Limhi’s People and Their Survival Journey: Fighting, Flowing and Fleeing - Book of Mosiah, Chapter Twenty-One (Mosiah 21)

You can read the entire chapter at the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/21?lang=eng.

The portion of the story of Limhi and his people found in this chapter highlights the classic range of responses to a crisis—fight, flee or flow. While in the previous chapter Limhi’s people convinced the Lamanites to call off their full-on attack, this chapter begins with the Lamanites finding ways to make the lives of Limhi’s people considerably more difficult, humiliating and burdensome (verses 2-3). 

In response to these persecutions, Limhi’s people try “fight” first (verses 6-12). The account abridged by Mormon makes clear that the Lamanites have an overwhelming advantage, but the people are unwilling to accept their situation and pester Limhi so much that he relents, and they predictably find themselves beaten by the more numerous and likely better prepared Lamanites. The same pattern repeats twice after that, with Limhi’s people bristling more each time as the anger from their accumulated losses and increased desires to avenge lost loved ones grows beyond what it was initially.

But after three decisive defeats, the people humble themselves “to the dust” and submit to the daily humiliations and persecutions that result from being compelled to pay tribute to the Lamanites (verse 13). It seems that they have switched to a “flow” approach of accepting their lot and considering how to improve their situation without outward resistance.

The most important thing Limhi’s people do is “cry mightily to God” for deliverance from their afflictions (verse 14). With their humility has come a recognition that they can’t overcome their bondage to the Lamanites by themselves. They need God’s help. However, because of their sins, Mormon says that the Lord was “slow to hear their cry” (verse 15), which is probably more a way of saying that God’s help didn’t become clear to Limhi’s people immediately than that He actually delayed listening to them. It is possible that the Lord wanted Limhi’s people to understand that their previous unrighteousness would have consequences, and that they would need to show patience in their afflictions before deliverance could come. 

There are still many blessings that come to the people during this time of waiting for deliverance (verses 15-18). God softens the hearts of the Lamanites so that they go easier on Limhi’s people. The people also gradually become more prosperous and appear to respond to King Limhi’s call to take care of their needy and become more unified. As the people gather together as much as possible, they reduce the opportunities that the Lamanites have to harass them. 

Limhi’s people also are trying to find and kill the priests of Noah who have contributed to much of the strife between them and the Lamanites, and are continuing to plunder their grain in efforts to support their hidden existence in the wilderness (verses 20-21). When Limhi’s guard discover Ammon and his expedition, they presume they were the priests of Noah, which explains their initial rough treatment (verse 23). Upon finding out who they are, King Limhi rejoices that finally his people have reestablished a connection with the Nephites in Zarahemla (verse 24), and almost certainly recognize that God is answering their prayers to help his people “flee,” or escape their predicament with the Lamanites. 

This is where Mormon brings the account of Limhi’s people full circle. The narrative from Mosiah 9 to this chapter had reflected the record of his people—from their leaving Zarahemla for the lands of their ancestors under Zeniff’s leadership, to the tragic saga of Zeniff’s son King Noah, and finally to the point in this chapter where Ammon’s expedition locates Limhi. Now Mormon reiterates what Limhi had told Ammon upon his arrival in Mosiah 8—that Limhi had previously sent a group to look for Zarahemla, and instead it found the remains of an earlier civilization, including a written record (verses 25-27).  

In this moment, Mormon shares feelings of joy and sorrow. Joy that Limhi expresses when he learns from Ammon that King Mosiah has a gift of translation that could help them understand the record from this lost civilization (the Jaredites from the Book of Ether) (verse 28). Sorrow that Ammon and his companions share at learning of the deaths of so many and the spiritual wounds of sin and separation reflected by Abinadi’s execution and the exile of Alma and his followers after they formed a church (verses 29-31).

Thankfully, Limhi and many of his people are moving forward. They have made a covenant to serve God and keep His commandments, and are looking for the opportunity to receive the ordinance of baptism and unite in spirit with Alma and his church (verses 32-34). We don’t learn exactly why Ammon considers himself unworthy to baptize them, but Mormon shares that their baptism will happen in the future (verse 35), and that their focus for the time being is on escaping from the Lamanites’ grasp (verse 36).