³⁰ Now the armies of the Lamanites, which had followed after the people of king Limhi, had been lost in the wilderness for many days. ³¹ And behold, they had found those priests of king Noah, in a place which they called Amulon; and they had begun to possess the land of Amulon and had begun to till the ground. ³² Now the name of the leader of those priests was Amulon. ³³ And it came to pass that Amulon did plead with the Lamanites; and he also sent forth their wives, who were the daughters of the Lamanites, to plead with their brethren, that they should not destroy their husbands. ³⁴ And the Lamanites had compassion on Amulon and his brethren, and did not destroy them, because of their wives. ³⁵ And Amulon and his brethren did join the Lamanites, and they were traveling in the wilderness in search of the land of Nephi when they discovered the land of Helam, which was possessed by Alma and his brethren.

Mosiah 23:30-35 (Emphasis mine)

Mormon inserts information after the Alma(1) had surrendered to the Lamanites.  We jump back in time a bit to learn about this Army.  He tells us that this is the army that searched for the people of Limhi.  He earlier recorded that the Lamanites “sent an army into the wilderness to pursue them; And after they had pursued them two days, they could no longer follow their tracks; therefore they were lost in the wilderness.” (Mosiah 22:15-16). 

While trying to find their way back, the Lamanites happened on to the people of Amulon.  Amulon was one of King Noah’s wicked priests.  After abandoning their families at the command of King Noah, we read that they found a place where daughters of the Lamanites met.  After hiding, they saw the daughters, “they came forth out of their secret places and took them and carried them into the wilderness; yea, twenty and four of the daughters of the Lamanites they carried into the wilderness.” (Mosiah 20:5).

When they were found, they had much to fear from the army because they kidnapped these women.  S. Kent Brown writes:

“… [T]the army that discovered the settlement was well aware that these priests—known kidnappers—were deserving of death.  As a result, the priests did everything to escape being killed. The leader of the group, a man named Amulon, adopted a two-pronged approach. First, he himself ‘did plead with the Lamanites’ that they not destroy the members of the settlement. Then ‘he also sent forth their wives, who were the daughters of the Lamanites, to plead with their brethren, that they should not destroy their husbands’ (Mosiah 23:33). His own efforts seem to have failed. But the efforts of the women paid off: ‘And the Lamanites had compassion on Amulon and his brethren, and did not destroy them, because of their wives’  (Mosiah 23:34).  [Brown comments in a footnote:  ‘The successful pleading of the women continues a pattern found elsewhere in the Book of Mormon (see 1 Nephi 7:19 and Mosiah 19:13—15) that finds echoes in the exodus story (see Exodus 3:21—22 and 11:2—3). See Daube, Exodus Pattern, 55—61.’] … To all appearances, the wives were willing to intercede for their husbands. There was no visibly abusive compulsion on the part of the former priests, forcing the women to come forward and beg on their behalf in a demeaning way, an action that would surely have given the Lamanite soldiers an excuse to execute the husbands.

“However, negotiations also meant that the priests evidently were required to abandon their new settlement, to return to the homeland of the Lamanites, and to ‘join the Lamanites,’ although the text does not specify what this latter means (Mosiah 23:35).  The results for the priests were that they would keep both their lives and their wives—a decision not subsequently overturned by the Lamanite king because, afterward, he appointed Amulon to serve as a regent king over the colony of Alma, ‘his people’ (Mosiah 23:39).” [1]  (Emphasis mine)

³⁶ And it came to pass that the Lamanites promised unto Alma and his brethren, that if they would show them the way which led to the land of Nephi that they would grant unto them their lives and their liberty. ³⁷ But after Alma had shown them the way that led to the land of Nephi the Lamanites would not keep their promise; but they set guards round about the land of Helam, over Alma and his brethren. ³⁸ And the remainder of them went to the land of Nephi; and a part of them returned to the land of Helam, and also brought with them the wives and the children of the guards who had been left in the land. ³⁹ And the king of the Lamanites had granted unto Amulon that he should be a king and a ruler over his people, who were in the land of Helam; nevertheless he should have no power to do anything contrary to the will of the king of the Lamanites.

