Jeffersonian Zeniff

The Book of Zeniff

An account of his people from the time they left the Kingdom of Zarahemla until the time that they were delivered out of the hands of the Lamanites.

Traditionally composing of Mosiah chapters 9-21

--------------------Chapter 1--------------------

1 I, Zeniff, have been taught in the language of the Nephites. I have knowledge of the land of Nephi, which is the land of our ancestors. I was sent to spy on the Lamanites to learn about their military, so that we could ambush them and destroy them.

2 I saw good in the Lamanites, and I didn't want to destroy them. I struggled with my brothers and sisters in the wilderness. I wanted our leader to make a treaty with them.

3 Our leader was a strict and bloodthirsty man who ordered me to be killed. However, I was spared from death.

4 Father fought against father, brothers against brother, and sister against sister. Much of our military destroyed itself in the wilderness.

5 Those of us that survived returned to the Kingdom of Zarahemla to tell their stories.

6 I was determined to inherit the land of our ancestors. I took as many people as I could who also wanted the land and started my journey again into the wilderness.

7 We experienced famine and sore hardships and forgot to help each other.

8 After wandering int he wilderness for many days, we pitched out tents where our brothers and sisters had killed each other, which was near the land of our ancestors.

9 I went again with 4 of my men into the city to the king, so that I could know the disposition of the king. I wanted to know if my people might own the land in peace.

10 He promised me that I would be the king of Shilom.

11 He ordered his people out of the land so that my people could own it.

12 We began to build buildings and to repair the walls of the city of Shilom.

13 We began to till the ground and planted corn, wheat, barley, neas, sheum, and all sorts of fruits. We began to have children and prosper in the land.

14 It was by the cunning and craftiness of King Laman to bring my people into slavery, and he took the land.

15 After we had lived in the land for 12 years, King Laman began to grow uneasy. He believed my people were so strong that we could defend ourselves and overpower an attack.

16 The Lamanites were a lazy and immoral people. They wanted to bring us into slavery so that they could benefit from our labor and eat our crops and livestock.

17 King Laman began to breed enmity between his and my people, and there began to be wars.

18 In the 13th year of my reign as king, my people were tending to their flocks and tilling their land south of Shilom when many Lamanites overpowered them and killed them and take their livestock and crops.

19 All my people that were not overtaken ran to my city and asked me for protection.

20 I armed them with bows, arrows, swords, scimitars, clubs, slings, and any other weapon we could invent.

21 We went and fought the Lamanites.

22 We remembered the words of our ancestors, that if we worked together we would prevail.

23 In one day and night we killed 3,043 Lamanites and drove them out of our land.

24 I helped bury their dead with my own hands.

25 Unfortunately, 279 of our soldiers were killed.

--------------------Chapter 2--------------------

1 We began to establish a kingdom again, and we began to possess the land in peace.

2 I had every weapon of war made, so that my people could defend themselves against the Lamanites if they came to wage war again.

3 I sent scouts around the land so that we would not be caught off guard by the Lamanites, so they wouldn't destroy us.

4 I protected my people, their flocks, and land from falling into the hands of our enemies.

5 We inherited the land of our ancestors for 22 years.

6 My people tilled the earth and planted many crops.

7 My people made many fine cloths so that we were not naked.

8 We prospered in the land and had peace during these 22 years.

9 When King Laman died, his son, King Laman the younger, reigned in his place.

10 He began to cause enmity between his people and mine, much like his father. They began to prepare for war and to battle my people.

11 I had spent out spies near the land of Shemlon (which was to the north of Shilom) so that I could discover how they were preparing, so that I could know how to fight against them so they would not destroy my people.

12 They came north of the land of Shilom with their many soldiers who were armed with bows, arrows, swords, scimitars, stones, and slings.

13 They had shaved their heads and were naked except for a loincloth.

14 I had the men, women, and children who did not fight hide in the wilderness.

15 I had many of my people arm themselves and prepare them for war.

16 They went to battle against the Lamanites.

17 Even I, in my old age, went to battle against the Lamanites.

18 The Lamanites were a strong, wild, ferocious, and bloodthirsty people.

19 They had a different history regarding how we came to the land.

20 They believed they were driven out of The Great City because of Lehi's immorality, and they were wronged by Nephi in the wilderness and on the sea.

