RLDS Verse Context

75 Behold, here are our weapons of war; we will deliver them up unto you, and we will not suffer ourselves to take an oath unto you, which we know that we shall break, and also our children; but take our weapons of war, and suffer that we may depart into the wilderness; otherwise we will retain our swords, and we will perish or conquer.

76 Behold, we are not of your faith; we do not believe that it is God that has delivered us into your hands; but we believe that it is your cunning that has preserved you from our swords.

77 Behold, it is your breastplates and your shields that have preserved you.

78 And now when Zerahemnah had made an end of speaking these words, Moroni returned the sword, and the weapons of war which he had received, unto Zerahemnah, saying, Behold, we will end the conflict.

79 Now I can not retain the words which I have spoken; therefore as the Lord liveth, ye shall not depart, except ye depart with an oath, that ye will not return again against us to war.

80 Now as ye are in our hands, we will spill your blood upon the ground, or ye shall submit to the conditions to which I have proposed.

81 And now when Moroni had said these words, Zerahemnah retained his sword, and he was angry with Moroni and he rushed forward that he might slay Moroni;

82 But as he raised his sword, behold, one of Moroni's soldiers smote it even to the earth; and it broke by the hilt; and he also smote Zerahemnah, that he took off his scalp, and it fell to the earth.

83 And Zerahemnah withdrew from before them, into the midst of his soldiers.

84 And it came to pass that the soldier who stood by, who smote off the scalp of Zerahemnah, took up the scalp from off the ground, by the hair, and laid it upon the point of his sword, and he stretched it forth unto them, saying unto them with a loud voice,

85 Even as this scalp has fallen to the earth, which is the scalp of your chief, so shall ye fall to the earth, except ye will deliver up your weapons of war, and depart, with a covenant of peace.