Before we begin studying the Book of Alma, we need to look
at events which will lead to Alma2’s ministry.
In the Book of Mosiah, beginning with chapter 9, we read
about a group of Nephites who wanted to return to the land of Nephi, where
Nephi’s part settled after Laman and Lemuel “did seek to take away [Nephi’s]
life” (2 Nephi 5:4).
Nephi tells us, his party “did take [their] tents and
whatsoever things were possible for [them], and did journey in the wilderness
for the space of many days. And after [they] had journeyed for the space of
many days [they] did pitch our tents. And [Nephi’s] people would that we should
call the name of the place Nephi; wherefore, [they] did call it Nephi” (Nephi
5:7-8).
Some 400 years later, a group of Nephites left Zarahemla with
the intentions of settling the land of Nephi. At that time, the land was inhabited
by the Lamanites.
Zeniff was a part of the group who returned to the land of
Nephi. When they arrived, Zeniff tells us he was “sent as a spy among the
Lamanites that I might spy out their forces, that our army might come upon them
and destroy them-but when I saw that which was good among them I was desirous
that they should not be destroyed” (Mosiah 9:1). Zeniff recommended to their
leader he make a treaty with the Lamanites.
Zeniff describes the leader as “being an austere and a
blood-thirsty man,” was angry with this recommendation. He attempted to kill
Zeniff. This divided the group. He tells us he “was rescued by the shedding of
much blood; for father fought against father, and brother against brother,
until the greater number of our army was destroyed in the wilderness; and we
returned, those of us that were spared, to the land of Zarahemla, to relate
that tale to their wives and their children” (Mosiah 9:2).
Some time after they returned to Zarahemla, Zeniff, “being
over-zealous to inherit the land of our fathers,” organized another group to
return to the land. During their journey, they were “were smitten with famine
and sore afflictions” during their journey, because, Zeniff tells us, “for we were
slow to remember the Lord our God” (Mosiah 9:3). Eventually, they arrive where the
first party had stopped.
Zeniff took four men with him as he went to meet with the Lamanite
king, King Laman. Zeniff tells us he wanted to “know of the disposition of the
king, and that I might know if I might go in with my people and possess the
land in peace” (Mosiah 9:5).
The result was King Laman “covenanted” with Zeniff that they
“might possess the land of Lehi-Nephi, and the land of Shilom” (Mosiah 9:6). Twenty-two
years later, the king would break his covenant and place the Nephites into bondage.
There was a battle, and the Nephites defeated the Lamanite army (see Mosiah
9:15-19).
Zeniff tells us the Lamanites “were a wild, and ferocious,
and a blood-thirsty people” (Mosiah 10:12), They believed the tradition of
their fathers. He explains these traditions.
“[T]hey 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;
“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.
“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.
“And again, they were wroth with him when they had arrived
in the promised land, because they said that he had taken the ruling of the
people out of their hands; and they sought to kill him.
“And again, they were wroth with him because he departed
into the wilderness as the Lord had commanded him, and took the records which
were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed them,”
“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” (Mosiah 10:12-17).
We will see throughout the remainder of the Book of Mormon,
the Lamanites will be driven by the “traditions of their fathers” to destroy
the Nephites.
“Through a thousand years of Nephite history, both Nephite
dissidents and Lamanite invaders accused Nephite rulers of usurping the right
to rule that belonged to Laman and Lemuel, the elder sons of Lehi, and to their
descendants (see Alma 54:17). For the aggrieved parties, the offense arose from
a series of incidents when Nephi ‘took the lead of their journey in the
wilderness,’ while crossing the sea, and again “in the land of their first
inheritance” when he led a small group away – ‘robbing’ them of the brass
plates and the right of ruling Lehi’s descendants (see Mosiah 10:12-16). Nephi
himself reports their complaint: ‘Our younger brother thinks to rule over us;
and we have had much trial because of him; wherefore, now let us slay him, that
we may not be afflicted more because of his words. For behold, we will not have
him to be our ruler; for it belongs unto us, who are the elder brethren, to
rule over this people’ (2 Nephi 5:3).”[1]
[1] Nephite
Kingship Reconsidered, Noel B. Reynolds, Maxwell Institute website.
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