24 But behold, there never was a happier time among the people of Nephi since the days of Nephi than in the days of Moroni, Yea, even at this time in the twenty and first year of the reign of the judges.
25 And it came to pass that the twenty and second year of the reign of the judges also ended in peace, Yea, and also the twenty and third year.
26 And it came to pass that in the commencement of the twenty and fourth year of the reign of the judges, There would also have been peace among the people of Nephi had it not been for a contention which took place among them concerning the Land of Lehi and the Land of Morionton, which joined upon the borders of Lehi, Both of which were on the borders by the seashore.
27 For behold, the people which possessed the Land of Morionton did claim a part of the Land of Lehi; Therefore, there began to be a warm contention between them, insomuch that the people of Morionton took up arms against their brethren, And they were determined by the sword to slay them.
28 But behold, the people which possessed the Land of Lehi fled to the camp of Moroni and appealed unto him for assistance, For behold, they were not in the wrong.
29 And it came to pass that when the people of Morionton, which were led by a man whose name was Morionton, found that the people of Lehi had fled to the camp of Moroni, They were exceeding fearful lest the army of Moroni should come upon them and destroy them;
30 Therefore, Morionton put it into their hearts that they should flee to the land which was northward, which was covered with large bodies of water, And take possession of the land which was northward.
31 And behold, they would have carried this plan into effect, which would have been a cause to have been lamented, But behold, Morionton, being a man of much passion, Therefore, he was angry with one of his maidservants and he fell upon her and beat her much.
32 And it came to pass that she fled and came over to the camp of Moroni and told Moroni all things concerning the matter; And also concerning their intentions to flee into the Land Northward.
33 Now behold, the people which were in the Land Bountiful - Or rather, Moroni feared that they would hearken to the words of Morionton and unite with his people; And thus he would obtain possession of those parts of the land, which would lay a foundation for serious consequences among the people of Nephi, Yea, which consequences would lead to the overthrow of their liberty;
34 Therefore, Moroni sent an army, with their camp, to head the people of Morionton to stop their flight into the Land Northward.