Alma 43:1-8

(Note:  Alma 36-42 consist of Alma(2)’s letter to his three sons.  I have discussed them in earlier posts.  We pick up  our story where we left off.)

Chapter 43

Alma and his sons preach the word—The Zoramites and other Nephite dissenters become Lamanites—The Lamanites come against the Nephites in war—Moroni arms the Nephites with defensive armor—The Lord reveals to Alma the strategy of the Lamanites—The Nephites defend their homes, liberties, families, and religion—The armies of Moroni and Lehi surround the Lamanites. About 74 B.C.

1  AND now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go forth among the people, to declare the word unto them.  And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, and he also went forth.

2  Now we shall say no more concerning their preaching, except that they preached the word, and the truth, according to the spirit of prophecy and revelation; and they preached after the holy order of God by which they were called.

3  And now I return to an account of the wars between the Nephites and the Lamanites, in the eighteenth year [About 74 B.C.] of the reign of the judges.

Alma 43:1-3 (Emphasis mine)

Mormon tells us that Alma(2) and his sons continued to go forth and preach to the people.  He explains that they preached according to the spirit of prophecy and revelations.

But he tells us that he will no longer write about their preaching. He is going write about wars instead of things of a spiritual nature.

Steven Olsen discusses this change.

“Although [Mormon] had known of and alluded to extensive armed conflict in his earlier abridgment of the Nephite records (e.g., Mosiah 10; 20; Alma 2; 15), to this point in his narrative he had chosen not to detail even one battle. In further contrast, Mormon had just completed a detailed account of the remarkable spiritual conversions and relatively successful ministries of Alma the Elder, Alma the Younger, and the sons of Mosiah among both the Nephites and Lamanites (see Mosiah 17—Alma 35). He had also included the verbatim account of the final spiritual counsel of Alma the Younger to his sons Helaman, Shiblon, and Corianton (see Alma 36—42).

“After focusing on patently spiritual matters for over 100 pages of text, Mormon makes an abrupt shift in his narrative. He acknowledges that Alma and his sons continued their missions but then explicitly states, ‘Now we shall say no more concerning their preaching; (Alma 43:2). This shift in focus was not required by a lack of ecclesiastical data; throughout the war narrative, Mormon intermittently refers to their ongoing ministries (e.g., Alma 45:22—23; 46:6, 38; 50:23—25; 62:44—51). Yet instead of focusing on ecclesiology, theology, conversions, and spiritual epiphanies, Mormon chooses at this point to focus his account of the next century of Nephite history almost exclusively on military conflicts between Lamanites and Nephites, fractious internal Nephite politics, social disintegration, and natural catastrophes (Alma 43—3 Nephi 9). The preaching of Samuel the Lamanite is a notable exception (Helaman 13—15).” [1] (Emphasis mine)

4  For behold, it came to pass that the Zoramites became Lamanites; therefore, in the commencement of the eighteenth year the people of the Nephites saw that the Lamanites were coming upon them; therefore they made preparations for war; yea, they gathered together their armies in the land of Jershon.

5  And it came to pass that the Lamanites came with their thousands; and they came into the land of Antionum, which is the land of the Zoramites; and a man by the name of Zerahemnah was their leader.

6  And now, as the Amalekites were of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were, in and of themselves, therefore, Zerahemnah appointed chief captains over the Lamanites, and they were all Amalekites and Zoramites.

7  Now this he did that he might preserve their hatred towards the Nephites, that he might bring them into subjection to the accomplishment of his designs.

8  For behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power over them, and also that he might gain power over the Nephites by bringing them into bondage.

Alma 43:4-8 (Emphasis mine)

War begins.  The Zoramites affiliate with the Lamanites.  Thousands of Lamanites arrived in the land of the Zoramites.  The leader, Zerahemnah, appointed captains over the Lamanites.  All these captains were Amalekites and Zoramites.  It seems they were much more bloodthirsty than the Lamanites.  He wanted to make sure he had leaders who would be as violent as he wanted them to be.  He ultimate goal was to bring the Nephites into bondage so he could develop his own power.

