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!