21 They believed they were wronged in the first land that we inherited after we had crossed the sea when Nephi took the plates and fled.

22 We know that this is not a true history, but this is what they have taught their children.

23 They taught their children to hate, rob, and kill us. That they should do all they could to destroy us.

24 King Laman by his cunning and lying craftiness and his fair promises, deceived me to destroy my people. We have suffered many years in the land because of this.

25 Now I, Zeniff, after having told all these things to my people concerning the Lamanites, impassioned them to go to battle.

26 We drove them out of our land again. We killed many of them. So many that we couldn't count them all.

27 We returned to our own land again, and my people again began to tend their flocks and to till their ground.

28 I, Zeniff, being old gave the kingdom to one of my sons.

29 Therefore, I say no more. May my people live a more moral life than I have.

--------------------Chapter 3--------------------

1 Zeniff gave the kingdom to his son Noah, who reigned in his stead. However, he was much more immoral than his father.

2 He was an immoral life and was a selfish man.

3 He cheated on his spouses and encouraged others to do the same.

4 They became a wicked people.

5 He instituted a tax of 1/5 of everything people owned, including gold, silver, ziff, copper, brass, iron, livestock, and crops.

6 He took all of this so he and his wives and concubines, and the wicked teachers he put forth to the people were supported by the people.

7 He fired all the teachers that his father had put forth and put those that taught what he wanted to be taught. They were a very prideful people.

8 Their laziness and immorality were supported by the taxes which the king had put on his people, who were working hard to support the king and themselves.

9 The people of the land also became immoral because they were deceived by the immoral king and teachers, because they spoke many flattering things to them.

10 King Noah built many elegant and spacious buildings and decorated them with fine carpentry and precious things such as gold, silver, iron, brass, ziff, and copper.

11 He also built himself a spacious palace and a throne in the palace, both of which were also adorned with these precious things.

12 He also needlessly made the Rameumptom, that is used for meditating and teaching morality, excessively and elaborately decorated with precious materials.

13 He had expensive lounge chairs built for his teachers so they could rest while they lied to the people of Shilom.

14 Near the temple he built a very tall tower. So high that he could stand upon the top thereof and overlook all of his land, and also the land of Shemlon which was possessed by the Lamanites.

15 He also had many buildings built in the land Shilom.

16 He had a very tall tower to be built on Hill Shilom, which was in the north of the land of Shilom.

17 This is what he did with the taxes he took from his people.

18 He placed his heart upon his riches and himself.

19 He spent his time in riotous living with his wives and his concubines. His teachers did the same with their time with harlots.

20 He planted vineyards throughout the land and has wine presses made. There was an abundance of wine, and he and his people became alcoholics.

21 The Lamanites began to have enmity with Noah's people again. At first it was little fights and murders with farmers in their fields.

22 King Noah sent guards throughout the lad to fend off the Lamanites, but he didn't send enough. The Lamanites came and attacked and killed them and took much of their livestock.

23 The Lamanites began to destroy them and to exercise their hatred upon them.

24 King Noah sent his armies against them and they were driven back for a time. The people of Shilom returned home rejoicing in their possessions.

25 Because of this great victory, they were very prideful. They boasted about their strength, saying that 50 of their soldiers could kill 1000s of Lamanites.

26 There was a moral man among them named Abinadi, and he went among the people and said to them:

	27 "Gloom will follow our people, for we are abominable! We are immoral! Unless we stop this behavior, we will kill ourselves!

	28 Unless we stop this behavior, we will give ourselves to the Lamanites!

	29 We will be brought into slavery!

	30 We will not live good and happy lives until we do this."

31 When Abinadi had said these things to them, they were angry with him and wanted to kill him, but he escaped.

32 When King Noah had heard what Abinadi had said to the people of Shilom, he was also angry. King Noah spoke and said:

	33 "Who is Abinadi who judge me and my people!

	34 I order you to bring Abinadi to me so that I can kill him myself. He said these things so that he would make my people angry with each other so they would destroy themselves. For that reason, I will kill him!"