Mosiah 23:36-39 (Emphasis mine)

Mormon continues the story.  We find the reason that the Lamanites were so quick to agree to peace with Alma(1) was because they needed help finding their way home.  Hugh Nibley comments:

“The Lamanite armies that have pursued Limhi's people in the episode mentioned above ended up getting ‘lost in the wilderness for many days’ (Mosiah 23:30), and the same armies after joining up with another lost company, a band of refugee priests under Amulon, finally came upon Alma's people and begged them to ‘show them the way which led to the land of Nephi; (Mosiah 23:36). Such ignorance of the country by whole ‘armies’ that had been moving about in it for a long time can only mean that the Lamanites' own stamping grounds were far, far away.” [2] (Emphasis mine)

The Lamanites did not keep their word.  (Alma(1) probably didn’t have much choice in the matter.)  Guards were set around the land of Helam, and they were now captives of the Lamanites.

When preaching to the people of Zarahemla, Alma(2) would refer to this incident reminding the people that  later preaching “they were brought into bondage by the hands of the Lamanites in the wilderness; yea, I say unto you, they were in captivity, and again the Lord did deliver them out of bondage by the power of his word; and we were brought into this land, and here we began to establish the church of God throughout this land also.” (Alma 5:5). 

The Lamanite king also granted Amulon to be a king over the land of Helam.  Apparently the king didn’t have much confidence and trust in Amulon, because “he should have no power to do anything contrary to the will of the king of the Lamanites.”

The incidents of wars and such in this section of the Book of Mormon follow a pattern according to Todd Compton.

“The long middle section of the Book of Mormon chronicles a series of wars between Nephites and Lamanites, and would offer a great deal of scope for ‘cowboys-and-Indians’ stereotyping. Yet in these wars, when Lamanites attack the Nephites, it is often because ambitious Nephites have manipulated them into doing so. After the Nephites defeat Amlici and his army, he flees to the Lamanites and returns with a huge Lamanite army added to the remnants of his own (Alma 2:24). The wicked priests of King Noah intermarry with Lamanite women (Mosiah 20), and their leader, Amulon, becomes a satellite "king" under a chief Lamanite king (Mosiah 23:39). These wicked priests become teachers among the Lamanites (Mosiah 24:1, 4).” [3] (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Marriage and Treaty in the Book of Mormon: The Case of the Abducted Lamanite Daughters, S. Kent Brown, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 17, 2012.

[2] The Nature of Book of Mormon Society, Hugh W. Nibley, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 17, 2012.

[3] The Spirituality of the Outcast in the Book of Mormon, Todd M. Compton, Provo, Utah: Maxwell Institute, accessed January 17, 2012.

Alma 25:1-9

Chapter 25

Lamanite aggressions spread—The seed of the priests of Noah perish as Abinadi prophesied—Many Lamanites are converted and join the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi—They believe in Christ and keep the law of Moses. About 90–77 B.C.

1  AND behold, now it came to pass that those Lamanites were more angry because they had slain their brethren; therefore they swore vengeance upon the Nephites; and they did no more attempt to slay the people of Anti-Nephi-Lehi at that time.

2  But they took their armies and went over into the borders of the land of Zarahemla, and fell upon the people who were in the land of Ammonihah and destroyed them.

3  And after that, they had many battles with the Nephites, in the which they were driven and slain.

Alma 25:1-3 (Emphasis mine)

Lamanite anger is now directed towards the Nephites.  The land of Ammonihah was attacked and the people were killed.  Battles continued with the Nephites. 

