Paul Before Paul: Alma the Younger and His Rebellion, Rebuke and Repentance - Book of Mosiah, Chapter Twenty-Seven (Mosiah 27)

You can read the entire chapter at the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/27?lang=eng.

This is one of the most significant chapters of the Book of Mormon because it displays the gospel of Jesus Christ in action in very powerful ways that can define individual lives, with larger ripple effects on families and even entire civilizations. 

The chapter reads like a three-act play. First, we introduce the characters and the conflict. Alma’s son, who is named after him, is sadly one of the people who has turned away from the truth, and is actively working against it by using his way with words to negatively influence others. Four sons of King Mosiah are his companions in this tragic endeavor (verses 8-10).

Second, Alma and his companions are confronted by an angel who leaves them with no doubt about the reality of God and His plan for us through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. With nowhere to run or hide, Alma must look inside himself and come to terms with his selfish, harmful, and blatant defiance of the Lord’s commandments, and the ruinous effect it has had on him (verses 11-19).

Third, after a mighty struggle in accepting the truth about his many destructive sins, Alma finds healing, peace, and joy in the redemptive power of Jesus Christ, and apparently has a personal encounter with Jesus (verse 25). By choosing to be born again of God and swearing off pride, Alma is able to confront his wicked past, and do everything he can to make restitution by sharing his story and those things he knows to be important and true for everyone in terms of how to invite God’s presence into their lives and become like Him (verses 23-37). 

There are some really important principles at play here too:

• The Lord protects His covenant people (verses 1-7, 16). He can protect them through the laws of the land, as we see with King Mosiah’s proclamation against persecution. If that is not enough, protection will come through heavenly means. It doesn’t mean that Church members are protected from every physical or spiritual danger at all times. But there is general protection that allows those who are striving to repent and keep their covenants to discern the right path forward, and frustrates the designs of the Church’s active opponents—even if they are clever and strong in the ways of the world.

• The Lord responds to the prayers of the faithful (verses 14, 20-23). And when they fast, their prayers acquire added power. The angel tells Alma that he appeared because Alma the Elder has prayed that his son will be brought to a knowledge of the truth. He also says that the Lord has heard the prayers of his people more broadly. Later, after Alma’s companions bring the catatonic Alma to his father, Alma the Elder realizes that the power of God has brought it about. Then he has the priests assemble together to fast and pray for Alma the Younger to receive his strength and speak again. Yes, he wants his son to return to consciousness, but it’s also important for him to be able to share his divine experience with the multitudes so that they might better know of the “goodness and glory of God.”

• The Lord remembers us, that we may remember Him (verse 16). The first thing that the angel commands Alma to do is to remember that God did great things in delivering his father and others out of captivity. When the Lord gives us a chance to remember Him, we need to realize that by reminding us of the important act of remembering, He is leading by example. It is His remembering of us that prompts us to remember His presence and influence in our lives, and consequently our identity as His children who are lifted up and ennobled because of our relationship with Him. It is only after the command to remember that the angel charges Alma to “seek to destroy the church no more.” It makes sense—once Alma is able to remember, it will be easier to convince him not to work against the church. The mercy and persistence involved for Jesus to keep coming back to us and giving us more chances, even though our own weakness has added to His suffering, is incredible.

• People can change (verses 23-31). Alma’s dramatic transformation from the Church’s worst enemy to its greatest defender is unusual in its depth and its suddenness, but in its attention-grabbing nature, it relates the principle that total change is possible for everyone. We can strip sin out of our natures if we partner closely with God to make it happen. The process for most people is usually much more gradual than with Alma or his great Biblical counterpart, the Apostle Paul (see Acts 8-9). Yet, the same steps are required for everyone. (1) Repent. (2) Be born again of God in the spirit. (3) Change in nature from a “carnal and fallen” state to a state of righteousness. (4) Recognize that God is God, and his justice and mercy are what we need: “every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess before him.”

The great sign of Alma’s full repentance and conversion to the gospel of Jesus Christ is that he and the sons of Mosiah make every effort to undo their past wrongs and go beyond that by bringing the healing and empowering effect of the good news into the lives of their neighbors (verses 32-37). Like Paul, they willingly move from the giving to the receiving side of persecution, which is no easy feat. Mormon fittingly sums up their progress at the end of this “three-act play” chapter by saying, “And how blessed are they!” (verse 37)

I would highly recommend this compelling video recently made about this chapter (there’s also a good one here about Paul’s conversion).

