1 AND it came to pass that the Nephites who were not slain by the weapons of war, after having buried those who had been slain—now the number of the slain were not numbered, because of the greatness of their number—after they had finished burying their dead they all returned to their lands, and to their houses, and their wives, and their children.

2 Now many women and children had been slain with the sword, and also many of their flocks and their herds; and also many of their fields of grain were destroyed, for they were trodden down by the hosts of men.

3 And now as many of the Lamanites and the Amlicites who had been slain upon the bank of the river Sidon were cast into the waters of Sidon; [ Look at the difference of how they treat their dead verses the Lamanite dead. IN verse 1 they take the time and energy to bury their dead - as for the Lamanites just throw their bones in the river so they are carried out to sea.This distinction in the treatment of the corpses tells us some important information about the Nephites. First the apparent "proper" way to honor the dead was burial. Thus, the throwing of bodies in the river to be carried downstream is not accidental but a conscious denial of respect to Lamanites and Amlicites. In societies where modes of burial are attached to beliefs about the afterlife of the spirit, the denial of the proper treatment of the dead affects not only the corpse, but the soul of the departed--perhaps even a denial of afterlife. In this light, the actions of the Nephites is very natural and an echo of an ancient people and ancient practices. ] and behold their bones are in the depths of the sea, and they are many.

4 And the Amlicites were distinguished from the Nephites, for they had marked themselves with red in their foreheads [ They put upon themselves a mark, they were annointed under the combinations of the Lamanites. Or they took a distinguishing characteristic of the Lamanites and put it upon themselves to identify with the team that they are on. Think about in regards to the mark of the beast in Rev. 13 or in Temple context when we are annointed. ] after the manner of the Lamanites; nevertheless they had not shorn their heads like unto the Lamanites.

5 Now the heads of the Lamanites were shorn; and they were naked, save it were skin which was girded about their loins, and also their armor, which was girded about them, and their bows, and their arrows, and their stones, and their slings, and so forth.

6 And the skins of the Lamanites were dark, according to the mark which was set upon their fathers, which was a curse upon them because of their transgression and their rebellion against their brethren, who consisted of Nephi, Jacob, and Joseph, and Sam, who were just and holy men.

7 And their brethren sought to destroy them, therefore they were cursed; and the Lord God [ Hebrew - Yahweh ( or Jehovah which means "to become" or "to exist") translated as Lord; Elohim translated as God ("the Gods") which together the words mean "He will cause Gods to be". ] set a mark upon them, yea, upon Laman and Lemuel, and also the sons of Ishmael, and Ishmaelitish women.

8 And this was done that their seed might be distinguished from the seed of their brethren, that thereby the Lord God [ Hebrew - Yahweh ( or Jehovah which means "to become" or "to exist") translated as Lord; Elohim translated as God ("the Gods") which together the words mean "He will cause Gods to be". ] might preserve his people, that they might not mix and believe in incorrect traditions which would prove their destruction.

9 And it came to pass that whosoever did mingle his seed with that of the Lamanites did bring the same curse upon his seed.

10 Therefore, whosoever suffered himself to be led away by the Lamanites was called under that head, and there was a mark set upon him.

11 And it came to pass that whosoever would not believe in the tradition of the Lamanites, but believed those records which were brought out of the land of Jerusalem, and also in the tradition of their fathers, which were correct, who believed in the commandments of God and kept them, were called the Nephites, or the people of Nephi, from that time forth—

12 And it is they who have kept the records which are true of their people, and also of the people of the Lamanites.

13 Now we will return again to the Amlicites, for they also had a mark set upon them; yea, they set the mark upon themselves, [ What do we know about this mark? They put it upon themselves, so it is not blood related. It is given or adopted by those who would choose to adopt that culture. There is a lot of significance in that if you think about it. How do we place different marks on ourselves? Who we hang out with? Where we hang out? One of the many characteristics of gang members today is that they have a gang symbol tattooed onto their skin as a permanent reminder to them that they are a lifelong member of the gang. For example the symbol of the Mexican Mafia is that black hand tattooed on the chest usually meaning that they are a madde man. The Black hand represents a life long committment to each of the five fingers of Retribution, Death, Violence, Terror and death. ] yea, even a mark of red upon their foreheads. [According to McConkie and Parry, perhaps due to the high visibility of the forehead, many persons in antiquity have placed identifying marks upon their foreheads. This was done both to distinguish themselves from others and to identify a peculiar social stance or position. Such was the case of prostitutes of the late Old Testament period who distinguished themselves with a mark on their foreheads (Jeremiah 3:3; Ezekiel 16:12). In the Book of Mormon "the Amlicites were distinguished from the Nephties, for they had marked themselves with red in their foreheads after the manner of the Lamanites" (Alma 3:4,13,18). Aaron the high priest, wore "a plate of pure gold" on his forehead. This emblem had written upon it the words "Holiness To The Lord" (Exodus 28:36-38).
Both righteous and unrighteous causes have employed marks in the forehead to identify their followers. At times of righteousness the Saints of God will reign in the celestial kingdom, with the name of their God written upon their foreheads (Revelation 22:4). Joseph Fielding McConkie & Donald W. Parry, A Guide to Scriptural Symbols, pp. 53-54]

14 Thus the word of God is fulfilled, for these are the words which he said to Nephi: Behold, the Lamanites have I cursed, and I will set a mark on them that they and their seed may be separated from thee and thy seed, from this time henceforth and forever, except they repent of their wickedness and turn to me that I may have mercy upon them.

15 And again: I will set a mark upon him that mingleth his seed with thy brethren, that they may be cursed [ What is the curse then? It is the culture in a way; by choosing to be lead away you become like them you do what they do. In the end you loose your promised blessings, or you just don't care about them. Note that in verse 13 it was they who decided - as it always is. They are the ones who brought the curse so to speak upon themselves as they choose wickediness over righteousiness. ] also.

16 And again: I will set a mark upon him that fighteth against thee and thy seed.

17 And again, I say he that departeth from thee shall no more be called thy seed; and I will bless thee, and whomsoever shall be called thy seed, henceforth and forever; and these were the promises of the Lord unto Nephi and to his seed.

18 Now the Amlicites knew not that they were fulfilling the words of God when they began to mark themselves in their foreheads; nevertheless they had come out in open rebellion against God; therefore it was expedient that the curse should fall upon them.

19 Now I would that ye should see that they brought upon themselves the curse; and even so doth every man that is cursed bring upon himself his own condemnation.

20 Now it came to pass that not many days after the battle which was fought in the land of Zarahemla, by the Lamanites and the Amlicites, that there was another army of the Lamanites came in upon the people of Nephi, in the same place where the first army met the Amlicites.

21 And it came to pass that there was an army sent to drive them out of their land.

22 Now Alma himself being afflicted with a wound did not go up to battle at this time against the Lamanites;

23 But he sent up a numerous army against them; and they went up and slew many of the Lamanites, and drove the remainder of them out of the borders of their land.

24 And then they returned again and began to establish peace in the land, being troubled no more for a time with their enemies.

25 Now all these things were done, yea, all these wars and contentions were commenced and ended in the *fifth year of the reign of the judges.

26 And in one year were thousands and tens of thousands of souls sent to the eternal world, that they might reap their rewards according to their works, whether they were good or whether they were bad, to reap eternal happiness or eternal misery, according to the spirit which they listed to obey, whether it be a good spirit or a bad one.

27 For every man receiveth wages of him whom he listeth to obey, and this according to the words of the spirit of prophecy; therefore let it be according to the truth. And thus endeth the fifth year of the reign of the judges.