Chapter 21
Limhi's people are
smitten and defeated by the Lamanites—They meet Ammon and are converted—They
tell Ammon of the twenty–four Jaredite plates. About 122–121 B.C.
1 AND it came to pass
that Limhi and his people returned to the city of Nephi, and began to dwell in
the land again in peace.
2 And it came to pass
that after many days the Lamanites began again to be stirred up in anger
against the Nephites, and they began to come into the borders of the land round
about.
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.
5 And now the
afflictions of the Nephites were great, and there was no way that they could
deliver themselves out of their hands, for the Lamanites had surrounded them on
every side.
6 And it came to pass
that the people began to murmur with the king because of their afflictions; and
they began to be desirous to go against them to battle. And they did afflict the king sorely with
their complaints; therefore he granted unto them that they should do according
to their desires.
7 And they gathered
themselves together again, and put on their armor, and went forth against the
Lamanites to drive them out of their land.
8 And it came to pass
that the Lamanites did beat them, and drove them back, and slew many of them.
9 And now there was a
great mourning and lamentation among the people of Limhi, the widow mourning
for her husband, the son and the daughter mourning for their father, and the
brothers for their brethren.
10 Now there were a
great many widows in the land, and they did cry mightily from day to day, for a
great fear of the Lamanites had come upon them.
11 And it came to pass
that their continual cries did stir up the remainder of the people of Limhi to
anger against the Lamanites; and they went again to battle, but they were
driven back again, suffering much loss.
12 Yea, they went
again even the third time, and suffered in the like manner; and those that were
not slain returned again to the city of Nephi.
Mosiah 21:1-12
The war was over. Peace
was found in the land. Eventually,
however, the Lamanites became upset with the Nephites. They moved into the lands around the people
of Limhi.
The Lamanites couldn’t kill them because of their king’s
oath. Instead, they abused them. They hit them and placed heavy burdens upon
them.
They started harassing; that's the
way it starts. They couldn't kill them because they had made an oath to King
Limhi. (Isn't that nice they observed their oaths? We observe oaths, too, as
long as it is convenient. Our treaties with the Indians, for example; there are
some "beauties.") But they did bother them and do what Indians would
do. They were brutal. They would hit them in the face, boss them around, and
then "put heavy burdens upon their backs, and drive them as they would a
dumb ass." That was the prophecy—they started bullying them.[1]
Mormon tells us this was done to fulfill the words of the
Lord. Abinadi warned them of the
consequences of their wickedness and they didn’t repent. Now they were reaping what they had sown.
Things were very had for the Nephites. Not only were they suffering many
afflictions, they were surrounded by the Lamanites. Things were not looking good.
The people complained about their situation to king. They wanted to go to war. Limhi eventually agreed. The people prepared for war and went forth to
attack the Lamanites.
Limhi’s people were roundly defeated. Many died in the battle. Mourning was heard throughout the land. There were many widows in the land.
Anger increased among Limhi’s people. They went to battle a second time and
suffered a major defeat with many casualties.
They went forward with battle for a third time, and suffered a terrible
defeat.
[1] Teachings
of the Book of Mormon – Semester 2, Lecture 38 – Mosiah 20–23, Maxwell
Institute, accessed November 12, 2014.
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