Mosiah 7-25 – Sub-stories – Non-Traditional Routes
D&C 128:22 “Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory!”
Nephite Timeline
The Nephites have left the Land of Nephi to the Lamanites and moved North, to the Land of Zarahemla, and have joined with the Mulekites under King Mosiah and subsequently his son Benjamin. Interesting enough, after King Benjamin’s landmark address, the first thing we hear about is a group wanting to go back to the Land of Nephi, led by an “over-zealous” man named Zeniff. Their first attempt ends in conflict amongst their own ranks resulting in the destruction of most of their army (Mosiah 9:2), the second attempt is plagued with “famine and sore afflictions; for [they] were slow to remember the Lord [their] God” (Mosiah 9:3). Eventually however they make it back home, make a treaty with the cunning and crafty Lamanite king, and re-settle the land.
Not too surprising based on the early warnings, things don’t go too well for them there. Zeniff spends most of his days fighting off the Lamanites that come again and again to battle against him. He does try to stay close to the Lord and is successful for the most part at keeping them at bay until he passes, but describes this period in life as having “suffered these many years in the land.” (Mosiah 10:18)
His son Noah on the other hand, “change(s) the affairs of the kingdom” (Mosiah 11:4), and seems to drink in more with the Lamanite culture; literally, becoming a “wine-bibber”, as well as taxing the people, being lifted up in pride, laziness, idolatry, whoredoms, and “riotous living”. The Lord sends a prophet to call them to repentance, Abinadi, who, despite one of the most moving sermons and portrayal of God’s power found in all scriptural record, is rejected and suffers a martyr’s death. He did have one convert, a priest of King Noah named Alma, who takes up the message of salvation and brings many into the fold. He and his band are eventually run out of the land, go through a refining process of bondage and miraculous deliverance, and eventually make it back to where we started, the land of Zarahemla.
King Noah and his people on the other hand come under Lamanite bondage. Noah perishes at the hands of his own people, suffering the same death by fire that he pronounced upon Abinadi, and his son Limhi takes over. Limhi and his people go through a much rougher refining process under Lamanite bondage having many wars and afflictions, resulting in many deaths. This “second group” of survivors barely make it out alive through their own devices and some help from a Land of Zarahemla convoy led by Ammon. They too, eventually limp back to where the narrative diverged, the land of Zarahemla.
Back in Zarahemla their stories of conversion and deliverance are told. Alma preaches to the people and King Mosiah grants unto him power to establish leadership, baptise, and organize the church throughout all the land. Seven churches are established but “notwithstanding there being many churches they were all one church, yea, even the church of God” (Mosiah 25:22)
Individual Timeline
Ok, I love that Mormon and the Lord included this collection of sub-stories in the timeline. It is an amazing learning point, as the allegory of the covenant path describes a divergence from the path, and the Lord’s way of getting us back on it. In effect it describes a “failure to launch” scenario; a reversal and turning from the divinely prescribed path. If that doesn’t apply to you feel free to skip over to the next chapter, but there are wonderful lessons to be had here no matter your circumstances.
Returning Home
We have left home as the Lord would have us, to college, a career, a mission, whatever His personalized plan for you may be. Yet these chapters describe a group that want to go back home and live in Mom and Dad’s basement so to speak, to return to the land that they just left, teeming with Lamanites (that used to be their brethren mind you) and their culture and vices. Either that or this could describe the group that never leaves in the first place, staying put in their Land of Nephi.
Right away, according to the narrative, we should be tipped off that this isn’t a great idea. Immediately as Zeniff and his band near the land of Nephi there is great contention; and not just any contention, familial contention, as we’re told that “father fought against father, and brother against brother” (Mosiah 9:2). If we plan on returning home, giving up on the prescribed path you felt the Lord had led you to, we can expect some strain on the familial dynamic. This is a very difficult path to follow, for both the home-sick Zeniff and the parents that welcome them home.
It may seem like the best and easiest path to follow at the time. In fact, the king of the Lamanites makes it even more easy, entering into a treaty with Zeniff, and clearing out the Lamanites that are in his land. It almost sounds like a flaxen cord scenario; “just come home, there’s space there, no Lamanites to be seen”. But like the “cunning and craft(y) king Laman”, Satan likes to float this temptation our way to also “bring [us] into (spiritual) bondage”. (Mosiah 9:10)
If we too are “slow to remember the Lord our God” in this, i.e. He has prompted us to move on, it’s His will to be progressing to the other chapters, and we ignore His will and continue home, we can expect to be “smitten with (spiritual) famine and sore afflictions” (Mosiah 9:3). We can also expect getting back on the path is going to take some major work and trials. Of course there are exceptions to this generally prescribed covenantal path which we will touch on soon.
Zeniff
The Lamanites that Zeniff fought off throughout life can be thought of as the vices that Noah gave in to during his. After returning home Zeniff does his best at making the most of the situation. He gets the Lamanites in and around his new city to leave, he builds buildings and repairs things, he plants seeds and grows crops; things are going pretty good.
