Alma 53:1 - 53:5

Alma 53: 1 And it came to pass that they did set guards over the prisoners of the Lamanites, and did compel them to go forth and bury their dead, yea, and also the dead of the Nephites who were slain; and Moroni placed men over them to guard them while they should perform their labors.

The Lamanite prisoners were now put to work. They were forced to bury not only their own dead but the dead of the Nephites. Guards were put over them to see that they did what was commanded of them but to keep them from escaping.

Alma 53: 2 And Moroni went to the city of Mulek with Lehi, and took command of the city and gave it unto Lehi. Now behold, this Lehi was a man who had been with Moroni in the more part of all his battles; and he was a man like unto Moroni, and they rejoiced in each other’s safety; yea, they were beloved by each other, and also beloved by all the people of Nephi.

Moroni and Lehi’s armies joined up went to the city of Mulek and put it under tighter control. As they were on their way to Mulek, Moroni and Lehi were able to share their experiences as they had been fighting in different parts of Nephite territory and were not able to communicate easily. But together, at least for a while, they rejoiced that each had been spared. These two men were highly revered by their men and by the Nephites as a whole. Lehi was the same kind of man as was Moroni.

Alma 53: 3 And it came to pass that after the Lamanites had finished burying their dead and also the dead of the Nephites, they were marched back into the land Bountiful; and Teancum, by the orders of Moroni, caused that they should commence laboring in digging a ditch round about the land, or the city, Bountiful.

After all the burials had been done, the Lamanite prisoners were put under the command of Teancum and then marched to Bountiful where they were put to work digging a ditch around the city.

Alma 53: 4 And he caused that they should build a breastwork of timbers upon the inner bank of the ditch; and they cast up dirt out of the ditch against the breastwork of timbers; and thus they did cause the Lamanites to labor until they had encircled the city of Bountiful round about with a strong wall of timbers and earth, to an exceeding height.

Around the inner rim of the ditch a bulwark of timbers around the city was erected. Against these timbers was the dirt from the ditch throw against. Bountiful was now surrounded by a very high wall of dirt and a deep ditch.

Alma 53: 5 And this city became an exceeding stronghold ever after; and in this city they did guard the prisoners of the Lamanites; yea, even within a wall which they had caused them to build with their own hands. Now Moroni was compelled to cause the Lamanites to labor, because it was easy to guard them while at their labor; and he desired all his forces when he should make an attack upon the Lamanites.

The city was now a very great stronghold and the enclosure was now used to keep the Lamanite POWs locked up and Moroni had forced the Lamanites to build their own prison. Moroni had the Lamanites work as it was easier to guard them with fewer men while they labored. Moroni needed all the men he could get to fight the Lamanites.