4  And among the Lamanites who were slain were almost all the seed of Amulon and his brethren, who were the priests of Noah, and they were slain by the hands of the Nephites;

5  And the remainder, having fled into the east wilderness, and having usurped the power and authority over the Lamanites, caused that many of the Lamanites should perish by fire because of their belief—

6  For many of them, after having suffered much loss and so many afflictions, began to be stirred up in remembrance of the words which Aaron and his brethren had preached to them in their land; therefore they began to disbelieve the traditions of their fathers, and to believe in the Lord, and that he gave great power unto the Nephites; and thus there were many of them converted in the wilderness.

7  And it came to pass that those rulers who were the remnant of the children of Amulon caused that they should be put to death, yea, all those that believed in these things.

8  Now this martyrdom caused that many of their brethren should be stirred up to anger; and there began to be contention in the wilderness; and the Lamanites began to hunt the seed of Amulon and his brethren and began to slay them; and they fled into the east wilderness.

9  And behold they are hunted at this day by the Lamanites.  Thus the words of Abinadi were brought to pass, which he said concerning the seed of the priests who caused that he should suffer death by fire.

Alma 25:4-9 (Emphasis mine)

Once again we see the wicked priests of Noah making an appearance.  They had been responsible for inciting the Lamanites to attack the Anti-Nephi-Lehies. 

The Lamanites are angered and attack them and almost destroy their seed.  A few did escape.  They promptly began to execute, by fire, some Anti-Nephi-Lehies.  As with the previous attack, while some righteous died for their beliefs (remember, Mormon tells us they returned to God). 

Finally, the Lamanites had it.  They began to hunt and kill them.  Mormon tells us that a few did escape.  They were still being hunted by the Lamanites in Mormon’s day, almost half a millennium later.

Hugh Nibley writes:

“After Amulon took a beating he moved into Lamanite country and oppressed the Lamanite nonresisters who had been converted by this general pacifistic trend … The Lamanites in general reacted against the arrogant Amulonites because of the way they had treated the non-resistant, gentle Lamanites. The other Lamanites got mad at the Amulonites and lit into them. So we find a perennial feud going on here, a terrible mess.  Verse 8: ‘Now this martyrdom caused that many of their brethren should be stirred up to anger; and there began to be contention in the wilderness; and the Lamanites began to hunt the seed of Amulon and his brethren [who had done so much mischief to their more faithful brethren] and began to slay them. . . . And behold they are hunted at this day by the Lamanites.’ So it was going on at the time this was written.” [1]   (Emphasis mine)

Todd Compton wrote:

“The wicked priests of King Noah intermarry with Lamanite women (Mosiah 20), and their leader, Amulon, becomes a satellite ‘king’ under a chief Lamanite king (Mosiah 23:39). These wicked priests become teachers among the Lamanites (Mosiah 24:1, 4). After the missionary successes of the sons of Mosiah, it is the Amulonites and the Amalekites (apparently other evil Nephites who lived among the Lamanites) who stir up the unconverted Lamanites to war against their converted brethren, and then against the Nephites (Alma 25:2).”  The Lamanites eventually see that they are being manipulated and hunt down the Amulonites and kill them (Alma 25:8–9). [2]  (Emphasis mine)

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[1] Lecture 53: Alma 23-27, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 28, 2011.

[2] The Spirituality of the Outcast in the Book of Mormon, Todd M. Compton, Maxwell Institute, accessed September 28, 2011.

Mosiah 20:1-26

 Chapter 20

Lamanite daughters are abducted by the priests of Noah—The Lamanites wage war upon Limhi and his people—They are repulsed and pacified. About 145–123 B.C.

1  NOW there was a place in Shemlon where the daughters of the Lamanites did gather themselves together to sing, and to dance, and to make themselves merry.
2  And it came to pass that there was one day a small number of them gathered together to sing and to dance.
3  And now the priests of king Noah, being ashamed to return to the city of Nephi, yea, and also fearing that the people would slay them, therefore they durst not return to their wives and their children.
4  And having tarried in the wilderness, and having discovered the daughters of the Lamanites, they laid and watched them;
5  And when there were but few of them gathered together to dance, they came forth out of their secret places and took them and carried them into the wilderness; yea, twenty and four of the daughters of the Lamanites they carried into the wilderness. 