These returning Zeniff’s try to do what’s right, they get to work, stay busy, are industrious, but the Lamanites that seemed so distant start coming back and harassing them. Old friends, old vices, old temptations that were dealt with during highschool; again and again they come, again and again they will need to be repulsed. These Zeniffs “cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver [them] out of the hands of [their] enemies” and in His mercy He will “hear [their] cries” and “answer [their] prayers” and they meet these challenges in “his might”. (Mosiah 9:17-18)
Spiritually surviving this treacherous path is possible, but difficult. If one is to survive they better do as Zeniff did, have your spiritual armor at the ready, your spiritual “weapons of war…of every kind”, and set up your “guards round about the land, that the Lamanites might not come upon [them] again unawares and destroy [them]” (Mosiah 10:1-2), and then call on God “mightily” for deliverance as he did. If we do so, we too can meet the king of the Lamanites “in the strength of the Lord to battle.” (Mosiah 10:10)
I think of the Zeniff group as returning missionaries, either with unresolved sins, depression/other psychiatric conditions, or whatever the case may be, coming home early to reface old challenges plus new ones as well. Or college bound grads that aren’t quite prepared and similar reasons cause them to return to their homeland. Whatever the case, there is hope and Divine help as evidenced with Zeniff and his people.
Noah
Now the Noah group on the other hand, is more akin to those that never leave home at all but stay, surrounded by their prideful priests and friends, and embrace these vices. They “do not walk in the ways of [their] father(s)” (Mosiah 11:1) but do “walk after the desires of [their] heart(s)” (vs 2). For those that either stay home, or return from whichever path the Lord has started them on, the story of Noah highlights a few specific temptations that should be avoided if this difficult path is to be successfully traversed like Noah’s father Zeniff.
First, sexual sin. Noah is said to have “many wives and concubines” and commit whoredoms and all manner of wickedness. Sexual sin is likely the number one reason for coming back home early or not leaving at all. If one returns, it is among one of the greatest traps that will keep these wandering travelers from finally freeing themselves from their situation and getting back on the trail.
Second, pride. Noah sought temporal things above all else, “[placing] his heart upon his riches” (vs 14). He obtained them through the taxation of the people and with the taxes he built a spacious palace, with a high and lifted up golden throne. It wasn’t an honorable way to make a living but it didn’t matter to him. As long as the gold, silver, copper, food, and even “ziff” (vs 3) was coming in, it didn’t matter how he got it. This is a common pitfall, why seek higher education or go on a mission when we already are making good money, possibly through crime, stealing, or other dishonest means? Idolatry is the offspring of this pride and worldliness that Noah and his people indulged in. These are flaxen cords that bind down many with eventual chains.
Third, slothfulness. It’s hard to move on, gain an education, and/or go on a mission. It’s so much easier to stay in Mom’s basement, playing video games, and just focus on the world. Noah and his friends used their riches to be “supported in their laziness” (vs 6), even building a breastwork “that they might rest their bodies and their arms upon (it)” (vs 11). If we don’t have structure, if we’re not paddling upstream, we’re apt to just go wherever the path of least resistance is taking us.
Fourth, partying. Noah planted vineyards and “made wine in abundance” becoming a “wine-bibber” (vs 15). He is said to have “spent his time in riotous living” (vs 14) with his various female admirers. Breaking the word of wisdom and seeking that ever elusive happiness in wickedness through partying and sin is a sad common snare that deter many of our youth. It is filled with hollow, pleasure seeking nights, and shallow relationships. The ever increasing emptiness can never be satisfied in this manner, no matter how frequently or desperately we try to fill the void.
Fifth, past feeling. The end result is that one becomes “past feeling” and they lose that love and concern for their fellowman. Due to the abundance of iniquity on this path “the love of many…wax(es) cold” (Matt 24:12), and that natural civility can be lost. Noah and his people go to war with the Lamanites like his father, but it says that they loved the violence. They “did delight in blood, and the shedding of the blood of their brethren” (vs 19). Eventually this hardness of heart and murderous disposition leads them to reject the call of the Father to repent through his servant, Abinadi, and they burn him at the stake.
The end of this path isn’t a pretty one. Lamanites invade, the wealth and power one sought all their life disappears, those that were considered friends flee at the first sign of danger or worse yet, turn on you and you end up on the other end of their cruelty. In the end you find yourself bound down under a “consciousness of guilt” (Mormon 9:3), burning with that “unquenchable fire, whose flame ascendeth up forever and ever.” (Mosiah 2:38). Avoid at all costs the tragic dark path of Noah.
Exceptions, Abinadi and Alma
Now as mentioned there are exceptions to the commonly prescribed path that the Lord would have us follow. There are countless young adults that have serious physical and/or psychiatric health concerns that precludes them from taking this over-generalized allegorical path. Staying home is not only the wisest path to take, it’s also often the only one feasible, and is the path the Lord would have them take at this time. Studying these chapters will still help these travelers approach these unique issues more like Zeniff and less like Noah.
