The Title of Liberty

THE TITLE OF LIBERTY. Amalickiah, who was a man of cunning device, and many flattering words, led away the hearts of many of the people of Nephi, in the days of Helaman, to engage in wars and dissensions, to do wickedly, and to destroy the foundations of liberty which God had granted unto them upon this American continent, in that early day (B#. C. 66-53). When Moroni, who was the chief commander of the armies of the Nephites, heard of these dissensions, he was angry with Amalickiah, and he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it: "In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children." He fastened this upon the end of a pole, put on his headplate and his shields, and girded his armor about his loins. He then took the pole, which bore his rent coat, and called it The Title of Liberty, and bowed himself unto the earth, and prayed mightily unto God for the blessings of liberty and that the cause of the Christians and the freedom of the land might be favored. And when he had poured out his soul to God, he gave all the land to be a land of liberty. And he said, surely God shall not suffer that we who are despised because we take upon us the name of Christ, shall be trodden down and destroyed, until we bring it upon us by our own transgressions. And when Moroni had said these words, he went forth among the people waving the rent of his garment in the air, that all might see the writing, and cried with a loud voice saying, Whosoever will maintain this title upon the land, let them come forth in the strength of the Lord, and enter into covenant that they will maintain their rights, and their religion, that the Lord God may bless them. And the people who were desirous to maintain their liberty came running together, with their armors girded upon their loins, rending their garments, as a token and covenant that they would not foresake the Lord their God. And Amalickiah and many of his men who doubted the justice of their own cause, were delivered into the hands of Moroni, who compelled them to covenant to support the cause of liberty, and few there were who denied the covenant of freedom. And Moroni hoisted the Title of Liberty upon every tower, in all the land, and thus planted the standard of liberty among the Nephites. And there was peace in the land.—Alma 46. See "The Spirit of America," by Wm. A. Hyde.

O THE FREEDOM OF THE MOUNTAINS!