Mosiah 9-10

Mosiah 9

This chapter takes us back in time a little bit as we are now reading from the record of the people of king Limhi—starting with his grandfather, Zeniff, who originally led the group of people who went back to settle in the land of Nephi, where the Lamanites were. 

Between Chapters 9-21 we will learn the story of what has happened with these people since the time they left the land of Zarahemla. The account starts from the perspective of Zeniff. He travels with the first group that leaves Zarahemla to re-capture the land of Nephi, but they end up battling amongst themselves because the leader wants to fight off the Lamanites who have taken over the land, and Zeniff refuses to cause them harm. The group is divided and fights violently over the issue, and those who are not killed return to Zarahemla unsuccessfully. 

Zeniff is “over-zealous” to inherit that “land of his fathers” however (v. 3), and takes a new group to try again. This time, he approaches the king of the Lamanites and asks to peacefully possess some of the land, and surprisingly the king grants his wish and gives him an area for his people to inhabit. But of course, the king has plans up his sleeve to bring Zeniff’s people into bondage, and after a number of years the Lamanites come to battle against Zeniff’s people. Because Zeniff’s people have been righteous and turn to the Lord for help, they are successful in beating off the Lamanites…for now:

17 Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.

18 And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in his might; yea, we did go forth against the Lamanites, and in one day and a night we did slay three thousand and forty-three; we did slay them even until we had driven them out of our land.

Mosiah 10

Zeniff’s people fortify and prepare themselves in case the Lamanites return again to fight, and they are left alone to grow and prosper for many years. After about 22 years, the king of the Lamanites dies, and the new king riles his people up again to start a war with Zeniff’s people.

Zeniff gives an insightful explanation as to the cause of conflict between the Lamanites and the Nephites. Basically the reason is a misunderstanding that has led to a tradition of hatred, passed down through the generations. How many conflicts in the world can you think of that are caused by something similar? 

 12 They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers, which is this—Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their brethren, and they were also wronged while crossing the sea;

13 And again, that they were wronged while in the land of their first inheritance, after they had crossed the sea, and all this because that Nephi was more faithful in keeping the commandments of the Lord—therefore he was favored of the Lord, for the Lord heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness.

14 And his brethren were wroth with him because they understood not the dealings of the Lord; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Lord.

17 And thus they have taught their children that they should hate them, and that they should murder them, and that they should rob and plunder them, and do all they could to destroy them; therefore they have an eternal hatred towards the children of Nephi.

Conflict can affect generations and generations if it isn't resolved and forgiven. Is there any conflict or hatred in your life that could carry on to affect your children and children's children if you don't resolve it now?

The Nephites (Zeniff’s people) win the war again, because they turn to the Lord for help. At the end of the chapter Zeniff tells us that he is old and confers the throne upon one of his sons—and we will see in the next chapter that his son is not the same kind of man or ruler that Zeniff was. Here comes trouble!

Mosiah 7-8

Mosiah 7

Remember back in the book of Omni how the Lord warned Mosiah that he should leave the Land of Nephi with as many people as would follow him (see Omni 1:12)? But then at the end of Omni 1, we learned that a group left the new city established by Mosiah, to return to the Land of Nephi where they had lived before. But Omni doesn’t tell us what happened to those people who went back, because he doesn’t know. 

Now we learn the answer. Mosiah sends a party of 16 men, led by a man named Ammon, to see if they can find the group who went back to the Land of Nephi. After 40 days in the wilderness, Ammon and company find the people and even encounter their king outside the city walls, but the kings guards capture Ammon’s group immediately without asking any questions and throw them in prison.

After 2 days in prison, Ammon’s group is brought before the king—Limhi—and given an opportunity to speak. King Limhi is delighted and relieved to learn who they are—he had mistaken them for someone else (who you will learn about later) which is why they threw them in jail. The king tells Ammon that his people are captive to the Lamanites and must pay them heavy taxes. He hopes Ammon & co. can help them escape back to the land of Zarahemla. 

King Limhi gathers his people to tell them hope has arrived. In his speech to the people he hints at the back-story of how his people got into this predicament in the first place. He says:

 25 For if this people had not fallen into transgression the Lord would not have suffered that this great evil should come upon them. But behold, they would not hearken unto his words; but there arose contentions among them, even so much that they did shed blood among themselves.

 26 And a prophet of the Lord have they slain; yea, a chosen man of God, who told them of their wickedness and abominations, and prophesied of many things which are to come, yea, even the coming of Christ.

In chapters 9-22 of Mosiah we will read the full story of what Limhi and his people have been through ever since Limhi’s grandfather, Zeniff, led the first group of people out of Zarahemla to return to the Land of Nephi.