35 The eyes of the people were blinded and would not hear the words of Abinadi, and from then on, they looked for him to capture him.

36 King Noah had a hard, stubborn heart and did not give up his immoral lifestyle.

--------------------Chapter 4--------------------

1 After 2 years, Abinadi came among the people of Shilom in disguise so they didn't know who he was, and said to them:

	2 "You have hardened your hearts against all that is moral and have not ceased your immoral lifestyles.

	3 You will destroy yourselves if you do not stop!

	4 This generation will not pass before there are extreme hardships.

	5 You will be brought into slavery, you will be beaten, you will lose your land, you will experience famine, you will be killed and eaten by vultures and dogs.

	6 King Noah will be as valuable as a coat in a furnace.

	7 King Noah will be as valuable as a dried stalk which is walked on in a field.

	8 King Noah is like a thorn in the face of our people!

	9 You will howl all the day long because of your misfortune.

	10 The only way to prevent this is to give up your immoral life and live a moral one!

	11 If you do not, you will be a cautionary tale for those who come to take possession of your land in the future."

12 Abinadi also said many more things to the people.

13 They were very angry with him. They captured him and took him to King Noah. They told King Noah:

	14 "We have brought a man to you who said our people would be destroyed.

	15 He said that you are an evil man who is as valuable as a coat in a furnace.

	16 He said that you are as valuable as a dried stalk which is walked on in a field.

	17 He said all of this would happen unless we changed our lifestyle, because how we live is immoral.

	18 What have we done to deserve this man's scorn?

	19 We are guiltless! This man has lied.

	20 We are strong and will not become slaves. We have prospered in the land and will continue to do so.

	21 Here is the man that says these things. Do to him what you think is just."

22 King Noah threw Abinadi into prison.

23 He ordered his teachers to gather together so that he might get their advice on what they should do with him.

24 They told the king to ask Abinadi questions, and so King Noah ordered him brought to him.

25 They began to ask him questions so that they could cross him and accuse him.

26 To their astonishment, Abinadi answered them boldly and withstood all their questions.

27 One teacher asked him

	28 "What do the words which were written and taught by our ancestors mean?"

		29 'How beautiful are the mountains where those who bring good news and publish good news walk?

		30 Your scouts will sing with they when they see them eye to eye.

		31 Be filled with joy! Sing together!'"

32 Abinadi said to them:

	33 "Are you teachers? You pretend to teach our people and to understand the words of our ancestors, yet you seem to have no desire to know what they actually mean.

	34 Gloom will follow you for perverting the teachings of our ancestors! If you had understood their words, you would not have taught what you did.

	35 You have not wanted to understand the teachings of our ancestors. You have not been wise. Why do you teach our people?"

36 They responded by saying that they DO teach what their ancestors taught.

37 And so Abinadi said to them:

	38 "If you teach what our ancestors taught, why do you not practice it?

	39 Why do you set your hearts on riches?

	40 Why do you cheat on your spouses and spend your time with harlots? Why do you encourage immorality among our people?

	41 Do you know that I speak the truth?

	42 You know I do. You should be worried about what I have said to you.

	43 You will be killed because of your immorality.

	44 Does knowing the teachings of our ancestors guarantee a good and happy life?"

45 King Noah and his teachers said that it does.

46 Abinadi responded by saying:

	47 "It is only by living the teachings of our ancestors do you live a good and happy life.

	48 Have you done this at all? No! You have not!

	49 Have you taught our people that they should do all these things? No! You have not!”

--------------------Chapter 5--------------------

1 When the king heard these words, he said to his priests:

	2 "Away with Abinadi and kill him! We have nothing we can do with him, because he is crazy!"

3 They attempted to harm Abinadi, but he said to them:

	4 "Do not touch me! I will kill you if you do. I am not finished speaking to you!

	5 Because I have spoken the truth to you, you have called me crazy!"

6 After Abinadi had said these things, King Noah and his people dared not touch him.

7 He spoke with power and authority.

8 Abinadi continued speaking:

	9 "You see that you do not have the power to stop me, so I will finish my message.

	10 I can see that it cuts you to your hearts, because I have spoken the truth. My words fill you with wonder, amazement, and anger.