Mosiah 20:1-5 (Emphasis mine) 

The priests took off, saving their lives.  They were afraid to go back because they knew that they would probably die for their actions.  I have to think that at least some of them had to be ashamed that the left their wife and children behind and saved their own lives instead.

One day they saw some of the "daughters of the Lamanites" out together having a good time.  They hid, and when they had the chance, they kidnapped 24 of the young women.

As we read this account, it appears that the place where the young women went was outside of a city, but not in the wilderness (see verse 5).  Verse 4 tells us that they had discovered them there, and that they watched them.  John Welch, Robert F. Smith, and Gordon C. Thomasson (click here for source) wrote about this event. "There the priests found the young women, hid themselves and watched, and sprang out of their hiding places, taking the young women into the wilderness (see Mosiah 20:2-5). The Hebrew idiom translated "lying in wait" usually connotes premeditation and planning, implying that the priests may well have known of this place and the custom for young women to be there." (Emphasis mine)

6  And it came to pass that when the Lamanites found that their daughters had been missing, they were angry with the people of Limhi, for they thought it was the people of Limhi.
7  Therefore they sent their armies forth; yea, even the king himself went before his people; and they went up to the land of Nephi to destroy the people of Limhi.
8  And now Limhi had discovered them from the tower, even all their preparations for war did he discover; therefore he gathered his people together, and laid wait for them in the fields and in the forests.
9  And it came to pass that when the Lamanites had come up, that the people of Limhi began to fall upon them from their waiting places, and began to slay them.
10  And it came to pass that the battle became exceedingly sore, for they fought like lions for their prey.
11  And it came to pass that the people of Limhi began to drive the Lamanites before them; yet they were not half so numerous as the Lamanites.  But they fought for their lives, and for their wives, and for their children; therefore they exerted themselves and like dragons did they fight.

Mosiah 20:6-11 (Emphasis mine)

 

It's not too surprising that the Lamanites would be upset over the kidnapping of 24 of their young women.  They blamed the people of Limhi for breaking the treaty they had made with them.  In a case like that, war is not an unheard of response.

 

Fortunately, Limhi was on the tower and saw the Lamanites preparing for war.  He was able to get his people prepared for war. 

 

They waited and ambushed the Lamanites as they came towards the Nephite land.  Mormon tells us that it was quite a battle because they fought for their lives and their families.  We will see this motivation (their lives and families) praised by Mormon as a reason to fight later in the Book of Mormon.

12  And it came to pass that they found the king of the Lamanites among the number of their dead; yet he was not dead, having been wounded and left upon the ground, so speedy was the flight of his people.
13  And they took him and bound up his wounds, and brought him before Limhi, and said: Behold, here is the king of the Lamanites; he having received a wound has fallen among their dead, and they have left him; and behold, we have brought him before you; and now let us slay him.
14  But Limhi said unto them: Ye shall not slay him, but bring him hither that I may see him.  And they brought him.  And Limhi said unto him: What cause have ye to come up to war against my people?  Behold, my people have not broken the oath that I made unto you; therefore, why should ye break the oath which ye made unto my people?
15  And now the king said: I have broken the oath because thy people did carry away the daughters of my people; therefore, in my anger I did cause my people to come up to war against thy people.
16  And now Limhi.  Therefore he caused a search to be made among his people.

Mosiah 20:12-16 (Emphasis mine)

The Lamanite king was seriously wounded in the battle; he appeared to have died and was left behind as the Lamanites retreated.

When it was realized that he was alive, his wounds were treated.  They informed Limhi and wanted him executed.  Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and Limhi had him brought to him for questioning.

The Lamanite king explained why they attacked.  He believed that Limhi's people were responsible for the kidnapping.  This was the first Limhi had heard of this.  He promised the king that, if any of his people were responsible, he would find them and have them executed.