Mosiah 8

King Limhi is anxious for his people to learn what has happened with the Nephites in Zarahemla since their group left, and he also tells Ammon that he sent a secret search party of his own out to find Zarahemla to request help escaping from the Lamanites. The search party was unsuccessful, but they found a land full of dead bodies and weapons and war clothing, and they were afraid it was the Nephites who had been slaughtered (which it wasn’t). But they found a record on gold plates amongst the ruins and brought it back—but it was in a language no one could read. 

Ammon tells Limhi that King Mosiah will be able to translate the gold plates for him if they are able to escape back to the land of Zarahemla, because Mosiah is a prophet and a seer.

Mosiah 4-6

4:9-10 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend. And again, believe that ye must repent of your sins and forsake them, and humble yourselves before God; and ask in sincerity of heart that he would forgive you; and now, if you believe all these things see that ye do them.

 Mosiah 4

King Benjamin’s speech has a great physical and spiritual effect on his people. I love this insight into what brought them joy and peace of conscience:

2 ... And they all cried aloud with one voice, saying: O have mercy, and apply the atoning blood of Christ that we may receive forgiveness of our sins, and our hearts may be purified; for we believe in Jesus Christ, the Son of God, who created heaven and earth, and all things; who shall come down among the children of men.
3 And it came to pass that after they had spoken these words the Spirit of the Lord came upon them, and they were filled with joy, having received a remission of their sins, and having peace of conscience, because of the exceeding faith which they had in Jesus Christ who should come, according to the words which king Benjamin had spoken unto them.

Perhaps one of the most famous portions of king Benjamin’s speech is this next portion about caring for the poor. He emphasizes that we should not judge beggars because we are all beggars before God.

26 And now, for the sake of these things which I have spoken unto you—that is, for the sake of retaining a remission of your sins from day to day, that ye may walk guiltless before God—I would that ye should impart of your substance to the poor, every man according to that which he hath, such as feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and administering to their relief, both spiritually and temporally, according to their wants.

 27 And see that all these things are done in wisdom and order; for it is not requisite that a man should run faster than he has strength.

 16 And also, ye yourselves will succor those that stand in need of your succor; ye will administer of your substance unto him that standeth in need; and ye will not suffer that the beggar putteth up his petition to you in vain, and turn him out to perish.

 17 Perhaps thou shalt say: The man has brought upon himself his misery; therefore I will stay my hand, and will not give unto him of my food, nor impart unto him of my substance that he may not suffer, for his punishments are just—

 18 But I say unto you, O man, whosoever doeth this the same hath great cause to repent; and except he repenteth of that which he hath done he perisheth forever, and hath no interest in the kingdom of God.

 19 For behold, are we not all beggars? Do we not all depend upon the same Being, even God, for all the substance which we have, for both food and raiment, and for gold, and for silver, and for all the riches which we have of every kind?

 20 And behold, even at this time, ye have been calling on his name, and begging for a remission of your sins. And has he suffered that ye have begged in vain? Nay; he has poured out his Spirit upon you, and has caused that your hearts should be filled with joy...

 21 And now, if God, who has created you, on whom you are dependent for your lives and for all that ye have and are, doth grant unto you whatsoever ye ask that is right, in faith, believing that ye shall receive, O then, how ye ought to impart of the substance that ye have one to another.

These powerful verses cause me to reflect every time I read them. They cause an honest assessment on how I view, judge, and help people in need. I don't necessarily think King Benjamin is saying we have to give a handout to every panhandler we pass. It's more about the state of our hearts toward those in need. Do I help in the best way I can, recognizing all the ways God helps me that I can never repay? Do I help others without judgment? When I was a missionary, I remember my mission president teaching about verse 26 and pointing out that we are instructed to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, etc according to theirs wants - not their needs. That requires a greater level of generosity from me, and doesn't allow me to make judgments about what I view their "needs" to be.

Before God, I am just as much of a beggar as the person on the street, and God expects me to generously give to anyone in need as far as I am able.

Mosiah 5

King Benjamin’s people are a powerful example of having a “change of heart” which is possible through the spirit of God.

2 And they all cried with one voice, saying: Yea, we believe all the words which thou hast spoken unto us; and also, we know of their surety and truth, because of the Spirit of the Lord Omnipotent, which has wrought a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually.

 4 And it is the faith which we have had on the things which our king has spoken unto us that has brought us to this great knowledge, whereby we do rejoice with such exceedingly great joy.

 5 And we are willing to enter into a covenant with our God to do his will, and to be obedient to his commandments in all things that he shall command us, all the remainder of our days…

And here is another gem. Do you want to know how to get to know God? Serve him.

13 For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?

Mosiah 6

King Benjamin learns that every adult person who has listened to his speech has entered into a covenant to follow the Lord. He finishes his speech, and his son Mosiah begins to reign in his stead. King Benjamin lives 3 more years and then passes away. King Mosiah is a good king who rules similarly to his father and the people live in peace for a few years.