Alma Ch48

Amalickiah has become the leader and then goes right back to convincing the Lamanites to fight against the Nephites who are being prepared by Moroni to defend their religious freedom. Moroni rejoices in liberty and is a faithful man of God who has a strong testimony.
During the reign of Amalickiah, people were appointed to speak to the Lamanites and convince them to fight against the Nephites so he could be ruler over all the people in the land and be supported in his wickedness by the people through bondage of the Nephites (v1-4). The chief captains were the Zoramites who knew about the Nephite defenses and they departed towards Zarahemla, but while all that was going down since Amalickiah had left, Moroni was preparing the people through being faithful to the Lord and strengthening their armies with forts, walls, banks, and fortifications (v5-9). Moroni was a master in the art of defending cities because he was strong and mighty with a perfect understanding of the gospel so he prepared the people to support their liberty of religion and peace (v10-13).
Moroni showed thanks to the Lord by laboring to teach the Nephites how to defend themselves honorably with faith that the Lord will prosper them and keep them from bondage (v14-16). I have heard before that it is in this chapter that you can tell why Mormon admired Captain Moroni so much he named his son after him, and its clear in v17 how great Captain Moroni was! Even though there are times he gets angry, he is angry at the evil in the world and fights endlessly with all his might to expel all wickedness. His strength and faith in God was rivaled with the sons of Mosiah and Alma and his sons who were great men of God who served very successful missions (v18).
All the efforts of Moroni was helped by the leaders of the church who went around preaching to the people to humble themselves and keep peace until they had to defend themselves (v19-21). There was no way to avoid the confrontation with the Lamanites, but they were reluctant and sorrowed when they shed the blood of their brethren because they knew that those who died among the Lamanites were not prepared to be judged (v22-23). It was still necessary for them to do so though to save their families and liberty in the land of promise (v24-25)