47 Yea, behold I do not fear your power nor your authority, but it is my God whom I fear, and it is according to his commandments that I do take my sword to defend the cause of my country, and it is because of your iniquity that we have suffered so much loss.
48 Behold it is time; yea, the time is now at hand, that except ye do bestir yourselves in the defense of your country and your little ones, the sword of justice doth hang over you: yea, and it shall fall upon you and visit you even to your utter destruction.
49 Behold, I wait for assistance from you, and except ye do administer unto our relief, behold I come unto you even into the land of Zarahemla, and smite you with the sword, insomuch that ye can have no more power to impede the progress of this people in the cause of our freedom;
50 For behold the Lord will not suffer that ye shall live and wax strong in your iniquities, to destroy his righteous people.
51 Behold, can you suppose that the Lord will spare you and come out in judgment against the Lamanites, when it is the tradition of their fathers that has caused their hatred;
52 Yea, and it has been redoubled by those who have dissented from us, while your iniquity is for the cause of your love of glory, and the vain things of the world?
53 Ye know that ye do transgress the laws of God, and ye do know that ye do trample them under your feet.
54 Behold, the Lord saith unto me, If those whom ye have appointed your governors, do not repent of their sins and iniquities, ye shall go up to battle against them.
55 And now behold, I Moroni am constrained, according to the covenant which I have made to keep the commandments of my God; therefore I would that ye should adhere to the word of God, and send speedily unto me of your provisions and of your men, and also to Helaman.
56 And behold if ye will not do this, I come unto you speedily; for behold, God will not suffer that we should perish with hunger; therefore he will give unto us of your food, even if it must be by the sword.