Alma Takes on Responsibilities to Serve the Wayward and the Faithful - Book of Mosiah, Chapter Twenty-Six (Mosiah 26)

You can read the entire chapter at the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/26?lang=eng.

One of the important things about this life is that none of us can make choices for someone else. Everyone’s agency to make their own decisions is sacred and truly a gift from our Heavenly Father. It is a hopeful thing to know that just because someone came from a difficult family environment, they are not responsible for those difficulties and therefore doomed to an unhappy existence or any specific condemnation. They are only responsible for their own life choices within the context of those difficulties. And in the Lord’s mercy, he takes everything into account as he seeks to give the downtrodden opportunities to experience His light and truth.

The opposite is true as well. Just because a person is raised in a loving, nurturing environment where they are exposed to truth, righteousness and other virtues, doesn’t automatically mean they will choose to live by those good things. Temptation affects us all.

The Nephites have established a society based on accountable leadership and making and keeping covenants with God. Having these foundations is important, but as we will see, each generation will need to struggle anew to maintain them as they strive to teach and model truth within their families and circles of influence.

We learn that a considerable number of the new generation of Nephites do not believe their parents’ traditions, particularly about the coming of Christ and His Resurrection. Perhaps even worse, they are not in a frame of mind or heart that allows them to be teachable by the Spirit of God through God’s word (verses 1-3). How they came to this point is unclear, and perhaps different for different people. In our day, we take for granted having access to scriptures that we can read anytime. The availability of the written word for most Nephites may have been different. They may have relied more on oral tradition and the teachings of prophets and historians who kept the records.

It might be in some cases here that the parents aren’t as vigilant as they could be in teaching what they know of truth, but it seems that some of the new generation may harden their hearts regardless of what they have been taught. They are unwilling to enter into a covenant to obey and serve God, and do not call upon Him in their lives, distancing themselves from His softening and enlightening influence, and instead choosing an existence where their physical senses are what they define as the only reality (verse 4).

When some of the unbelievers make a purposeful effort to steer others away from the teachings of Christ, leading many astray, the church faces a real challenge (verse 6). Alma has been given authority to lead the church by King Mosiah, but hasn’t faced this situation before. He knows that it is important to do two things. First, make sure that those who have made covenants have access to teaching that is genuinely in line with the gospel and are not deceived by people acting outside their authority. Second, hold those within the Church who are leading others astray accountable for their actions, but do so in a manner that signals love and the opportunity for full forgiveness.

Alma is hesitant to take upon himself the role of judge in these matters, probably from a wise inclination to err on the side of humility instead of presumptuousness, but maybe also from a natural inclination to shrink from sensitive and potentially contentious situations like these. He makes sure to go to Mosiah first. When Mosiah says, “Alma, I have turned judgment in matters of the Church to you,” Alma feels the weight of the responsibility squarely on his shoulders (verses 10-12).

But Alma is not alone or comfortless. He knows that his calling as high priest comes from the Lord, and that the work he is doing is ultimately the Lord’s. So he is entitled to ask for the Lord’s help, and in doing so, we learn he “poured out his whole soul” (verses 13-14). What comes next is important for us to remember whenever we are beset by a trial that seems overwhelming, or when we have an opportunity to instruct someone else who feels overwhelmed in our home, church service or other setting.

The Lord does not start by giving Alma directions. He eventually gets there, but he starts with a blessing. The blessing provides eternal perspective that gives greater understanding to the directions that follow. The Lord says that Alma and all those who have exercised faith in what he teaches are (present tense, not future) greatly blessed, and they very intimately belong to Him. He also praises Alma for his diligence in bringing souls to Him, and assures him of his eternal life (verses 15-20). To emphasize this is very important in the midst of trials or difficulties, because Alma (and we) can take comfort. Even if we feel unequal to the task, God hasn’t forgotten us and if do the best we can, we’re still on track.

Then the Lord takes a little time to review the basics of repentance and forgiveness with Alma. Surely Alma already knows these points. But it always helps to have a reminder periodically, and especially in Alma’s case when he is going to need to try to convince the wayward either to come back or at least to refrain from actively working against the Lord’s cause. Those who hear the Lord’s voice and act in repentance will be forgiven and have a place with Him, because the Lord has taken their sins upon Him (verses 21-24). The Lord shares that it is important to know Him. Those who don’t know Him—his relationship to us, his character, his depth of love, his power, and his desire to have us become like Him—will tragically be unwilling to be redeemed (verses 25-28). For our choices to mean something, there has to be opposition (as discussed in 2 Nephi 2). The Lord desperately wants us to choose Him, but the other choice needs to remain available.