Still others may truly be called to follow this path, as was Abinadi. He was from the same society of Noah and his people who all “became idolatrous” being “deceived by the vain and flattering words of the king” (vs 7), yet he ascended and excelled in the covenant path, being called as a missionary/prophet in his own land, and sent forth among these people as the Lord’s mouthpiece. There are vast service or family history missionary opportunities for those that can’t leave home at this time. Still others are informally called of God to stand up for what is right, exposing the works of darkness wherever they may be, and striving to bring others to Christ.
Those that so consecrate their lives on this path may not be laden with “sheaves upon [their] backs” (D&C 31:5) in the same way proselytizing missionaries are. In fact you may make it through this period in life wondering if you had saved any, if you had done any lasting good. Take solace in the story of Abinadi who went to his martyr’s grave with likely the same questions, wondering if it had all been a fruitless endeavor, he had preached as he was commanded and seemed to have nothing to show for it. Yet through his ministry Alma was converted, and nearly all political and spiritual leaders for the next 300-400 years can be traced back to his work. If this is your prescribed path, or if like Zeniff you came back home and are fighting off the Lamanites, trust in the Lord, do your best with your circumstances, and the Lord can do great things with you.
Speaking of Alma, his story is a great example of a fourth group that may enter into the timeline at this later stage. This group may be coming into the fold later in life, either from inactivity or as new converts. Perhaps the need/opportunity to leave town, serve a mission, gain higher education has passed. Perhaps you’re just getting a little bit of a late start or coming into it from a more non-traditional route and you’re wondering how to get back onto the Lord’s more streamlined path. Alma is a great example to follow to know how to get back.
After Alma’s conversion the first thing he did was distance himself from the wicked world he had indulged in. Those that were once his friends turned on him due to his conversion and he literally fled from their presence. Those on this particular path will likely need to leave the associations they once held and the vices they once partook in. You will have to continue to move further and further away as the guards of Noah keep coming after you and continue their attempts to spiritually slay you. By so doing, these leave behind the world they once knew, as did Alma, in search of a better one.
The second thing Alma did, in this process of repentance and getting back on track, was focus on the gospel. Having distanced himself from the most immediate danger he turned his focus to writing and studying “all the words which Abinadi had spoken” (Mosiah 17:4). He taught the gospel to those that would listen and brought many others into the fold with him. Make the gospel your primary focus to further your newfound conversion, and once it has a place in you, do as Alma did and share that conversion with others. Teach the truths you do know to “as many as would hear [your] word” (Mosiah 18:3) and you too can bring many along the covenant path.
I’ve noticed that those that have a little more understanding of the ways of the world, that have been in the darkness and now truly see, can be extremely powerful missionaries. They have an ability to connect with those still in the world that more traditional travelers seem to lack. That isn’t to say falling away and indulging in the world for a time is a good idea to give you experience when you come back. Remember there was only one Alma to the countless other priests and servants of King Noah. The converts that he helped leave society were much fewer in number than those that stayed and were either slain or put under bondage. These are the exceptions to the rule in general, but what exceptional exceptions they are.
Doctrine, Return to Gospel Fundamentals
What doctrine should these non-traditional travelers be focused on to get back on track? The sermons of Abiniadi and Alma give us all some excellent clues, highlighting the first principles of the Gospel, faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Abinadi starts with entry level type stuff, teaching the 10 commandments to the priests of Noah. Start with the basics, chances are there’s one or two of these old testament commandments that we’re struggling with. Cleaning up the glaring obvious sins, the sins of commision we all know we need to get rid of, is low hanging fruit on the tree of life. But our efforts must be coupled with a correct understanding and use of the sanctifying, transformative, power of the Atonement, if change is going to have a lasting effect; which is where Abinadi directs his teachings next.
Abinadi teaches that salvation doesn’t come by keeping the law alone, but that all “must unavoidably perish, notwithstanding the law” if it were “not for the atonement, which God himself shall make for the sins and iniquities of his people” (Mosiah 13:28). “Yea, and even all the prophets who have prophesied ever since the world began have… said that God himself should come down among the children of men, and take upon him the form of man… that he should bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, and that he, himself, should be oppressed and afflicted” (Mosiah 13:33-35).
Abinadi then quotes the entire messianic chapter of Isaiah 53 in Mosiah 14. The Atonement begins to become real as we learn how Christ was “despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief” (vs 3). He bore “our griefs, and carried our sorrows… he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed” (vs 4-5). We, the “sheep (that) have gone astray” (vs 6), caused the “lamb to (be brought) to the slaughter” (vs 7). And “yet it pleased the Lord to bruise him (and) put him to grief… (to) make his soul an offering for (our) sin(s)” (vs 10). When the seed of the Atonement is planted in our hearts and grows we become “his seed” (vs 10) and he shall “divide a portion (of salvation) with (us,) the great, and…the strong” (vs 12).