Hugh Nibley observes:

“The Zoramites now severed all connection with the Nephites and considered themselves as being officially Lamanite (Alma 43:4). They invited the Lamanite hordes to move in and occupy their country as the first major move against the Nephites (Alma 43:5). At their head came the Lamanite commander-in-chief, the Amalekite Zerahemnah. The Amalekites were Nephite dissenters of an earlier day, and like most dissenters were more bitter against the Nephites and ‘of a more wicked and murderous disposition than the Lamanites were’ (Alma 43:6). Zerahemnah had seen to it that all the key commands in the army had gone to Amalekites like himself or to equally ferocious Zoramites (Alma 43:6). So we see the Nephites being punished for their own wickedness in more ways than one; in fact the Lamanites appear at times as no more than the simpleminded tools of Nephite or ex-Nephite wickedness. Certainly Zerahemnah was using them as his cat's paw, ‘or behold, his designs were to stir up the Lamanites to anger against the Nephites; this he did that he might usurp great power’ (Alma 43:8).” [2] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Prophecy and History: Structuring the Abridgment of the Nephite Records, Steven L. Olsen, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 12, 2011.

[2] A Rigorous Test: Military History, Hugh Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed December 12, 2011.

Mosiah 9:1-10

Having completed Nephi(1)'s Appendix - The Doctrine of Christ, it is time to move on to a new set of scriptures.  After spending some time reviewing the Book of Mormon, I choose Mosiah 9-22.  This is the record of Zeniff.

There are some wonderful and powerful teachings in these chapters.  We meet the prophet Abinadai and read his great and powerful teachings to the wicked king and his priests.  We learn of Alma(1) and his conversion.

Another reason I wanted to look at this story is because it gives us a great look at Mormon's approach to his abridgement.  One theme that is common in his abridgement is the rise of the people when they are righteous and the fall of them when they turn away from the Lord.  As we move along, I will point out some of the characteristics of Mormon's style.

On to the Record of Zeniff.

THE RECORD OF ZENIFF—

An account of his people, from the time they left the land of Zarahemla until the time that they were delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites.  Comprising chapters 9 to 22 inclusive.

Chapter 9

Zeniff leads a group from Zarahemla to possess the land of Lehi-Nephi—The Lamanite king permits them to inherit the land—There is war between the Lamanites and Zeniff's people. About 200–187 B.C.

1  I, ZENIFF, having been taught in all the language of the Nephites, and having had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or of the land of our fathers' first inheritance, *[About 200 B.C.] and having been 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.
2  Therefore, I contended with my brethren in the wilderness, for I would that our ruler should make a treaty with them; but he being an austere and a blood-thirsty man commanded that I should be slain; but I 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 9:1-2 (Emphasis mine)

Mormon begins the tale by quoting directly from Zeniff's record.  We learn that Zeniff was a spy for the Nephites.  As he got to know the Lamanites, he found them to be a good people.  He didn't want to see them destroyed.

Not surprisingly, when the guy in charge ("our ruler" - v2) wanted the Lamanites killed, most of the people with Zeniff also wanted them killed.  His recommendations were not well accepted and this led to a fight.

The fight was bad.  Apparently the majority of the Nephite army died in the battle.  Once the dust had settled, they went back home, to Zarahemla.

As Zeniff begins his record, he tells us that he was "taught in all the language of the Nephites."  I find it interesting that he chose to make this point.  Why would he?  I would think for two reasons.