Finally, the Lord confirms that Alma has the authority to be a judge on His behalf to work with people who have committed sins with significant consequences (verse 29). This is not a trifling matter. A judge represents the Lord, but needs to recognize that his authority comes by doing everything in his power to understand the Lord’s perspective in any case. As I understand it, it is the Lord who forgives, and the judge’s role is to discern where the person is on that pathway from sin to forgiveness under the power of Jesus Christ. Repentance in the sincerity of one’s heart is the key, and can take time even if the desire to repent manifests itself quickly.

In cases where a person will not repent from an active course of flouting God’s commandments, they are reminded of the covenant they made and that the Lord loves them and wants them to come back to Him. But if they have been given a chance to do that and reject it, they are choosing to depart from their covenant (verse 32). A judge also has the authority to discern when that has happened, and record it. It’s not meant to end a person’s association with their family or friends, but it ensures that they will not be supported by the Church in acting against the Church. It’s the adage Jesus originated (Mark 3:25) and Abraham Lincoln repeated: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

This answer to prayer is clearly a revelation to the whole Church through Alma, because he writes it down and uses it as doctrine for regulating the affairs of the Church (verses 33-36). This is exactly the type of thing Joseph Smith and other latter-day prophets do some two thousand years later when they seek guidance about leading Christ’s Church, such as is recorded in 1831 as Doctrine and Covenants Section 64. The final verses seem to describe the state of things today as much as in Alma’s time (100 B.C.). When the Church is led according to the Lord’s order for it, peace and prosperity reign in the hearts of the followers of Christ (verse 37). But, make no mistake, this happens amid plenty of challenges and difficulties that Church members face within the world. Everyone faces afflictions, and when you diligently teach and attend to the word of God, you also face persecution from some quarters (verse 38).

In these circumstances, all we or anyone can do is share the truth as we strive earnestly to know and receive it, and encourage everyone (including and especially ourselves) to repent and come to Jesus Christ. And a key in helping us do this, as Mormon writes in the final verse of the chapter, is to follow God’s commandment for His children (for their own benefit) “to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in all things” (verse 39).

The Joyful Reunion: Mosiah, Alma and Limhi Forge a People of God - Book of Mosiah, Chapter Twenty-Five (Mosiah 25)

You can read the entire chapter at the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/25?lang=eng.

Most of us can relate to the awkwardness that sometimes comes when close family members or friends come back together after not having seen each other for a long period of time. The first five minutes provide a rush of positive emotion as you smile, embrace and rejoice in each other’s presence. Then you realize that you don’t really know what to do next. Because you’ve been apart for so long, your routines have been reprogrammed to focus on life without each other.

The clear fallback option when you don’t know what to do in this case is to ask what has happened to everyone since they last saw one another. The good part about this is in catching up, you can relate to each other’s experiences and remember much of the reason for the bonds that you share. The challenging part is often that there is a lot of pain to share when recounting the past. It can be hard to want to share that when you’re just reconnecting. We tend to want to put as positive a face as possible on our lives in general. But in finding the courage to share, we’re able to reestablish those bonds and often make them stronger than before.

With the Nephites in the land of Zarahemla, getting the people of Limhi and Alma to share their experiences—good, bad, and in between—provides an opportunity to reforge the ties of brotherhood and sisterhood through shared faith and covenants with God. Unity among the Nephites and the people of Zarahemla who also live among them is crucial because they need their combined strength to keep the fire of their faith going strong when facing challenges from the nearby Lamanites, who are embittered and inclined toward vengeful action against them—and outnumber them by more than two to one (verses 1-4, 13).

So King Mosiah receives the records of the people of Limhi and Alma, and reads them to all the people who have been called together (verses 5-6). It’s basically recounting what we as readers have already learned about in Mosiah 9-24. This is not only a reunion. It is also gripping human drama. At a time long before movies, television or other technological marvels, reading the record of a people, and learning about their triumphs and tribulations, is the most exciting form of diversion available to this civilization. It’s like telling family stories at the dinner table or around the fireplace.

In his account, Mormon shares that the primary reaction of the Nephites to what Mosiah reads is wonder and amazement. Maybe there were so many ups and downs and such a range of different emotions from the experiences of those who left with Zeniff and their families that the Nephites are having trouble processing the complexity of it all (verses 7-9).

