Alma 27:1 - 27:5

Alma 27:1 Now it came to pass that when those Lamanites who had gone to war against the Nephites had found, after their many struggles to destroy them, that it was in vain to seek their destruction, they returned again to the land of Nephi.

Getting back to the Lamanite armies that had attacked the Nephites and destroyed Ammonihah and in the which had been badly beaten, they realized they could not win against the Nephites and therefore returned home.

Alma 27:2 And it came to pass that the Amalekites, because of their loss, were exceedingly angry. And when they saw that they could not seek revenge from the Nephites, they began to stir up the people in anger against their brethren, the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi; therefore they began again to destroy them.

The Amalekites, however, were not that easily put off of destroying whoever they thought to be their enemy. They were still angry, but realizing they could not make any gains on the Nephite began to take it out on the Anti-Nephi-Lehis. Their lives were now in extreme danger.

Alma 27:3 Now this people again refused to take their arms, and they suffered themselves to be slain according to the desires of their enemies.

However these people were holding to their oaths of not taking up arms to defend themselves and allowed themselves to be kill rather than fight.

Alma 27:4 Now when Ammon and his brethren saw this work of destruction among those whom they so dearly beloved, and among those who had so dearly beloved them—for they were treated as though they were angels sent from God to save them from everlasting destruction—therefore, when Ammon and his brethren saw this great work of destruction, they were moved with compassion, and they said unto the king:

This slaughter of the Anti-Nephi-Lehis was more than Ammon and his brethren could take. The boys considered these people the best people on earth. And the people looked upon the boys as angles who had been sent by God to save them from their evil ways and bring true joy into their lives. They now approached the king with a proposal.

Alma 27:5 Let us gather together this people of the Lord, and let us go down to the land of Zarahemla to our brethren the Nephites, and flee out of the hands of our enemies, that we be not destroyed.

Ammon proposed that the king and his followers gather together and journey down to the land of Zarahemla, to the Nephites and throw themselves on their mercy. Otherwise if they stay in the land of Nephi, they will be destroyed. There are no more compassionate Lamanites who will refuse to slay people who will not fight back.