Abinadi finishes his sermon with 2 chapters detailing the resurrection of the righteous who “are raised to dwell with God who has redeemed them; thus they have eternal life through Christ, who has broken the bands of death” (Mosiah 15:23); contrasted with the fear and trembling before God that the wicked will have if they “rebel against him and die in their sins” Mosiah 15:26). “If they be good, to the resurrection of endless life and happiness; and if they be evil, to the resurrection of endless damnation, being delivered up to the devil, who hath subjected them, which is damnation” (Mosiah 16:11). A stark contrast that needs consideration for any followers of Noah’s path to any degree, which is something to consider for us all.
Alma and his band of seekers have already traversed the first steps along the covenant path that Abinadi outlined; they have planted the seed, developed faith in Christ, and desired a remission of their sins, now they’re ready for the next step, baptism. For those that identify with this section that have strayed from the path, are inactive, or are coming into the fold later like Alma, the covenant made at baptism, appropriately understood and followed, will transform you and direct all aspects of your life. It is the Law of the Gospel in its most fundamental form, and as dictated line upon line by the subsequent gift of the Holy Ghost, will bring you the rest of “the way”. While the baptisimal covenant was already covered in the chapter on baptism it bears repeating here with a deeper dive on what we covenant.
We first covenant to “to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort” (Mosiah 18:8-9). I like to think of these as all one and the same, and can be summed up in one word, love. If we truly love our neighbor the old law becomes obsolete; no need to say don’t lie, cheat, steal, murder, covet, because who would do that to someone they love? Instead, we will serve, we will bear them up, we will protect, we will do everything we can to help our brothers and sisters find happiness and joy.
The second thing we promise to do stems from the first, “to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places” (Mosiah 18:9). When we love our neighbor and know the joy the gospel brings, we can hardly be restrained from trying to share that knowledge with them. Having tasted the sweetness of the fruit, we call out to those we love to come and partake as well, as Lehi did. We covenant to be a missionary for Christ and champion His gospel, not just for 2 years, but forever. If the first covenant centered on loving our neighbor this seems more centered on showing love for our God. Which takes us to the next covenant.
The third is to “serve him and keep his commandments (Mosiah 18:10). Remembering that “if ye love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15), this all might sound a little redundant at this point. These seem like they are more or less summed up in the great set of commandments to “love the Lord thy God” and “thy neighbor as thyself” (Matt 22:36-40). Don’t we serve Him as a member-missionary and keep His commandments by loving others, thereby further showing our love to Him? Perhaps so, but I think this covenant can be thought of a little deeper than just keeping the written commandments in scripture. They serve as a framework yes, but “yet shew I unto you a more excellent way.” (1 Cor 12:31)
Christ told Joseph that “it is not meet that I should command in all things” (D&C 58:26). King Benjamin started down this path, listing various sins, and then stopped, realizing perhaps the futility of trying to tell them “all the things whereby ye may commit sin; for there are divers ways and means, even so many that I cannot number them” (Mosiah 4:29). He later, after their spiritual conversion/rebirth, encourages them to “remember to retain the name (of Christ) written always in your hearts… (and) that ye hear and know the voice by which ye shall be called… 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 5:12-13)
Hearing His voice through the spirit acquaints the servant with the master. This is His command, i.e. His commandments! If we listen and obey, we are literally following His commandments and serving Him. This is partly what we are covenanting at baptism. This is “the way to judge” via “the Spirit of Christ (which) is given to every man, that he may know good from evil”. We are further told, as King Benjamin alluded to, that if we will “search diligently in the light of Christ… (and) lay hold upon every good thing, and condemn it not, ye certainly will be a child of Christ.” (Moroni 7:15-19)
Having the “name of Christ written in our hearts”, being “spiritually begotten”, and becoming “a child of Christ” are all references to the last thing we covenant at baptism as found in the Sacramental Prayer, being “WILLING to take upon (us) the name of thy Son” (Moroni 4:3, emphasis mine). As alluded to, this is done as we follow His voice and “search diligently in the light of Christ” in obeying His commandments. As we do so, and are taught “line upon line, precept upon precept”, our inner light will bring us to the greater light of the Gift of the Holy Ghost.
Like the people of King Benjamin, we will grow in this initial light, a process of growing in Christ, until the spirit causes “a mighty change in us, or in our hearts, that we have no more disposition to do evil, but to do good continually” (Mosiah 5:2). This is true conversion, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, the spiritual “rebirth”. This is quite akin to natural birth in that it is a process of embryonic growth, followed by an event of birth, followed by further growth in greater light. We are “willing” to undergo this change because we cannot force it, it must be given as a “gift”. Our job is to come unto Christ “with a broken heart and a contrite spirit” and then Christ will “baptize (us) with fire and with the Holy Ghost” (3 Nephi 9:20).