	11 Once I finish my message, it won't matter what happens to me.

	12 This much I can tell you: what you do with me will foreshadow what will happen to yourselves.

	13 I will now finish what I want to say to you.

	14 I am guessing that you have studied and taught immorality most of your lives.

	15 Have you taught our people anything about how to live moral lives?

	16 No! You have not! If you had, I would not be here!

	17 You have said that a happy and good life comes from knowing the words and teachings of our ancestors.

	18 I say to you that you live a happy and good life by living what they taught."

--------------------Chapter 6--------------------

	1 Even Isaiah said

		2 'Who will believe our teachings?

		3 Those who so will be like a plant that grows out of dry ground. They are not exciting and beautiful.

		4 They are rejected by the immoral. They are well acquainted with grief and sorrow.

		5 They bear our grief and sorrow, even if we hate them.

		6 They are wounded because of us. They are bruised because of us. Even if we whip them, they heal us.

		7 When we go astray, they help us find our way.

		8 When they are oppressed, they speak not for themselves. They are brought like a lamb to the slaughter.

		9 They are taken from prison and from judgment and exiled.'

--------------------Chapter 7--------------------

	1 I want you to understand that our people can live good, happy, and moral lives.

	2 Those who live moral lives publish peace and bring good news.

	3 How beautiful are the mountains where you will walk!

	4 Those who live moral lives will break the bands of death. They will be remembered for generations to come.

	5 What will your legacy be? Do you tremble at how you will be remembered?

	6 The time will come that the teachings of our ancestors will be taught to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people.

		7 'Your scouts will sing with they when they see them eye to eye.

		8 Be filled with joy! Sing together!'"

--------------------Chapter 8--------------------

1 After Abinadi had said these words, he stretched forth his hand and said:

	2 “The time will come when all of you will reap what you sow.

	3 Moral people live good and happy lives, and the immoral will howl, weep, wail, and gnash their teeth.

	4 Immoral people will never be able to live happy lives or be remembered favorably once they pass away.

	5 You have been warned to change your ways to that of morality.

	6 You should be very afraid of what your actions will do to yourselves."

--------------------Chapter 9--------------------

1 When Abinadi had finished speaking, the king commanded that his teachers should take and kill him.

2 There was one among them whose name was Alma, who was also a descendant of Nephi.

3 He was a young man, and he believed the words which Abinadi had spoken. He knew that the way that King Noah and his people lived was immoral.

4 He begged the king not to be angry with Abinadi and let him leave in peace.

5 This made King Noah even angrier and threw Alma out and sent slaves to kill him.

6 Alma fled and himself, so that he could not be found.

7 While he hid for many days, he wrote down all the words that Abinadi had spoken.

8 King Noah's guards took Abinadi and threw him in prison.

9 After 3 days of talking with his teachers, King Noah had Abinadi brought before him again and he said:

	10 “Abinadi, we have found you guilty, and you are worthy of death.

	11 Unless you will recall all the evil words which you have spoken concerning me and my people.”

12 Abinadi said to him:

	13 “I say to you, I will not recall the words which I have spoken to you concerning our people, because they are true.

	14 I am willing to die for the truth. I will not recall my words, and they will stand as a testament against you.

	15 If you kill me, you shed innocent blood, and I will stand as a testament against you for all time."

16 King Noah was about to release him, because the king feared for his reputation.

17 His teachers began to mock the king, which made him angry.

18 King Noah ordered Abinadi killed.

19 They took him, bound him, and scorched his skin with torches till he died.

20 When the flames began to scorch him he cried to them and said:

	21 "As you have done it to me, it shall also happen to your descendants! They will suffer as I suffer.

	22 You will experience hardships because of your immorality.

	23 You will be hunted and be taken by your enemies."

24 When Abinadi had said these things, he fell and died from his wounds. He was put to death because he would not deny the truth.

--------------------Chapter 10-------------------

1 Alma, who had fled from the slaves from the slaves of King Noah, turned away from his immoral life. He went to people privately and began to teach the words of Abinadi.

2 He taught that unless the people of Shilom worked together, they would perish.

3 He taught these things to as many people that would listen to him.

4 He did so privately because he did not want the king to know.

5 Many people believed the things which he taught.

6 Those who believed these things went to a place called Mormon, which was named by the king. It was on the borders of the land and had many wild animals living on it.

