Captain Moroni wrote a letter to Ammoron, the Lamanite leader, to negotiate an exchange of prisoners. What would you write in a letter to an enemy? What Moroni chose to write may surprise you. As you read Moroni’s letter and Ammoron’s response, notice the deep feelings on both sides of the conflict.
Ammoron I will trade one Lamanite for ...
Understanding the Scriptures
Alma 54
| Provisions (v. 2) | Food and supplies |
| Epistle (vv. 4, 11, 14–15, 24) | Letter |
| The sword of his almighty wrath (v. 6) | God’s punishment |
| Land of our first inheritance (v. 12) | Place where our people first lived (the land of Nephi) |
| Avenge his blood upon you (v. 16) | Kill you because you killed him |
| Breathed out (v. 19) | Spoke, expressed |
| Extinction (v. 20) | Complete destruction |
Studying the Scriptures
Do two of the following activities (A–C) as you study Alma 54.
Three Letters
Review the exchange of letters in Alma 54:1–4, 11–12, 15, 20.
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1.
Who wrote the first letter? What did he request?
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2.
Who wrote the second letter? What was Captain Moroni’s plan for the exchange of prisoners?
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3.
Who wrote the third letter? Why did he agree to the terms?
Rewrite the Promises
Compare the Two Men
Compare Moroni’s words (see Alma 54:4–14) with Ammoron’s (see vv. 16–24). Write what you learned about those two men from the things they wrote.