Appropriately what we are promised in the sacramental prayer, is this gift, “that they may always have his Spirit to be with them” (Moroni 4:3). As Alma taught, if we keep our covenants, “he (will) pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon (us)” (Mosiah 18:10). This is the greatest gift we could ever receive. More to come in the following chapters.
Limhi’s Camp
We’re down to 2 groups remaining; those that have repented and are following the voice of the Lord back to his covenant path with Alma, and those that are a little harder of hearing and are still trying to do things their way with Limhi’s group, the son of Noah. Let’s start with the latter.
The people of Limhi didn’t listen to the words of Abinadi or subsequent words of Alma. They were hard headed and missed the call of Alma to repent and live up to the baptisimal covenant and subsequently leave their old world behind for a better. As a result of this they come under Lamanite bondage and have “heavy burdens (placed) upon their backs” (Mosiah 21:3). If we fail to hear the word and follow the path of Alma in leaving our old world behind, we too will fall under the bondage of sin, trials, and tribulations. If we do not humble ourselves “because of the word” we can be sure that the Lord will “(compel us) to be humble” as a result of our circumstances (Alma 32:14). He loves all His children and will stop at nothing to bring us back, even if that means causing us some temporary pain and setback.
In such a state, it’s not surprising that this group tries to free themselves from the Lord’s divine tutoring. They have many battles with the Lamanites, they win some when they remember to call on the Lord for help, but for the most part receive further humbling and tutoring as battle after battle are lost. Things just get harder and spiritual lives are lost as they try again and again to do things their own way. If you’re following this path don’t be too surprised when life gets difficult, when you can’t seem to catch a break, when the Lamanites in your land cause you to labor under great “afflictions… and there (seems to be) no way that (you can) deliver (yourselves) out of their hands” (Mosiah 21:5).
Eventually the desired effect is obtained, the Lord causes enough pain, suffering, and setbacks that you are “compelled to be humble”. He’ll get us to where these wayward Nephites arrived, that “did humble themselves even to the dust, subjecting themselves to the yoke of bondage, submitting themselves to be smitten, and to be driven to and fro, and burdened, according to the desires of their enemies” (Mosiah 21:13). He will drive any that are still spiritually alive to the point where we too “cry mightily to God; yea, even all the day long did they cry unto their God that he would deliver them out of their afflictions” (Mosiah 21:14). This isn’t cruel, it’s merciful. The Lord will have a humble people, one way or another. He loves us enough to hurt us when it will lead to our growth and eventual salvation.
The Lord may be “slow to hear their cry because of their iniquities” (Mosiah 21:15), nevertheless, in time He will hear and begin to ease these burdens by degrees. But chances are this will be a long hard road back and He may “not see fit to deliver (you) out of bondage” (Mosiah 21:15) right away. Eventually, when these weary travelers are also ready to enter “into a covenant with God…to serve him and keep his commandments” (Mosiah 21:32), a path of deliverance will be made available. It may not be miraculous like Alma, it will probably take a lot of your own hard work and strategizing, it may require help from an outside source, but it will come to all those that turn to Him.
Limhi’s deliverance came in the form of a convoy from Zarahemla with a man named Ammon as their leader. The Lord may send mortal angels to you for deliverance too. Men and women that are on the covenant path, that are members of his Church, that reach out to you in your Land of Nephi to pull you back to Zarahemla. They might not be recognized as such initially, but if you’ll listen to their message and give them time, you’ll find friends there that want to help you get back. Ammon helped the people of Limhi free themselves by getting their guards drunk. It wasn’t too miraculous, but it got the job done, and they finally escaped back to where the narrative diverged in the first place, the land of Zarahemla. There to be baptised by King Mosiah, entering into the covenantal fold and back on the path.
We’re back! It was a long, drawn out process full of difficulty and strife. For those that make it back from this difficult path it really is miraculous and attests to God’s mercy and love. But for everyone that does make it back how very many were lost! The spiritual casualties that liter this pathway are countless leaving friends and family members in “great mourning and lamentation” (Mosiah 21:9). How much better it would have been to stay on the initial pathway in Zarahemla; and if not, to have listened to Abinadi calling for faith in Christ and repentance, or Alma stressing the need to leave the world and covenant with God, before those flaxen cords became chains.
If one finds themselves in the revelry of the Camp of Noah prepare for the subsequent humility of the Camp of Limhi. The Lord often brings us into these bondage-type scenarios to “chasten” us, and try our “patience” and “faith” (Mosiah 23:21). So, if you’re in Limhi’s camp don’t be too hasty to deliver yourself, turning to anger and frustration like these people did, that’ll just make things worse. It takes a lot of missed opportunities, Abinadi’s and Alma’s, to get in this situation. It will probably take a while to get out and we can’t be impatient with the Lord’s timeline. If we will truly humble ourselves, remain willing to enter into the same covenantal relationship, and look to the land of Zarahemla for help, help and deliverance will eventually come.