7 In this place called Mormon there was a pool of clean water where Alma stayed. There were trees that surrounded it so that he could hide himself during the day from the king's men which were looking for him.

8 Many people went there to hear Alma teach.

9 After many days, a large number of people gathered together in Mormon to hear Alma teach.

10 He taught to turn away from immoral lives and to live moral lives.

11 He said to them:

	12 "These are the Waters of Mormon.

	13 If you want to live a moral life, be remembered as a moral people, help your brothers and sisters through the hardships of life, comfort those in need of comfort, and stand up for morality at all times, in all things, and in all places until your death;

	14 then promise to turn away from your immoral lives while you are here at these waters."

15 When the people heard these words, they clapped and cheered with joy and exclaimed that this is what they wanted.

16 The first one to promise to Alma they would live a moral life was a man named Helam.

17 Soon there was a 2nd, then 3rd, and then 4th that made these promises to Alma.

18 204 people committed to living moral lives to Alma that day.

19 They were known as Alma's people from that time forward.

20 Whoever committed to living a moral life was counted as one of Alma's people.

21 Alma had one teacher over every 50 people, to help them in their lives and give lessons on morality.

22 They were to teach nothing except the lessons of morality that were taught by their ancestors.

23 Alma didn't want any contention among his people. He taught them to be united in love towards each other.

24 He had the teachers work for themselves, and they were not supported by those that they taught.

25 Once a week the people were to gather together so they could teach each other lessons in morality and be with one another and rest.

26 Alma taught that they should help the poor.

27 If someone had the ability to give a lot, they should give a lot. If someone only had the ability to give a little, they should only give a little. Only give what you're able.

28 The people were a moral people who helped one another.

29 This was all done in Mormon, by the waters of Mormon, which was in the forest of Mormon.

30 This place was very beautiful.

31 This place was near the border of King Noah's territory, so it was unlikely they would be found.

32 However, this movement was not kept secret because of how many people joined it. King Noah set spies among them to learn more.

33 On the day they were gathering together to hear lessons of morality, they were discovered by the king's men.

34 King Noah believed Alma was starting a rebellion, and so he sent an army would kill them all.

35 Alma and his people were informed of the approaching army, and so they took their tents and families and fled into the wilderness.

36 There were a total of 450 people that fled.

--------------------Chapter 11-------------------

1 King Noah's army returned to him after they found nothing at the Waters of Mormon.

2 The kings army was small because of a division in King Noah's people.

3 The smaller part of his people began to quietly plot to overthrow the king, and there was a lot of contention.

4 There was a man among these people named Gideon. He was a very strong man, and he lead the charge to overthrow the king.

5 He fought King Noah! Just as Gideon almost had victory, King Noah fled and ran up his tower. Gideon followed him up the tower to gain his victory.

6 When the king reached the top of the tower, he looked north towards the land of Shemlon, and saw that the Lamanite army was within the borders of their land.

7 The king begged Gideon to save he and his people from the Lamanites.

8 Gideon knew that Noah was more concerned for himself than his people. However, Gideon still spared his life.

9 The king ordered people to run from the Lamanites, and he did as well.

10 The Lamanites followed them and caught up to them and began to kill them.

11 King Noah ordered his men to leave their families and to save themselves.

12 There were many that would rather die with their families than leave them.

13 However, there were also many that did as the king ordered.

14 Those who stayed with their families begged the Lamanites not to kill them.

15 The Lamanites had compassion for them and did not kill them.

16 The Lamanites instead took them as slaves and brought them back to the land of Nephi.

17 They were allowed to have their land back if they gave up King Noah and half of their property.

18 They were to give half of their gold, silver, crops, and livestock every year to the Lamanites.

19 One of the sons of King Noah was taken as a slave was named Limhi.

20 Limhi didn't want his father to be killed but recognized his father as an immoral king and man. Limhi was a moral man.

21 Gideon sent several scouts into the wilderness to search for King Noah and his immoral teachers.

22 They found King Noah's people, but not the king or his teachers.

23 Those that had fled with the king wanted to return to the land of Nephi. If their wives had been killed, they wanted justice, and were willing to die to get it.

