CHAPTER 7.
Expedition to the land of Lehi-Nephi — Ammon and king Limhi — People of Lehi-Nephi in bondage to Lamanites.
1. And now, it came to pass that after king Mosiah had had continual peace for the space of three years, he was desirous to know concerning the people who went up to dwell in the land of Lehi-Nephi, or in the city of Lehi-Nephi; for his people had heard nothing from them from the time they left the land of Zarahemla; therefore, they wearied him with their teasings.
2. And it came to pass that king Mosiah granted that sixteen of their strong men might go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi, to inquire concerning their brothers and sisters.
3. And it came to pass that on the morrow they started to go up, having with them one Ammon, he being a strong and mighty man, and a descendant of Zarahemla; and he was also their leader.
4. And now, they knew not the course they should travel in the wilderness to go up to the land of Lehi-Nephi; therefore they wandered many days in the wilderness, even forty days did they wander.
5. And when they had wandered forty days they came to a hill, which is north of the land of Shilom, and there they pitched their tents.
6. And Ammon took three of the men, and their names were Amaleki, Helem, and Hem and they went down into the land of Nephi.
7. And behold, they met the king of the people who were in the land of Nephi, and in the land of Shilom; and they were surrounded by the king’s guard, and were taken, and were bound, and were committed to prison.
8. And it came to pass when they had been in prison two days they were again brought before the king, and their bands were loosed; and they stood before the king, and were permitted, or rather commanded, that they should answer the questions which he should ask them.
9. And he said unto them: Behold, I am Limhi, the son of Noah, who was the son of Zeniff, who came up out of the land of Zarahemla to inherit this land, which was the land of their fathers and mothers, who was made a king by the voice of the people.
10. And now, I desire to know the cause whereby ye were so bold as to come near the walls of the city, when I, myself, was with my guards without the gate?
11. And now, for this cause have I suffered that ye should be preserved, that I might inquire of you, or else I should have caused that my guards should have put you to death. Ye are permitted to speak.
12. And now, when Ammon saw that he was permitted to speak, he went forth and bowed himself before the king; and rising again he said: O king, I am very thankful before Godde this day that I am yet alive, and am permitted to speak; and I will endeavor to speak with boldness;
13. For I am assured that if ye had known me ye would not have suffered that I should have worn these bands. For I am Ammon, and am a descendant of Zarahemla, and have come up out of the land of Zarahemla to inquire concerning our sisters and brothers, whom Zeniff brought up out of that land.
14. And now, it came to pass that after Limhi had heard the words of Ammon, he was exceeding glad, and said: Now, I know of a surety that my brothers and sisters who were in the land of Zarahemla are yet alive. And now, I will rejoice; and on the morrow I will cause that my people shall rejoice also.
15. For behold, we are in bondage to the Lamanites, and are taxed with a tax which is grievous to be borne. And now, behold, our kin will deliver us out of our bondage, or out of the hands of the Lamanites, and we will be their slaves; for it is better that we be slaves to the Nephites than to pay tribute to the king of the Lamanites.
16. And now, king Limhi commanded his guards that they should no more bind Ammon nor his companions, but caused that they should go to the hill which was north of Shilom, and bring the other men into the city, that thereby they might eat, and drink, and rest themselves from the labors of their journey; for they had suffered many things; they had suffered hunger, thirst, and fatigue.
17. And now, it came to pass on the morrow that king Limhi sent a proclamation among all the people, that thereby they might gather themselves together to the temple, to hear the words which he should speak unto them.
18. And it came to pass that when they had gathered themselves together that he spake unto them in this wise, saying: O ye, my people, lift up your heads and be comforted; for behold, the time is at hand, or is not far distant, when we shall no longer be in subjection to our enemies, notwithstanding our many struggling, which have been in vain; yet I trust there remaineth an effectual struggle to be made.
19. Therefore, lift up your heads, and rejoice, and put your trust in Godde, the Eternal Father and Mother, in that Godde who was the Godde of Abraham and Sarah, and Isaac and Rebekah, and Jacob and Leah and Rachel; and also, that Godde who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt, and caused that they should walk through the Red Sea on dry ground, and fed them with manna that they might not perish in the wilderness; and many more things did they do for them.