• We are now 400 years from the time Lehi and his family began their journey to the Americas.  Over 400 years, the traditional language of the Nephites would have undergone changes.  Compare the language of today with the writings of William Shakespeare.  The language is basically the same, but there are many words and phrases unknown to us today.  From the records, it appears that there were two languages - an everyday language and a formal written language for the plates.  Zeniff would have had to learn both languages in order to use the written language.
• I believe this is an example where we see that there were other people in the Americas when Lehi and family arrived.  These locals had their own languages.  It would not be surprising in the least to learn that the original language had changed over the centuries as the language of the locals became incorporated into everyday speech.  

3  And yet, I being over–zealous to inherit the land of our fathers, collected as many as were desirous to go up to possess the land, and started again on our journey into the wilderness to go up to the land; but we were smitten with famine and sore afflictions; for we were slow to remember the Lord our God.
4  Nevertheless, after many days' wandering in the wilderness we pitched our tents in the place where our brethren were slain, which was near to the land of our fathers.
5  And it came to pass that I went again with four of my men into the city, in unto the king, that I might 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.
6  And I went in unto the king, and he covenanted with me that I might possess the land of Lehi-Nephi, and the land of Shilom.
7  And he also commanded that his people should depart out of the land, and I and my people went into the land that we might possess it.
8  And we began to build buildings, and to repair the walls of the city, yea, even the walls of the city of Lehi-Nephi, and the city of Shilom.
9  And we began to till the ground, yea, even with all manner of seeds, with seeds of corn, and of wheat, and of barley, and with neas, and with sheum, and with seeds of all manner of fruits; and we did begin to multiply and prosper in the land.
10  Now it was the cunning and the craftiness of king Laman, to bring my people into bondage, that he yielded up the land that we might possess it.

Mosiah 9:3-10 (Emphasis mine)

Zeniff had a great desire to return to the land of Nephi, where everything began.  It appears that many others felt the same way.  He organized a group of settles and left Zarahemla to return to the first home. 

Things didn't go well for them.  Zeniff records that they were "slow to remember the Lord."  They suffered as they traveled.

This is a common theme we will see in Mormon's abridgement.  He emphasizes the cyclical nature of Nephite society.  When things are going good, they people forget who was responsible for their prosperity and they become a wicked people, slow to remember the Lord (if they do at all).  When the people fall away, something happens.  The Lord might send a drought that results in a famine.  The Lamanites may attack and, when in the past they were able to defeat these mighty armies, they would suffer major defeats because the Lord was no longer with them. 

The pain and suffering would humble the people and they would return to the Lord.  As they became a righteous people, they once again prospered.  Then, they turned away from the Lord.  This pattern occurs throughout Nephite history until the society ultimate collapses and is no more.

It is important to Mormon to emphasize consequences.  The consequence of bring righteous is prosperity.  The consequence of evil is suffering.  The Lord sends prophets to the Nephites during their wicked times, calling them to repentance and to return to the Lord.  The prophets warn them that, if they don't, they would suffer many pains and sorrow.  Even after being warned, the people seldom heeded the words of the prophets. 

Mormon gave us this history as a warning to us.  Remember, as he was abridging the many plates, he was watching his society collapse and coming to an end.  He was seeing the ultimate consequences of wickedness.  He hoped that we would learn from the Nephite failure and avoid the consequences of wickedness. 

Back to the record.

The people finally arrived in the land of Lehi-Nephi.  Zeniff went to the King and asked him to give them that land as well as some other land.  King Laman readily agreed to give them the land.  He even went so far as to remove and relocate the Lamanite people already living in there.  Zeniff and his people entered an empty land.

They went to work building their society.  They built new buildings.  They planted crops.  (Here we learn of two Nephite words - neas and sheum.  Don't know what they were!) 

They had apparently returned to the Lord, because they began to prosper in the land.  But all was not well.

King Laman had an ulterior motive.  He wanted the land for the Lamanites.  He wanted to make the Nephites slaves.  He was waiting for the Nephites to make something of the land and he planned to break his agreement and retake the land.

This is setting up events that will continue the entire time they Nephites remain in the land of Lehi-Nephi.