Cumorah, and his request is granted, setting the stage for the final confrontation.
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And when three hundred and eighty and four years had passed away, we had gathered in all the remainder of our people unto the land of Cumorah.
The text marks a lengthy historical period and mentions the completion of gathering the remaining people in Cumorah, underscoring the approach of the end.
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And it came to pass that my people, with their wives and their children, did now behold the armies of the Lamanites marching towards them… And it came to pass that they did fall upon my people with the sword, and with the bow, and with the arrow, and with the ax, and with all manner of weapons of war.
The people witness the approaching Lamanite armies and then fall under attack with all manner of weapons, transforming the scene into a comprehensive military disaster.
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And it came to pass that my men were hewn down, yea, even my ten thousand who were with me… yea, even all my people, save it were those twenty and four who were with me… had fallen
The text describes the near-total annihilation of the people, with only Mormon and twenty-four others surviving, making the battle a moment of almost collective extinction.
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ye will know concerning your fathers, and also the marvelous works which were wrought by the power of God among them.
The text promises that faith will lead to knowledge of the history of the fathers and the marvelous works performed by God among them.
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after the great and tremendous battle at Cumorah, behold, the Nephites who had escaped into the country southward were hunted by the Lamanites, until they were all destroyed. And my father also was killed by them, and I even remain alone to write the sad tale of the destruction of my people.
Mormon recounts that the battle at Cumorah ended with the survivors among the Nephites being hunted down by the Lamanites until they were all destroyed, and that his father was also killed, leaving him alone to document the tragic tale of his people’s destruction.