1.  And  now  it  came  to  pass  that  Moroni  did  not  stop
making  preparations  for  war,  or  to  defend  his  people  against

ie,  Alma 48 :  6.        v,  seer.  io,  seeSp,  Alina4S.  a;,  Alma 48 :  S.
Vt  see  &,  II.  Nep.  6.       z.  Alma  61 :  9,  la        2a,  see  g,  Mos.  26.
CHAP.  L.]  BOOK  OF  ALMA.  383

the  Lamanites  ;  for  he  caused  that  his  armies  should  com-
mence in  the  commencement  of  the  twentieth  year  of  the
reign  of  the  Judges,  that  they  should  commence  in  digging
up  ''heaps  of  eartn  round  about  all  the  cities,  throughout  all
the  land  which  was  possessed  by  the  Nephites ;

2.  And  upon  the  top  of  these  ridges  of  earth  he  caused
that  there  should  be  timbers ;  yea,  works  of  timbers  built
up  to  the  height  of  a  man,  round  about  the  cities.
3.  And  he  caused  that  upon  those  works  of  timbers,  there
should  be  a  frame  of  pickets  built  upon  the  timbers  round
about ;  and  they  were  strong  and  high ;

4.  And  he  caused  towers  to  be  erected  that  overlooked
those  works  of  pickets,  and  he  caused  places  of  security  to
be  built  upon  those  tbwers,  that  the  stones  and  the  arrows
of  the  Lamanites  could  not  hurt  them.
6.  And  they  were  prepared,  that  they  could  cast  stones
from  the  top  thereof,  according  to  their  pleasure  and  their
strength,  and  sla>[  him  who  should  attempt  to  approach  near
the  walls  of  the  cit^.
6.  Thus  Moroni  did  prepare  strong  holds  ag:ainst  the
coming  of  their  enemies,  round  about  every  city  in  all  the
land.
