“Captain Moroni was not guilty of the first offense according to the law of war (Alma 43:46; D&C 98:34). His speech to his captive audience included several important declarations relative to the law of war. First, the Nephites did not desire to shed blood, the Lamanites had initiated the war (D&C 98:34). Second, they did not want to bring the Lamanites into bondage, which was the Lamanite design of the war (Alma 44:2). The third point was about God and his people, certainly the most important declaration of all (vv. 2–4)” (Nyman, Record of Helaman, 28–29).