20. And again, that same Godde has brought our fathers and mothers out of the land of Jerusalem, and has kept and preserved their people even until now; and behold, it is because of our iniquities and abominations that they have brought us into bondage.
21. And ye all are witnesses this day, that Zeniff, who was made king over this people, he being over zealous to inherit the land of his forebearers, therefore being deceived by the cunning and craftiness of king Laman, who having entered into a treaty with king Zeniff, and having yielded up into his hands the possessions of a part of the land, or even the city of Lehi-Nephi, and the city of Shilom; and the land roundabout -
22. And all this he did, for the sole purpose of bringing this people into subjection or into bondage. And behold, we at this time do pay tribute to the king of the Lamanites, to the amount of one half of our corn, and our barley, and even all our grain of every kind, and one half of the increase of our flocks and our herds; and even one half of all we have or possess the king of the Lamanites doth exact of us, or our lives.
23. And now, is not this grievous to be borne? And is not this, our affliction, great? Now behold, how great reason we have to mourn.
24. Yea, I say unto you, great are the reasons which we have to mourn; for behold how many of our people have been slain, and their blood has been spilt in vain, and all because of iniquity.
25. For if this people had not fallen into transgression our Divine Parents would not have suffered that this great evil should come upon them. But behold, they would not hearken unto their words; but there arose contentions among them, even so much that they did shed blood among themselves.
26. And a prophet of the Lord have they slain; yea, a chosen man of Godde, who told them of their wickedness and abominations, and prophesied of many things which are to come, yea, even the coming of Christ.
27. And because he said unto them that Christ was the Godde, the Creator of all things, and said that he should take upon him the image of a human, and it should be the image after which humankind was created in the beginning; or in other words, he said that humankind was created after the image of Godde, and that Godde should come down among the children of humanity, and take upon him flesh and blood, and go forth upon the face of the earth -
28. And now, because he said this, they did put him to death; and many more things did they do which brought down the wrath of Godde upon them. Therefore, who wondereth that they are in bondage, and that they are smitten with sore afflictions?
29. For behold, the Divine Parents hath said: We will not succor our people in the day of their transgression; but we will hedge up their ways that they prosper not; and their doings shall be as a stumbling block before them.
30. And again, they saith: If our people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the chaff thereof in the whirlwind; and the effect thereof is poison.
31. And again they saith: If our people shall sow filthiness they shall reap the east wind, which bringeth immediate destruction.
32. And now, behold, the promise of Godde is fulfilled, and ye are smitten and afflicted.
33. But if ye will turn to the Eternal Mother and Father with full purpose of heart, and put your trust in them, and serve them with all diligence of mind, if ye do this, they will, according to their own will and pleasure, deliver you out of bondage.
CHAPTER 8.
Ammon learns of the discovery of twenty four gold plates with engravings — He suggests their submission to king Mosiah, prophet and seer.
1. And it came to pass that after king Limhi had made an end of speaking to the people, for he spake many things unto them and only a few of them have I written in this book, he told his people all the things concerning their brothers and sisters who were in the land of Zarahemla.
2. And he caused that Ammon should stand up before the multitude, and rehearse unto them all that had happened unto their brothers and sisters from the time that Zeniff went up out of the land even until the time that he himself came up out of the land.
3. And he also rehearsed unto them the last words which king Benjamin had taught them, and explained them to the people of king Limhi, so that they might understand all the words which he spake.
4. And it came to pass that after he had done all this, that king Limhi dismissed the multitude, and caused that they should return every one unto their own house.
5. And it came to pass that he caused that the plates which contained the record of his people from the time that they left the land of Zarahemla, should be brought before Ammon, that he might read them.
6. Now, as soon as Ammon had read the record, the king inquired of him to know if he could interpret languages, and Ammon told him that he could not.
7. And the king said unto him: Being grieved for the afflictions of my people, I caused that forty and three of my people should take a journey into the wilderness, that thereby they might find the land of Zarahemla, that we might appeal unto our sisters and brothers to deliver us out of bondage.
