Mosiah 21-22

Mosiah 21

The Lamanites have taken an oath to not go to war against Limhi’s people again, but they begin to hang out in the borders of the land and make life miserable for the Nephites:

3 Now they durst not slay them, because of the oath which their king had made unto Limhi; but they would smite them on their cheeks, and exercise authority over them; and began to put heavy burdens upon their backs, and drive them as they would a dumb ass—

 4 Yea, all this was done that the word of the Lord might be fulfilled.

Verse 4 reminds us that the Lord warned them—over and over again through Abinadi—that this would happen if they did not repent of their wicked lifestyles. It was like Abinadi said in Mosiah 16:12, “for the arms of mercy were extended towards them, and they would not; they being warned of their iniquities and yet they would not depart from them; and they were commanded to repent and yet they would not repent.” God doesn’t give us commandments to restrict us or to flex his mighty arm of authority. He gives us commands because he loves us and sees the natural trouble we will bring on ourselves if we disregard them. He also cannot be with us and help us through our struggles when we are blatantly disregarding his commands. 

The Nephites grow tired of these conditions and plead with their king to let them fight the Lamanites off. The king finally grants permission, but the Nephites fail miserably in their battle attempts and many men are killed.  They try to fight the Lamanites two more times, and each time they fail and more men are slain. Their anger and fear eventually turn into humility, and they begin to turn to the Lord.

Now the story comes full circle—this was the state of the people of Limhi when Ammon and his team arrive from Zarahemla. They were thrown into prison because the king first assumed they were the priests of Noah, who had been sneaking into the land at night and stealing food and supplies. But when King Limhi discovered who Ammon and his men were, he was overjoyed because he needed their help to escape from bondage from the Lamanites. These people are ready to repent, change, and start over. Now they just need help getting there (and I believe the Lord always sends help when we are ready to change). 

Mosiah 22

King Limhi and his people escape! They gather their possessions and sneak out of the back gate of the city because the Lamanite guards there are drunken and passed out. They travel many days in the wilderness and arrive in the land of Zarahemla and King Mosiah joyfully receives them.

In the meantime, the Lamanites have awaken and discovered that Limhi and his people have escaped, and they are searching for them in the wilderness… (Limhi and his people are safe now, but the story isn’t over for another set of Nephites you may remember)