24 However, King Noah ordered them not to return.

25 His people were so angry with how he had ruled that they decided to listen to Abinadi and burn him alive.

26 They nearly gave the same fate to Noah's teachers, but they ran away.

27 Noah's people were returning to the land of Nephi when they were approached by Gideon's scouts.

28 Gideon's scouts told them everything that had happened. They told them the fate of their families and how the Lamanites gave the land back under the condition of a 50% tax.

29 Noah's people told Gideon's scouts that they had killed the king and his teachers had ran away.

30 When they returned to the land of Nephi, they were glad that their family's lives had been spared and told Gideon what they had done to the king.

31 The son of Noah, Limhi, became the new king. He promised that they would pay the heavy tax.

32 The king of the Lamanites promised that they would not kill them.

33 The king of the Lamanites put patrols at the borders of Limhi's land, so that his people could not flee into the wilderness.

34 The king paid these patrols with the taxes.

35 King Limhi had peace for 2 years.

--------------------Chapter 12-------------------

1 There was a place in Shemlon, which was to the north of Shilom, where the young women of the Lamanites gathered together to sing, dance, and party.

2 One day they gathered to sing, dance, and party.

3 King Noah's immoral teachers were ashamed and afraid to return to the city of Nephi. They were afraid they would be killed and dared not return to their families.

4 They aimlessly traveled in the wilderness, when they came upon these young women. They watched them. Then they went and kidnapped some of them and took them to the wilderness!

5 24 of the young Lamanite women were abducted.

6 When the Lamanites found that their daughters were missing, they were angry with Limhi. They thought it was his people that took them.

7 They sent armies to the people of Limhi. Even the Lamanite king joined the armies. They went to the land of Shilom to kill the people of Limhi.

8 Limhi discovered the army marching towards them from his tower. He prepared his people for war and gathered them together. He had them lay and wait in the fields and forests.

9 When the Lamanites approached, the people of Limhi surprised them and ambushed them from their waiting places.

10 The battle was a fierce one. They fought like hungry lions.

11 The people of Limhi began to drive the Lamanites out of their land, even though their army was less than half the size.

12 They did this because they fought for their spouses and their children. They fought like dragons!

13 The king of the Lamanites was found among the dead soldiers, but he himself was not dead. He was wounded and forgotten by his people.

14 The people of Limhi took him and healed his wounds. They brought him to King Limhi and said:

	15 "Here is the king of the Lamanites. He was found wounded among the dead Lamanite soldiers. His living soldiers left him for dead. We have brought him to you. Should we kill him?"

16 Limhi said to them:

	17 "You will not kill him but bring him closer to me so I can see him."

18 They brought him closer, and King Limhi said:

	19 "What caused you to go to war with my people?

	20 We have not broken our promise of paying a heavy tax to you. Why would you break your promise to us?"

21 The king of the Lamanites said:

	22 "I have broken my promise because your people kidnapped 24 of my young women. I was angry and wanted to go to war."

23 King Limhi knew nothing of these abductions, and said:

	24 "I will find who has abducted your young women and they will be punished"

25 King Limhi searched for who had committed the kidnappings.

26 When Gideon, who was now in command of King Limhi's armies, heard that this search was being conducted, he told the men doing the searching:

	27 "Please do not search our people for who committed this crime. They did no such thing.

	28 Do you not remember your father's immoral teachers? Your own people tried to kill them.

	29 They live in the wilderness. It was likely them that kidnapped these Lamanite women.

	30 Go tell the king this, so that he will tell his people so they will be put at ease. The people are angry that the blame has been put on them. There are many that want to overthrow the king over this. There are only a few of us that are still loyal to King Limhi.

	31 Unless the king pacifies them, they will come and kill us all.

	32 Let us pacify the Lamanite king and keep our promise to him. It is better to be a slave than to be dead. We need to stop this bloodshed."

33 King Limhi told the Lamanite king all the things his father and teachers had said and done when they fled into the wilderness. He told the king that it was the teachers who kidnapped their daughters.