8. And they were lost in the wilderness for the space of many days, yet they were diligent, and found not the land of Zarahemla but returned to this land, having traveled in a land among any waters, having discovered a land which was covered with bones of men and women, and of beasts, and was also covered with ruins of buildings of every kind, having discovered a land which had been peopled with a people who were as numerous as the hosts of Israel.
9. And for a testimony that the things that they had said are true they have brought twenty four plates which are filled with engravings, and they are of pure gold.
10. And behold, also, they have brought breastplates, which are large, and they are of brass and of copper, and are perfectly sound.
11. And again, they have brought swords, the hilts thereof have perished, and the blades thereof were cankered with rust; and there is no one in the land that is able to interpret the language or the engravings that are on the plates. Therefore I said unto thee: Canst thou translate?
12. And I say unto thee again: Knowest thou of any one that can translate? For I am desirous that these records should be translated into our language; for, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of a remnant of the people who have been destroyed, from whence these records came; or, perhaps, they will give us a knowledge of this very people who have been destroyed; and I am desirous to know the cause of their destruction
13. Now Ammon said unto him: I can assuredly tell thee, O king, of a man that can translate the records; for he has wherewith that he can look, and translate all records that are of ancient date; and it is a gift from Godde. And the things are called interpreters, and no one can look in them except they be commanded, lest they should look for that they ought not and should perish. And whosoever is commanded to look in them, the same is called seer.
14. And behold, the king of the people who are in the land of Zarahemla is the man that is commanded to do these things, and who has this high gift from the Divine Parents.
15. And the king said that a seer is greater than a prophet.
16. And Ammon said that a seer is a revelator and a prophet also; and a gift which is greater can no human have, except they should possess the power of Godde, which no human can; yet a human may have great power given them from Heavenly Mother and Father.
17. But a seer can know of things which are past, and also of things which are to come, and by them shall all things be revealed, or, rather, shall secret things be made manifest, and hidden things shall come to light, and things which are not known shall be made known by them, and also things shall be made known by them which otherwise could not be known.
18. Thus Godde our Father and Mother has provided a means that men and women, through faith, might work mighty miracles; therefore they becometh a great benefit to their fellow beings.
19. And now, when Ammon had made an end of speaking these words the king rejoiced exceedingly, and gave thanks to the Divine Parents, saying: Doubtless a great mystery is contained within these plates, and these interpreters were doubtless prepared for the purpose of unfolding all such mysteries to the children of humanity.
20. O how marvelous are the works of Godde, and how long doth they suffer with their people; yea, and how blind and impenetrable are the understandings of the children of humanity; for they will not seek wisdom, neither do they desire that she should rule over them!
21. Yea, they are as a wild flock which fleeth from the shepherd, and scattereth, and are driven, and are devoured by the beasts of the forest.
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 goes to possess the land of Lehi-Nephi — A spy among the Lamanites — The craftiness of king Laman.
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’ and mothers’ first inheritance, 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 brothers in the wilderness, for I would that our ruler should make a treaty with them; but he being an austere and a bloodthirsty 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.
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 our Godde.
4. Nevertheless, after many days’ wandering in the wilderness we pitched our tents in the place where our brothers were slain, which was near to the land of our forebearers.
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.
11. Therefore it came to pass, that after we had dwelt in the land for the space of twelve years that king Laman began to grow uneasy, lest by any means my people should wax strong in the land, and that they could not overpower them and bring them into bondage.
12. Now they were a lazy and an idolatrous people; therefore they were desirous to bring us into bondage, that they might glut themselves with the labors of our hands; yea, that they might feast themselves upon the flocks of our fields.
13. Therefore it came to pass that king Laman began to stir up his people that they should contend with my people; therefore there began to be wars and contentions in the land.
14. For, in the thirteenth year of my reign in the land of Nephi, away on the south of the land of Shilom, when my people were watering and feeding their flocks, and tilling their lands, a numerous host of Lamanites came upon them and began to slay them, and to take of their flocks, and the corn of their fields.
15. Yea, and it came to pass that they fled, all that were not overtaken, even into the city of Nephi, and did call upon me for protection.
16. And it came to pass that I did arm them with bows, and with arrows, with swords, and with cimeters, and with clubs, and with slings, and with, all manner of weapons which we could invent, and I and my people did go forth, against the Lamanites to battle.