What comes through is the Nephites’ recognition of the goodness of God in blessing the people of Limhi and Alma, and the pain they feel from hearing about the wickedness of the Lamanites (verses 10-11). It is also interesting and impressive to note that the children of the wicked priests of Noah do not shrink from an honest appraisal of their fathers’ wrongful deeds. In fact, they make it a point to distance themselves from their fathers by taking on the name of Nephi (verse 12).

King Mosiah then asks Alma to speak to and teach the people (verse 14). Alma reestablishes the doctrine of Christ among them—faith, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring within the covenant. Alma has the authority to perform the ordinances of salvation (baptism is the main one described here) and to ordain others to join him in teaching and administering these same ordinances. There is one Church, but because so many people want to follow Alma’s teachings of Christ, they meet in seven separate groups throughout the land of Zarahemla as they experience great blessings and prosperity through unity in the Lord (verses 15-24).

Prayers and Gratitude Help Alma's People Find - Book of Mosiah, Chapter Twenty-Four (Mosiah 24)

In the previous chapter, we left off with the wicked priest of Noah, Amulon, receiving authority from the Lamanites to rule over Alma’s people in the land of Helam. Alma’s people had experienced an extended period of freedom—perhaps as much as 20 years or more—after escaping from King Noah, but this came to an end with Amulon.

Amulon and his fellow priests had somehow won favor with the Lamanite king, who made them teachers of his people (verse 1). The priests did not teach the Lamanites anything of the Lord, which is no surprise given their wickedness and hypocrisy, but they did teach them the language of the Nephites and how to keep records. With these skills, the Lamanites became more prosperous in their labors and their trade (verses 4-7).

Amulon thus was given pretty wide reign over Alma’s people. And he had not forgotten that Alma had been one of Noah’s priests before repenting and turning to the Lord when hearing from the prophet Abinadi. Out of seething resentment for what he sees as Alma’s betrayal and rebellion, Amulon makes life really hard for Alma’s people by placing backbreaking demands upon them (verses 8-9). The description of heavy tasks and taskmasters makes me think of the Israelites under bondage in Egypt to Pharaoh’s men.

This is where it gets interesting. What do Alma’s people do when faced with these great afflictions? They don’t put up a physical fight. Instead, they appeal to God for help (verse 10). Predictably, Amulon hates this. When he finds out that they are calling to God, Amulon places guards over them and threatens to put to death anyone who won’t stop (verse 11). This shows that Amulon clearly fears the power of prayer—if not, why would he ban it on pain of death? He has witnessed the power that Abinadi had, even as a prisoner, in witnessing of the truth, as well as the power God had to change Alma. So even though he is wicked, Amulon can’t help but fear what God can do. 

But stopping Alma’s people from praying out loud doesn’t prevent them from communicating with God. In one of the most stirring passages in the Book of Mormon, Mormon tells us that instead of raising their voices to the Lord, the people pour their hearts out to him (verse 12).

So we find Alma’s people in the most desperate of situations, where they seem doomed to lives of grim, unending toil under oppressive rulers. They can’t even say their prayers out loud. But even the worst tyrant in the world can’t keep someone from remembering the Lord in their thoughts and silently pleading for His help. Unfortunately, we have situations in countries, in homes, and in other places in today’s world where this same situation applies. The message remains the same. Don’t despair. God is still listening and can answer.

And he does! The voice of the Lord comes to Alma’s people. It tells them three very important and comforting things. First, He knows they are His people. They have made a covenant with Him and he will take care of them. Second, He will deliver them out of their bondage from the Lamanites and the wicked Amulon. Third, while they are waiting for this deliverance, He will lighten the burdens they carry, so that “even you cannot feel them upon your backs” (verses 13-14). What a promise! Giving relief to those who can’t see any end to. their suffering is quite miraculous. It reminds us of Jesus’ teaching to the people of Galilee that “my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). 

Can it really be that you are working hard but feel like you’re hardly working. I used to think, “No way!” But I have had that feeling many times when I have engaged with full purpose in something that is line with what the Lord wants for my life. This passage is like refreshing water for the thirsty souls who feel downtrodden or mistreated, so that they know that there is no place so dark or low where God cannot make things better.

The only thing the Lord asks of Alma’s people in return is to remember the truth that He delivers us from our afflictions, and share that truth with others so that they know of God’s power at all times and in all places (verse 14). 

Sure enough, the Lord keeps his word, and Alma’s people find their burdens miraculously lightened. As they persevere despite unfair treatment from Amulon, the Lord rewards their faith and patience by telling them that He will help them escape their bondage the next day. And He makes good on this promise by causing the Lamanites to fall into a deep sleep even though it is morning time (verses 15-19). 