34 The Lamanite king believed King Limhi, and said to King Limhi's people:

	35 "Go and meet my people without weapons. I promise that none of you will be harmed."

36 Limhi's army went and met the Lamanite army without any weapons.

37 The king of the Lamanites bowed to his soldiers and explained the innocence of Limhi's people.

38 The Lamanites had compassion for Limhi's people for treating their king kindly and returning him without being armed.

39 The Lamanites returned to their own land.

--------------------Chapter 13-------------------

1 King Limhi and his people returned to the city of Nephi and lived in peace once again.

2 After many days, the Lamanites again began to be angry with Limhi's people, who were Nephites. They began to slowly invade King Limhi's territory.

3 They dared not kill anyone because of the promise that their people had made, but they would beat them and treat them unfairly. They began to use them as chattel.

4 The hardships during this time were great, and there was no escaping it. They were completely surrounded by Lamanites.

5 King Limhi's people began to complain about his ruling ability because of their hardships. They wanted to fight the Lamanites for their freedom.

6 They continuously complained directly to the king. Eventually, he gave them permission to fight.

7 They gathered together and put on their armor and approached the Lamanites to drive them out of their land.

8 However, the Lamanites were stronger and drove Limhi's people back, and killed many of them.

9 The people of Limhi mourned and lamented their losses.

10 At this time, there were many widows in the land. They were constantly scared and cried in fear that the Lamanites would come and kill them, and they would be unable to defend themselves.

11 Their cries of fear encouraged the remaining people of Limhi to fight for their freedom against the Lamanites.

12 They fought again but were again driven back and suffered heavy casualties.

13 They went a 3rd time and suffered many deaths again. Those that survived returned to the city of Nephi.

14 They accepted their fate as slaves. They accepted their fate as chattel. They accepted the Lamanites owned them.

15 They realized that they had put themselves in this position because they didn't live moral lives and work together when they needed to, as their ancestors had taught them to.

16 Over a long time, the Lamanites began to ease their mistreatments, but the people of Limhi were still slaves.

17 The people of Limhi slowly began to be more prosperous. They raised more and more crops and livestock. So much so that they were no longer starving.

18 Because of the numerous wars, there were more women than men. King Limhi had his people support these women, so they did not die from starvation.

19 The people of Limhi lived as close together as possible, so they could defend each other's crops and livestock.

20 King Limhi himself did not trust anyone unless he had a guard with him. He was worried about being kidnapped by the Lamanites.

21 King Limhi ordered scouts to go and find his father's immoral teachers who now lived in the wilderness and had kidnapped 24 Lamanite women.

22 These teachers had also come and stolen the people of Limhi's crops, livestock, and other precious possessions.

23 King Limhi wanted justice. He had his men wait and find them.

24 There were no more wars between the people of Limhi and the Lamanites until Ammon and his expedition team arrived.

25 When King Limhi discovered Ammon and his team, he thought they were his father's teachers, and threw them into prison.

26 If they had been the teachers, they would have been put to death. When he found that they were not, but that they were fellow Nephites from the Kingdom of Zarahemla, he was filled with an overwhelming joy.

27 Before Ammon had arrived, Limhi had tried to send scouts to find Zarahemla, but they got lost in the wilderness and were unable to find it.

28 However, they did find a land that had once been habitated. The land was covered with dry bones of a people who had been completely destroyed.

29 King Limhi's expedition team believed that this was the Kingdom of Zarahemla, and so returned to the land of Nephi. They had returned just several days before Ammon had arrived.

30 They brought back a record of the people of that land with them.

31 Limhi was again filled with joy when he learned that Ammon's king, Mosiah the 2nd, was able to decipher these writings. Ammon was excited as well.

32 However, Ammon and his expedition team were filled with sorrow because of how many of their fellow Nephites had been killed, and the immorality that they lived during King Noah's reign.

33 They also mourned the death of Abinadi and the disappearance of Alma and his people.

34 They did not know where Alma and his people had fled to.

35 King Limhi and his people would now gladly join with Alma and his people. King Limhi's people had now also promised to live nothing but a moral life.

36 The people did this when they saw that Ammon had arrived, and there was still hope for them.

37 They wanted to be like the people of Alma, and so made the same promises of morality.