RCE Verse Context

48 And it came to pass in the thirteenth year there began to be wars and contentions throughout all the land; For the Gaddianton robbers had become so numerous and did slay so many of the people, and did lay waste so many cities, and did spread so much death and carnage throughout the land, That it became expedient that all the people, both the Nephites and the Lamanites, should take up arms against them;

49 Therefore, all the Lamanites which had become converted unto the Lord did unite with their brethren the Nephites, And were compelled for the safety of their lives and their women and their children to take up arms against those Gaddianton robbers,

50 Yea, and also to maintain their rights, and their privileges of their church, and of their worship, and their freedom and their liberty.

51 And it came to pass that before this thirteenth year had passed away, The Nephites were threatened with utter destruction because of this war which had become exceeding sore.

52 And it came to pass that those Lamanites which had united with the Nephites were numbered among the Nephites; And their curse was taken from them, And their skin became white like unto the Nephites,

53 And their young men and their daughters became exceeding fair, And they were numbered among the Nephites and were called Nephites; And thus ended the thirteenth year.

54 And it came to pass in the commencement of the fourteenth year, the war between the robbers and the people of Nephi did continue and did become exceeding sore;

55 Nevertheless, the people of Nephi did gain some advantage of the robbers, insomuch that they did drive them back out of their lands into the mountains and into their secret places; And thus ended the fourteenth year.

56 And in the fifteenth year they did come forth again against the people of Nephi; And because of the wickedness of the people of Nephi and their many contentions and dissensions, the Gaddianton robbers did gain many advantages over them;

57 And thus ended the fifteenth year. And thus were the people in a state of many afflictions; And the sword of destruction did hang over them, insomuch that they were about to be smitten down by it, And this because of their iniquity.

1 And now it came to pass that in the sixteenth year from the coming of Christ, Lachoneus, the governor of the land, received an epistle from the leader and the governor of this band of robbers.