Mosiah 9: The start of the Record of Zeniff

Chapters 9-22 in the Book of Mosiah are a flashback that recount the Record of Zeniff (Zeniff was the first guy to leave Zarahemla to try to find the Nephites.)  If you remember, in the last post, King Limhi presented Ammon with two sets of plates.  The first set of plates were the Record of Zeniff, and the second set of plates were the mysterious plates of pure gold that were found by his people when they were lost, wandering among the ruins in the "land of many waters".  

Got that straight?  Okay, here we go.

Zeniff and his men were originally sent from Zarahemla on a reconnaissance mission to find out the strengths and weaknesses of the Lamanite army. Once Zeniff saw the Lamanites, however, he saw "that which was good among them" and he didn't want them to be destroyed.  Go figure.

9:1 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, 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.

Zeniff asked his group's leader to make a treaty with them, but this didn't go so well.  The leader commanded that Zeniff be killed for even suggesting such a thing.  Some sided with Zeniff, and this led to infighting where "father fought against father, and brother fought against brother."  Most of the group died in the fighting.  The rest of the group returned with Zeniff to Zarahemla to tell the cool story to their wives and children.

9:2 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 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.

Then they decide to go back.  They wander in the wilderness, and it is a pretty tough journey, since they were "slow to remember God."  God punishes Zeniff's people with famine and sore afflictions, but they make it there eventually.  Maybe next time they will be quicker to remember God.

 9:3 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.  

9:4 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.  

Once they set up camp, Zeniff picks four of his men and goes down to meet the Lamanite king.

9:5 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.

It goes surprisingly well.  The Lamanite king commands his people to clear the land immediately, and he gives the land to Zeniff and his people.  Score! They start repairing walls and growing crops and stuff.

9:6 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.  

9:7 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.  

9:8 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.

9:9 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.

 King Laman had a cunning and crafty plan, though.  He only gave them the land so that he could put them in bondage later.

9:10 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.

Twelve years later, King Laman enacts his plan.  Zeniff's people are attacked by a host of Lamanites.  The people rush to Zeniff for protection.

9:11 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.

9:13 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.

9:15 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.

Unfortunately for the Lamanites, Zeniff is prepared.  He arms his people with all kinds of weapons (they even invent some) and they cried out mightily to the Lord for help in battle.  The Lord hears them, and they defeat the Lamanites, 3,043 to 279.

9:16 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.   

9:17 Yea, in the strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.  

9:18 And God did hear our cries and did answer our prayers; and we did go forth in his 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.

9:19 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 brethren were slain.

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In the next chapter, Zeniff wises up and stockpiles weapons in case the Lamanites come back.  Until then...