17  Now when Gideon had heard these things, he being the king's captain, he went forth and said unto the king: I pray thee forbear, and do not search this people, and lay not this thing to their charge.
18  For do ye not remember the priests of thy father, whom this people sought to destroy?  And are they not in the wilderness?  And are not they the ones who have stolen the daughters of the Lamanites?
19  And now, behold, and tell the king of these things, that he may tell his people that they may be pacified towards us; for behold they are already preparing to come against us; and behold also there are but few of us.
20  And behold, they come with their numerous hosts; and except the king doth pacify them towards us we must perish.
21  For are not the words of Abinadi fulfilled, which he prophesied against us—and all this because we would not hearken unto the words of the Lord, and turn from our iniquities?
22  And now let us pacify the king, and we fulfil the oath which we have made unto him; for it is better that we should be in bondage than that we should lose our lives; therefore, let us put a stop to the shedding of so much blood.

Mosiah 20:17-22 (Emphasis mine)

Gideon is now the King's captain.  When he heard what had happened, he went to the  King and said, "Our people wouldn't do this.  Do you remember your father's priests?  They're wandering in the wilderness.  They were most likely the ones who did this."

Then he told Limhi that the words of Abinadi had been fulfilled - "... Thus saith the Lord, it shall come to pass that this generation, because of their iniquities, shall be brought into bondage, and shall be smitten on the cheek; yea, and shall be driven by men, and shall be slain..." Mosiah 12:2

23  And now Limhi told the king all the things concerning his father, and the priests that had fled into the wilderness, and attributed the carrying away of their daughters to them.
24  And it came to pass that the king was pacified towards his people; and he said unto them: Let us go forth to meet my people, without arms; and I swear unto you with an oath that my people shall not slay thy people.
25  And it came to pass that they followed the king, and went forth without arms to meet the Lamanites.  And it came to pass that they did meet the Lamanites; and the king of the Lamanites did bow himself down before them, and did plead in behalf of the people of Limhi.
26  And when the Lamanites saw the people of Limhi, that they were without arms, they had compassion on them and were pacified towards them, and returned with their king in peace to their own land.

Mosiah 20:23-26 (Emphasis mine)

Limhi followed Gideon's  advice.  He went to the king, explained what had happened and that his people will no longer slay the Lamanites.

They went forth and the king pleaded on behalf of the people of Limhi.  When they heard their kings words, and saw that the Nephites were not armed, they had compassion towards them, and that ended the war and peach came into the land.

We see how the people were still paying for the wickedness of the people as well as King Noah and his priests.  All the problems were caused by the priests.  Abinadi's words were again fulfilled.  

Gideon is an interesting man.  Here was a man of war counseling peace.  Hugh Nibley wrote:

"Gideon is the last man you would expect to do this. But he had the experience of these things, and he knew. It's the old commander that knows. The most passionate talks I've ever heard against war in the Army have been by generals, without any exception. They know what it is, and boy do they light in! There were some wonderful ones by Omar Bradley, Max Taylor, and others. Eisenhower said some pretty strong things, too. 'Therefore, let us put a stop to the shedding of so much blood,' Gideon said, with his rush of excitement. This is the Gideon who chased the king up the tower with a sword, and all that sort of thing. He is the one who is making a plea to put an end to all this bloodshed, whatever they do." (Emphasis mine)

Lecture 38: Mosiah 20-23, Hugh W. Nibley, Maxwell Institute, accessed August 4, 2011.

Both sides showed wisdom.  "Limhi explained that the priests in the wilderness were the most likely kidnappers. Notice that Limhi took the blame for his father's behavior, and the king was pacified. Everybody did the sensible thing, and Limhi was a realist ... [I]nstead of standing tall the king humiliated himself. The Lamanite king humiliated himself before his own people to plead for the enemy. Can we imagine doing such a thing today as that? Both sides were being very reasonable, and they solved their problem that way." (Emphasis mine)  (See reference above for source article)