What happens next tells us something about the character of Alma’s people. They have spent more than 24 hours without sleep, preparing for departure and making their escape into a nearby valley. They must be completely exhausted. But they remember the goodness of their God. They pour out their thanks to Him (verses 20-22). They don’t wait before reaching their destination to this. They do it as soon as possible after getting away from the grip of Amulon and the Lamanites in the land of Helam.

The Lord whom they praise then warns them to leave, and promises to stop the Lamanites somehow so that they can’t get past the valley to pursue Alma’s people. Twelve days later, the people find their way to Zarahemla, and are greeted joyfully by King Mosiah (verses 23-25).

Alma's People Find Freedom...but Lose It Again - Book of Mosiah, Chapter Twenty-Three (Mosiah 23)

You can read the entire chapter at the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/23?lang=eng.

After Limhi’s people are reunited with the Nephites and King Mosiah in Zarahemla, and the previous chapter finishes with lost Lamanites in the wilderness, we step back about 20 years in time at the beginning of this chapter. By the end, we have come back to those lost Lamanites.

Mormon takes us back to Alma and his people where they left off at the end of Mosiah 18. To recall, Alma was a priest of wicked King Noah, but was inspired to repent of his own part in that wickedness by the example of the courageous martyred prophet Abinadi. In Mosiah 18, Alma had inspired a number of followers of truth to gather with him in the place of Mormon (which means “more good”), where they made sacred covenants to serve the Lord and each other and were baptized. When Noah’s armies discover their location, the Lord warns Alma’s people (who are about 450 in number), and they escape. 

In their escape, the Lord strengthens Alma’s people so that they are able to stay ahead of Noah’s armies, and after eight days they find another beautiful, pleasant, water-filled land to settle—known as Helam (verses 1-4, 19). Free to build their own society, the people begin to flourish. 

It’s almost jaw-dropping to learn that so briefly after escaping the tyrannical rule of King Noah, the people call for Alma to be their king (verse 6). Alma wisely cautions them. Even if Alma is a wise and just person now, it is too dangerous for a society to rely on one person (verse 7). Noah is a very clear example of this, and Alma reminds them that not too long ago, he himself was in league with Noah and his evil ways (verse 9). The implication is that men are too fallible to trust just having one person rule over a society. 

Alma explains that the people should feel very extremely blessed that the Lord has delivered them out of King Noah’s clutches, and that they were able to receive the truth from the Lord through Alma after his repentance (verse 10). Why on earth, then would they think to give up their liberty to allow one man to rule them (verse 13)? 

It’s easy to shake our heads at Alma’s people, but if I think about it, their behavior is not that unusual. Even today, I believe that many people would rather not take on responsibility—even just partial responsibility—for governing themselves or their communities. And I understand the impulse to avoid the effort involved in learning about the problems and challenges of a community, listening to people’s concerns and complaints, and then being subjected to criticism and ridicule when making or taking part in a decision. So when I consider that, I have more sympathy for Alma’s people. And I wonder to myself, “Would I be strong enough to accept the responsibilities that come with liberty in their situation? Am I strong enough to accept the responsibilities of liberty in my community today?” I recognize that too often I would much prefer idle distractions and personal comfort to engaging with the tough challenges and balancing of competing interests that leadership demands in today’s world.

Alma adds another important point. He tells the people that they need to make sure that anyone who teaches or serves them should be a man of God and follow His commandments (verse 14). As their high priest, he makes it his priority to teach the people what that means. He focuses on the concepts of “love thy neighbor” and avoiding contention, and makes sure that the other preachers and teachers going among the people are just men who nourish the people “with things pertaining to righteousness” (verses 15-18). 

It is at this point, when it seems as though Alma and his people have found an idyllic existence, Mormon warns that the Lord “seeth fit to chasten his people” (verse 21). When we read that, we are tempted to call out, “WHY?” Here they were just getting settled and they weren’t doing anything wrong. Why then should they have to endure suffering? 

This “why?” applies to all of us. It is the human condition. Part of God’s plan is that we are to face challenges in our mortal lives. Some of those challenges are predictable, and some are unpredictable. Some are pretty easily bearable, and others really stretch us to our limits. The main “because” in response to “why do bad things happen to good people?” (though maybe there  are probably a few other “becauses” that we can learn over time) is we get to learn that relying on the Lord is the best way to handle our challenges. As Mormon writes, the Lord “trieth their patience and their faith,” but whoever puts their trust in Him “shall be lifted up at the last day” (verse 22).

