1  And now it came to pass in the commencement of the thirtieth year of the reign of the judges, on the second day in the first month, Moroni received an ^bepistle from Helaman, stating the affairs of the people in that quarter of the land.

  31  And ^athose cities which had been taken by the Lamanites, all of them are at this period of time in our possession; and our fathers and our women and our children are returning to their homes, all save it be those who have been taken prisoners and carried off by the Lamanites.