Mosiah 7

King Mosiah wanted to know about the people who went to live in the land of Lehi-Nephi. Nothing had been heard from them since they left.

King Mosiah sent sixteen strong men to go to the land of Lehi-Nephi to find out about their brothers. Ammon was their leader. They wandered for forty days in the wilderness until they found the land of Nephi.

Ammon took Amaleki, Helem and Hem and went to meet their king, but the king had his guards surround them, tie them and put them in prison. After two days, they were taken to the king and their ropes were loosed. They stood before the king to answer his questions.

He said to them: I am Limhi, the son of Noah and grandson of Zeniff, who came out of the land of Zarahemla. I want to know why you were so bold as to come near the walls of the city when I was out there with my guards?

Ammon bowed himself before the king and said: O king, I am thankful to God that I am still alive and am permitted to speak. I am sure that if you had known me, you would not have allowed me to be tied up. For I am Ammon and I have come out of the land of Zarahemla to ask about our brothers, whom Zeniff led.

When Limhi heard these words, he was glad. He said: Now I know that my brothers in the land of Zarahemla are still alive. For we are slaves to the Lamanites. They tax us heavily. Maybe our brothers in Zarahemla will rescue us from the Lamanites. If they do, we will be their slaves. For it is better to be slaves to the Nephites than pay taxes to the Lamanites.

King Limhi told his guards to untie Ammon and his brothers. The king sent the guards to bring the rest of Ammon’s group to the city to eat, drink and rest. They were suffering hunger, thirst and weariness.

King Limhi gathered his people to hear him speak. King Limhi said: My people, lift up your heads. The time is not far away when we will no longer be slaves to our enemies. Lift your heads and be happy. Put your trust in God, who brought the children of Israel out of Egypt through the Red Sea on dry ground.

It is because of our sins that he has let us walk into trouble. You all are witnesses this day that Zeniff was too eager to live in the land of Nephi-Lehi. He let us get tricked by evil King Laman. They make us pay hard taxes.

Today we pay to the king of the Lamanites half our corn and all our grains and half the increase of our flocks and our herds and half of all we have to the king of the Lamanites. This is too much to take away from our lives. It is great reason to feel sad.

Do not wonder why we are punished with terrible sufferings. The Lord has said: I will not support my people in their sins. I will block their ways so they will not grow. Their efforts will make them stumble.

And God says: if my people will plant sin, they will harvest poison. So the promise of the Lord came true and we are punished and hurt. But if we will turn to the Lord with full purpose of heart, put our trust in Him and serve Him with all our minds, He will rescue us from slavery.