16 And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage. 17 And he said unto Alma: Thou shalt go before this people, and I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage.
Mosiah 24:16 – 17 (Emphasis mine)
The record doesn’t tell us how long Alma(1) and his people were in bondage. From the head notes at the beginning of the chapter, we read that this occurred “About 145-120 B.C.” From that, we can infer that the bondage occurred over a period of 25 years.
At some point, the Lord heard their prayers and gave them the strength to not only bear the burdens, but to do so cheerfully (verse 15). The next verse Mormon records that the Lord told the people that the next day; they would be released from bondage. The Lord told them that “I will go with thee and deliver this people out of bondage.”
Heather Hardy explains how Mormon is going about to fulfill his promise to us that they would be free.
“True to his word, Mormon shows what he promised in Mosiah 23:21—24 by enacting the foretold trials, deliverance, and rejoicings in the narrative that follows. In his introductory comment, he noted that God would test the people's patience and faith. We are shown how they continue to trust in the Lord despite heavy burdens and afflictions, and then once again Mormon underlines his message: ‘And it came to pass that so great was their faith and their patience that the voice of the Lord came unto them again, saying: Be of good comfort, for on the morrow I will deliver you out of bondage’ (Mosiah 24:16).” [1] (Emphasis mine)
18 Now it came to pass that Alma and his people in the night–time gathered their flocks together, and also of their grain; yea, even all the night–time were they gathering the flocks together. 19 And in the morning the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites, yea, and all their task–masters were in a profound sleep. 20 And Alma and his people departed into the wilderness; and when they had traveled all day they pitched their tents in a valley, and they called the valley Alma, because he led their way in the wilderness. 21 Yea, and in the valley of Alma they 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. 22 And they gave thanks to God, yea, all their men and all their women and all their children that could speak lifted their voices in the praises of their God.
Mosiah 24:18-22 (Emphasis mine)
That night, they began to gather up their flocks, grain, and whatever else they were taking with them. By morning, they were ready. The Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon their guards, allowing Alma(1) and his people were able to depart into the wilderness.
Richard Rust explains how common the Lamanites fall asleep.
“In several crucial encounters between the Nephites and the numerically superior Lamanites, the Lamanites simply fall asleep. Alma the Elder and his people are able to escape during the day because ‘the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites’ (Mosiah 24:19); Teancum is able to kill the dictator Amalickiah because sleep overpowers the fatigued Lamanites (Alma 51:33); Moroni captures the city Gid without loss of life ‘while the Lamanites [are] in a deep sleep and drunken’ (Alma 55:16).
“Physical sleep also symbolizes a type of spiritual darkness … Spiritually benighted Nephites also are awakened by the Lord ‘out of a deep sleep, and they [awake] unto God’ (Alma 5:7) … [A]ccording to Moroni, the resurrection brings ‘a redemption from an endless sleep, from which sleep all men shall be awakened by the power of God when the trump shall sound’ (Mormon 9:13).” [2] (Emphasis mine)
They must have made good time, because by the end of the day they were able to pitch tents in a valley they named after Alma(1). After pitching tents, they had a gathering were they “poured out” their gratitude and thanks to God for delivering them from bondage.
Richard Rust explains the bondage suffered by Alma(1)’s group.
“,,, [T]he bondage suffered by peoples such as Alma's group was beyond what humans could do to solve it, requiring the power of God to be shown directly: ‘They were in bondage, and none could deliver them except it were the Lord their God ‘ (Mosiah 24:21). Similarly, the most oppressive spiritual bondage has to be overcome miraculously by the power of God himself. “ [3] (Emphasis mine)
23 And now the Lord said unto Alma: Haste thee and get thou and this people out of this land, for the Lamanites have awakened and do pursue thee; therefore get thee out of this land, and I will stop the Lamanites in this valley that they come no further in pursuit of this people. 24 And it came to pass that they departed out of the valley, and took their journey into the wilderness. 25 And after they had been in the wilderness twelve days [120 B.C.] they arrived in the land of Zarahemla; and king Mosiah did also receive them with joy.
Mosiah 24:23 – 25 (Emphasis mine)
We don’t know how long they stayed in the Valley of Alma(1), but the time came that the Lord told the people they had to leave. The Lamanites were on their way. Leave now and He will stop the Lamanites here in this Valley.
They left and traveled for twelve days in the wilderness before arriving in the land of Zarahemla. (Note that Mormon tells us they arrived in the “land,” not “City.” To arrive in the City, they probably had to travel a while longer.)
When they finally arrived, King Mosiah “also receive[d] them with joy.”
Heather Hardy analyzes Mormon’s writing.
“It is hard to imagine a more didactic strategy than this ‘tell-show-tell’ sandwich, and the meaning of the narrative is clear—the faithful will prosper under God's providential care, despite temporary setbacks. This is the message of salvation, and Mormon presents it in a manner not to be misunderstood.
“Many readers will simply turn the page and move on, but Mormon, through one seemingly extraneous word, suggests that there is more to the story: ‘And after they had been in the wilderness twelve days they arrived in the land of Zarahemla; and king Mosiah did also receive them with joy’ (Mosiah 24:25). ‘Also?’ Who else was involved? The answer is not difficult since the wording closely follows an earlier passage. When Mormon concluded the story of the deliverance of the people of Limhi, he wrote: ‘And after being many days in the wilderness they arrived in the land of Zarahemla, and joined Mosiah's people, and became his subjects. And it came to pass that Mosiah received them with joy’ (Mosiah 22:13—14). By including the ‘also’ in the second account, Mormon signals his intention to link the two stories and expects that readers will connect them as well.” [4] (Emphasis mine)
Gary Lambert explains that this account presents Alma(1) in as a “Moses” to his people.
“Once again, in Moses-like fashion, Alma guided his people out of bondage, and led them during a twelve-day journey to a new land—the Land of Zarahemla—where they joined with the people of Zarahemla and exiled Nephites to form a new and stronger Nephite nation (Mosiah 24:24—25).” [5] (Emphasis mine)
[1] Another Testament of Jesus Christ: Mormon's Poetics, Heather Hardy, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 21, 2012.
[2] "Not Cast Off Forever" - Imagery, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 21, 2012.
[3] Book of Mormon Imagery, Richard Dilworth Rust, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 21, 2012.
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