Alma’s Camp
Now Alma’s camp had a pretty similar refining period, but what a different outcome! I love the Divine lesson given here with these two paralleling and contrasting stories. Alma and his followers initially had also left the path, but when the call for faith and repentance came they listened, they followed the path back to baptism. They pulled further and further away from the evil society and reach of King Noah and his guards. Leaving behind their old world completely, it says that “the Lord did strengthen them, that the people of king Noah could not overtake them to destroy them.” We too can expect added strength to overcome the world when we turn from our sinful past and focus and draw on our baptisimal covenants.
How strange it may seem then regarding what happens next! The people of Alma have escaped into the land “Helam”, and “they began to prosper exceedingly in the land” (Mosiah 23:19), establishing the church and building a city. But here comes the very Lamanite army that was chasing the people of Limhi, the unfaithful group, and now puts Alma’s group under bondage. As if it could get any worse, the Lamanites have come across Alma’s old gang, the priests of Noah, who have joined their ranks and are subsequently made rulers over Alma and his people. They know him and have a personal vendetta against him for betraying them and following Abinadi. This almost seems like the perfect storm! Why would the Lord deliver them up like this? He had warned them, strengthened them, delivered them before. Now they’re being delivered up into the hands of the Lamanites as a direct result of something the people of Limhi did? Not to mention under the Priests of Noah, who ran off with a bunch of Lamanite daughters, who were subsequently spared, and now their leader, Amulon, is made king over them? How is this fair!? It would be very easy to harden your heart in bitterness in this situation.
When the stars seem to align against you and you’re doing everything right, you’re probably in a Divine trial. This is much different than a trial that comes because of your own sinful deeds, a trial that wasn’t needed if you had stayed on track. These trials come BECAUSE one is doing everything right and the Lord is actually blessing you and helping you grow.
Joseph Smith understood this after wrongfully being imprisoned in Liberty Jail for 5 months. In answer to his calling our “O God, where art thou? And where is the pavilion that covereth thy hiding place?” (D&C 121:1), the Lord answered: “My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment; And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.” (D&C 121:7-8)
In speaking of this experience Jeffery R Holland expressed this sentiment: “In one way or another, great or small, dramatic or incidental, every one of us is going to spend a little time in Liberty Jail—spiritually speaking. We will face things we do not want to face for reasons that may not be our fault. Indeed, we may face difficult circumstances for reasons that were absolutely right and proper, reasons that came BECAUSE we were trying to keep the commandments of the Lord… every experience can become a redemptive experience if we remain bonded to our Father in Heaven through it. These difficult lessons teach us that man’s extremity is God’s opportunity, and if we will be humble and faithful, if we will be believing and not curse God for our problems, He can turn the unfair and inhumane and debilitating prisons of our lives into temples—or at least into a circumstance that can bring comfort and revelation, divine companionship and peace” (“Lessons from Liberty Jail,” Ensign, Sept. 2009, 28, emphasis mine).
This seems to be the situation with the people of Alma as was noted: “Nevertheless the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth their patience and their faith. Nevertheless—whosoever putteth his trust in him the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people. For behold, I will show unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God, yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac and of Jacob. And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did show forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings.” (Mosiah 23:21-24)
Alma takes this new trial in stride, being well prepared for just such an event. He exhorts his people “that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God and he would deliver them.” (Mosiah 23:27). They embrace this trial, not with fear but with faith, and begin “to cry unto the Lord that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them” (Mosiah 23:28). They are spared and enter into the darkness of bondage, not knowing the way out the otherside, not seeing the light initially, but trusting that it would eventually come.
Just because these trials are Divinely orchestrated, they are not meant to be easy. In fact, they are usually tailor-made to be the most difficult trial you could imagine passing through. This was certainly the case for Alma and his people. If it had been any other Lamanite leader being made king over them it would have been hard, but probably pretty similar to serving in bondage like Limhi. Having Amulon as their taskmaster, with his prior history with and hatred towards Alma, made it so much worse. He began to persecute them, “(putting) tasks upon them, and… task-masters over them”. Not only that but even caused “that his children should persecute their children”, and “so great were their afflictions that they began to cry mightily to God.” (Mosiah 24:8-10).