In the case of Alma’s people, it’s something that seems like a cruel accident of fate. Those lost Lamanites in the wilderness (from the end of the last chapter, Mosiah 22) end up in their backyard, and what is even worse, is they have the wicked priests of Noah with them. So then Alma’s people must rely on Lord’s power to deliver them (verses 23-24). Even though they have done a good job of creating a virtuous and prosperous society, they still need God.

We learn that the Lamanites had first come upon the priests of Noah, who had started their own society in the wilderness (verses 30-31). The priests use their wives (who were Lamanite daughters, as discussed in Mosiah 20) to elicit compassion instead of contention from the Lamanites, and the two groups join together to try to find their way back to the Lamanite fold in the land of Nephi (verses 33-35).

Instead, they find Alma’s people (verse 25). Alma provides an example of quiet confidence in the face of uncertainty, calming his people’s fears. But he does not unnecessarily take chances. Recognizing that they are outnumbered and outpowered, Alma submits to the Lamanites and their hearts soften (verses 26-29). Initially, it appears as though Alma’s people might avoid unpleasantness, as the Lamanites promise to leave them alone if they are willing to show them how to return to the land of Nephi (verse 36). Unfortunately, they do not keep their word (verse 37). Mormon doesn’t explain why, but because the priests of Noah are involved, it’s hard not to think they have something to do with it. The Lamanites leave guards, bring their families to join them, and put Amulon (the head priest of Noah) in charge of Alma’s people (verses 38-39). We will learn more about this in the next chapter.

Limhi’s People Escape back to Zarahemla and King Mosiah - Book of Mosiah, Chapter Twenty-Two (Mosiah 22)

You can read the entire chapter at the following link: https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/scriptures/bofm/mosiah/22?lang=eng.

As this chapter begins, we get some insight into the unity that King Limhi’s people have forged when he seeks their input about how to plan an escape from the Lamanite guards who surround their city walls (verse 1). This doesn’t seem like a distant, tyrannical ruler from on high, but an approachable, fatherly figure actively concerned for the welfare of his fellows. As they counsel together, they all agree that flight—rather than fight—is the only option because the Lamanites so outnumber them (verse 2).

And once again, the trusty Gideon comes through. Gideon has already confronted the wicked King Noah (Mosiah 19) and helpfully defused conflict between his people and the Lamanites by pointing out that it was Noah’s cowardly priests who kidnapped the Lamanite daughters (Mosiah 20). Gideon observes with great discernment a weakness in the Lamanite guard (verses 6-8). Those posted in the back of the city are drunken and unconscious by night, giving Limhi’s people an opportunity to slip past them if they are able to coordinate the escape in a sufficient swift and orderly way.

King Limhi accepts Gideon’s plan, and arranges to have an extra portion of wine sent to the Lamanite guards for the appointed evening (verses 9-10). Everything works out to plan, and the people make their way back to Zarahemla with their flocks, herds and other important possessions, making sure to avoid the Lamanite stronghold of Shilom in their travels (verses 11-12). 

We get a sense of the gratitude and humility of Limhi and his people when they arrive in Zarahemla. Mormon records that the people became the subjects of King Mosiah (verse 13). It is not a small thing for Limhi, whose family has ruled as kings for three generations, to willingly give up his claim to leadership. How Mosiah welcomes Limhi’s people probably makes this much easier. The account reads simply that Mosiah received them “with joy,” along with the records they brought of their own experiences and from the lost civilization (the Jaredites) their recent expedition had discovered (verse 15).

The chapter ends with us going back to the Lamanites. In a slightly smaller-scale version of Pharaoh sending his armies after Moses and the Israelites, the Lamanites pursue Limhi’s people once they learn of their escape in the morning (verse 16). It seems that they are able to track them for two days, but without further explanation we learn after that time, the Lamanites couldn’t make sense of the trail (verse 17). This is curious because with so many people and animals involved in the escape, it’s hard to believe that once a trail is picked up, the Lamanites wouldn’t be able to follow it. Whether Limhi’s people used means of deceiving or confusing the Lamanites by splitting their party or doubling back in some way, we don’t know, but we might wonder whether the Lord helped keep the Lamanites off their trail in some manner. This leaves the Lamanite army in their own predicament—lost in the wilderness. Stay tuned for our next “episode” to find out what happens to this army!

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).