Alma 46, 50–51 (about 72–67 B.C.)

Moroni, chief captain of the Nephite armies, built towers throughout the Nephite lands of Zarahemla and Bountiful (about 72–67 B.C.) at the same time he created “works of timbers” around some of their cities with “a frame of pickets built upon the timbers round about; and they were strong and high” (Alma 50:1–5). The word “pickets” refers to pointed wooden stakes. It was soon after creating these “works of timbers” that Moroni “caused towers to be erected that overlooked those works of pickets, and he caused places of security to be built upon those towers” (Alma 50:4). A place of “security” refers to a place protected against attack. The height of these defense towers was such that they could “cast stones from the top thereof, according to their pleasure and their strength, and slay [an enemy] who should attempt to approach near the walls of the city” (Alma 50:4). This would suggest the towers were only 10 to 15 feet high so the Nephites could throw stones from the top with an acceptable degree of accuracy and “slay” their adversaries. Exceedingly tall towers would provide only indiscriminate stone throwing with no accuracy compared to a more reasonable lower height. There is no mention of the actual material used to create these towers, but since Moroni’s people at the same time were creating picketed walls with timbers it would not be unreasonable to assume they also used timber (lumber) to quickly create these defense towers. An intensive and long-term construction project using stone would be counterproductive as an immediate defense strategy.

Captain Moroni “compelled” the people “to hoist the title of liberty upon their towers” (Alma 46:36; 51:20). This suggests many Nephite cities had some type of tower, if even for defense. The height of these towers must have been such that the people on the ground could readily observe the written words of the “title of liberty” declaration: “In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children” (Alma 46:12, 19). If the towers were exceedingly tall there would have been no point in hoisting these declarations “upon” their towers if the people could not discern the words and follow their counsel. Again, we would suggest these defense towers throughout “all the land, which was possessed by the Nephites” were simple wood towers and not stone structures (Alma 46:36).