The Lord did hear their cries and I love His response. The scripture says: “the voice of the Lord came to them in their afflictions, saying: Lift up your heads and be of good comfort, for I know of the covenant which ye have made unto me; and I will covenant with my people and deliver them out of bondage. And I will also ease the burdens which are put upon your shoulders, that even you cannot feel them upon your backs, even while you are in bondage; and this will I do that ye may stand as witnesses for me hereafter, and that ye may know of a surety that I, the Lord God, do visit my people in their afflictions.” (Mosiah 24:13-14)
The voice of the Lord “came to them in their afflictions”, He did “visit (his) people in their afflictions.” When we find ourselves in such Divine testing grounds there is nothing sweeter than knowing that God knows you’re there, that He hears you, and having his voice/visitation come to you to make the burdens which are laid upon you light; to strengthen you that you may “bear up (your) burdens with ease”. As this happens, despite your difficult circumstances, you may also “submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord.” (Mosiah 24:15)
You will find, as Alma did, that on account of your “great… faith and… patience”, eventually you will hear the voice of the Lord saying unto you: “Be of good comfort, for… I will deliver you out of bondage.” (Mosiah 24:16). Then be prepared for a miraculous deliverance, expect to see miracles. If you’re in the Alma crowd, and the Lord has led you into a divine trial, expect a divine solution, it will come.
For Alma and his people they did what they could, they prepared all night in faith for the promised deliverance, and in the morning it came. The next day “the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task-masters were in a profound sleep.” Alma’s camp quietly slipped by and escaped. We can’t expect the Lord to do it all, but if we do what we can, prepare in faith, look and wait for that solution, the Lord will come through for us.
We will then feel to “(lift our) voices in the praises of (our) God” (Mosiah 24:22) as the people of Alma, who “poured out their thanks to God because he had been merciful unto them, and eased their burdens, and had delivered them out of bondage; for they were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God.” (Mosiah 24:21)
They continue on their own covenant path back to the Land of Zarahemla; the paths of divergence have been completed, the prodigal sons have returned, and like the lost sheep there is once again one fold and one shepherd. Two stories, similar circumstances, but what different outcomes because of the repentance and righteousness of one and the hard heartedness of the other. Limhi’s group tried to do it their own way, they were forced to be humble, and only some barely made it out alive. Alma’s group repented, submitted to all the Lord saw fit to put them through in patience and humility, and were miraculously delivered without the loss of one soul. What a divine lesson for not just those that take these non-traditional paths, but for us all.
Back in the Fold
Once back in the fold and on the right track, follow King Mosiah’s example with Limhi and Alma, share your story. The miraculous deliverance the Lord granted to you, the sequence of events and miracles that happened, the tender mercies, we love hearing such faith-promoting stories, they help us through our own bondage periods. Then, never forget that deliverance. Alma “did exhort the people of Limhi and his brethren, all those that had been delivered out of bondage, that they should remember that it was the Lord that did deliver them” (Mosiah 25:16).
It’s been said that “remember” is the most important command in the scriptures. This event of deliverance becomes a rallying cry throughout the next 100 or so years. If it wasn’t a focus enough after the deliverance of Lehi and his family from Jerusalem, or Nephi from his brothers, now Alma and his posterity really drive the point home. They consistently encourage their audience to remember the “captivity of our fathers” and their subsequent deliverance (Alma 5, 29, 36, 60).
The other focus upon returning is reconnecting with the church. Alma baptises Limhi and his people, he then ordains priests and teachers, and organizes churches throughout the land. As we return focus on your baptismal covenants, accept and serve in callings, and help build up the church where you can. If we too are “desirous to take upon (us) the name of Christ (we will be) called the people of God. And the Lord (will) pour out his Spirit upon (us).”
Global Timeline
We’re back in the Zarahemla of the church, the gathering place of Kirtland. While in the history of the church we didn’t have a branch that left back to the Land of Nephi in New York only to return to the righteous land of Kirtland, there are some definite similarities in our own early history that seem to match the Book of Mormon timeline. It’s not a perfect correlation but if you’ll allow me some literary licence I think you’ll find the comparison enlightening.
While in Kirtland Joseph received a revelation detailing that the land of Zion, our future promised homeland, was located in Jackson County Missouri (see D&C 52 & 57). This was the land of Adam’s first inheritance, with nearby Adam-ondi-ahman, and thousands of saints, perhaps also being “over-zealous to inherit the land of (their) fathers” (Mosiah 9:3) like Zeniff, went and began obtaining the land.