17. Yea, in the strength of the Divine Parents did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to Godde that they would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers and mothers.
18. And Godde did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in their might; yea, we did go forth against the Lamanites, and in one day and a night we did slay three thousand and forty-three; we did slay them even until we had driven them out of our land.
19. And I, myself, with mine own hands, did help to bury their dead. And behold; to our great sorrow and lamentation, two hundred and seventy-nine of our kin were slain.
CHAPTER 10.
King Laman dies — Zeniff and his people prevail against their oppressors.
1. And it came to pass that we again began to establish the kingdom and we again began to possess the land in peace. And I caused that there should be weapons of war made of every kind, that thereby I might have weapons for my people against the time the Lamanites should come up again to war against my people.
2. And I set guards round about the land, that the Lamanites might not come upon us again unawares and destroy us; and thus I did guard my people and my flocks, and keep them from falling into the hands of our I enemies.
3. And it came to pass that we did inherit the land of our fathers and mothers for many years, yea, for the space of twenty and two years.
4. And I did cause that the men should till the ground, and raise all manner of grain and all manner of fruit of every kind.
5. And I did cause that the women should spin, and toil, and work, and work all manner of fine linen, yea, and cloth of every kind, that we might clothe our nakedness; and thus we did prosper in the land — thus we did have continual peace in the land for the space of twenty and two years.
6. And it came to pass that king Laman died, and his son began to reign in his stead. And he began to stir his people up in rebellion against my people; therefore they began to prepare for war, and to come up to battle against my people.
7. But I had sent my spies out round about the land of Shemlon, that I might discover their preparations, that I might guard against them, that they might not come upon my people and destroy them.
8. And it came to pass that they came up upon the north of the land of Shilom, with their numerous hosts, men armed with bows, and with arrows, and with swords, and with cimeters, and with stones, and with slings; and they had their heads shaved that they were naked; and they were girded with a leathern girdle about their loins.
9. And it came to pass that I caused that the women and children of my people should be hid in the wilderness; and I also caused that all my old men that could bear arms, and also all my young men that were able to bear arms, should gather themselves together to go to battle against the Lamanites; and I did place them in their ranks, every man according to his age.
10. And it came to pass that we did go up to battle against the Lamanites; and I, even I, in my old age, did go up to battle against the Lamanites. And it came to pass that we did go up in the strength of our Godde to battle.
11. Now, the Lamanites knew nothing concerning the Lord, nor the strength of Heavenly Mother and Father, therefore they depended upon their own strength. Yet they were a strong people, as to the strength of humankind.
12. They were a wild, and ferocious, and a blood-thirsty people, believing in the tradition of their fathers and mothers, which is this — Believing that they were driven out of the land of Jerusalem because of the iniquities of their fathers and mothers, and that they were wronged in the wilderness by their kin, and they were also wronged while crossing the sea;
13. 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 Godde — therefore he was favored of Godde, for the Divine Parents heard his prayers and answered them, and he took the lead of their journey in the wilderness.
14. And his brothers were wroth with him because they understood not the dealings of Godde; they were also wroth with him upon the waters because they hardened their hearts against the Eternal Mother and Father.
15 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.
16. And again, they were wroth with him because he departed into the wilderness as the Father and Mother had commanded him, and took the records which were engraven on the plates of brass, for they said that he robbed them.
17. 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.
18. For this very cause has king Laman, by his cunning, and lying craftiness, and his fair promises, deceived me, that I have brought this my people up into this land, that they may destroy them; yea, and we have suffered these many years in the land.
19. And now I, Zeniff, after having told all these things unto my people concerning the Lamanites, I did stimulate them to go to battle with their might, putting their trust in Godde; therefore, we did contend with them, face to face.
20. And it came to pass that we did drive them again out of our land; and we slew them with a great slaughter, even so many that we did not number them.
21. And it came to pass that we returned again to our own land, and my people again began to tend their flocks, and to till their ground.
22. And now I, being old, did confer the kingdom upon one of my sons; therefore, I say no more. And may the Divine Father and Mother bless my people. Amen.