There also was a period of apostasy like Noah and his people. The fallout in Kirtland over the kirtland bank and subsequent apostasy was rampant. These apostates, along with a mob of local “Lamanites” caused the majority of the membership to flee to Missouri where basically the same thing happens. More apostacy, more trials, more mobbing and persecution, and eventually expulsion. Of this group of saints that had “been afflicted, and persecuted, and cast out from the land of their inheritance” the Lord said the following:
“I, the Lord, have suffered the affliction to come upon them, wherewith they have been afflicted, in consequence of their transgressions; Yet I will own them, and they shall be mine in that day when I shall come to make up my jewels. Therefore, they must needs be chastened and tried, even as Abraham, who was commanded to offer up his only son. For all those who will not endure chastening, but deny me, cannot be sanctified. Behold, I say unto you, there were jarrings, and contentions, and envyings, and strifes, and lustful and covetous desires among them; therefore by these things they polluted their inheritances.” (D&C 101:1-6)
Subsequently, because “they were slow to hearken unto the voice of the Lord their God” like the people of Limhi, “the Lord their God (was) slow to hearken unto their prayers, to answer them in the day of their trouble. In the day of their peace they esteemed lightly my counsel; but, in the day of their trouble, of necessity they feel after me.” But also like the people of Limhi, “notwithstanding their sins, (His) bowels (were) filled with compassion towards them.” They obtained a similar promise: “I will not utterly cast them off; and in the day of wrath I will remember mercy.” Through great loss of life, pain, and suffering, this somewhat wayward band of saints, like Limhi’s camp, were eventually delivered to a place of safety
The Lord also sent an “Abinadi” to preach repentance and show the people the way; our prophet Joseph Smith. Like Abinadi he taught the doctrine that served as the foundation of the church that would be taken up by his most ardent and faithful follower. Like Abinadi, Joseph sealed his testimony with his blood, not by fire but under the flame of powder and ball. Not as a prisoner of Noah, but as a prisoner of Carthage. There isn’t another named prophet in all the Book of Mormon that matches the life, mission, and martyrdom of the Prophet Joseph Smith as well as Abinadi. I don’t think it any coincidence that his story comes at this time in the allegory.
As referenced, Joseph had his own Alma; one that heard his word, was converted, and stayed true to his testimony at all costs. One that championed his words to the world and further established the Church of Christ based on his teachings, later becoming it’s leader and president. This is Brigham Young, the Lion of the Lord. He too helped establish a modern day City of Helam in “a land, yea, even a very beautiful and pleasant land, a land of pure water” (Mosiah 23:4, well maybe it was a swamp initially but eventually it matched the description). This was the beautiful city Nauvoo.
In Nauvoo, Brigham and the saints also came under persecution by the mob, like Alma in the land of Helam under Amulon. Like Alma and his people, they had (recently dealt with) an extermination order placed against them for practicing their religion by Governor Boggs. They were also miraculously delivered from bondage. After the murder of Joseph many feared a mormon uprising, but there was more of a spirit of humility and submission. Persecution increased and most were able to leave in the winter/early spring of 1846 without conflict. Compared to the fighting on both sides and loss of life and possessions in Missouri, like Limhi’s group, the relatively quiet crossing of the Missouri River on ice and ferry boats was a tender mercy, echoing the deliverance of Alma from an earlier period.
Brigham didn’t take the saints back to the original symbolic land of Zarahemla in Ohio, but to a new land established for the gathering of the saints, in the mountains of Utah. This was to become the new capital city of our modern day Nephites, a place of safety and gathering for all pioneers, coming in from all walks of life. There the church and surrounding stakes are established as Alma establishes the church in Zarahemla. The Lord eventually gets us where He wants us, usually through trial and tribulation. If we humble ourselves, patiently wait on His timeline, and have faith in His deliverance, He’ll get us there eventually.
Personal Timeline
Can’t say I really had a divergence from the traditional route, this is one section I kinda skipped over. After High School I had no problem leaving the nest and going off to college, I’ve been pretty independent all my life. But I had lots of friends and family that dabbled with this chapter to one degree or another. By and large it appears to be a difficult path to take and my heart goes out to any that are struggling with some of these issues. It hit closest to home with my younger brother.
After my mission I was back at BYU and in need of a roommate. It just so happened that my brother had a medical issue come up at that time, and had to return home briefly from his mission. It was a tender mercy to be able to spend a few months together as he recuperated and tried to re-adjust to this non-traditional route. Even though he was honorably discharged for a medical reason, and was back out there a few months later after a semester at BYU, it was hard to see the stigmata that accompanied these non-traditional routes. The judgement that sometimes came from would-be traditional travelers was shameful to see.
We need more Ammons out there and less Amulons. Saints from the main body of the church that seek out those in bondage, that strive to help relieve suffering instead of add to it. With the inspiration of the Almighty they help deliver said travelers from their captors and bring them safely back into the fold and onto the covenant path. I didn’t do much for my brother other than provide a place to stay and be a friend. But working together we had a wonderful experience that semester at BYU. He was more like Abinadi, full of that missionary spirit, and we were able to minister and give frequent blessings to multiple members of our singles ward. It was a period of great growth for both of us, and according to the divine timeline, the deliverance back onto the traditional covenant path came. As happy as I was to see him on his way back to his land of Zarahemla and beyond, I was pretty sad to see him go.
We’re all travelers on this crazy journey of life, each one of us is following a different individual path. Hopefully our path falls somewhere within the general outline the Lord has prescribed, but often it doesn’t and that’s ok too, as long as it’s heading towards the right destination. Sometimes these lines intersect, sometimes they run together. Each time they do it’s an opportunity to be an Ammon and not an Amulon. It is an opportunity to lift, to bless, to grow, and to see the divine potential in those who the Lord puts in our path. Let’s enjoy the journey, wherever it might take us!
The Way 