Maps and Journeys - in Nephite Times
In institute this morning we discussed more of the book of Mosiah, particularly chapters 7-17. These chapters mostly talk about the people of Zeniff, who went back to the land of Nephi to live in the land they had first settled, which had been taken over by Lamanites. Much of our class time was used in making sure we understood when and where the various events here took place. In summary:
1. In approximately 200 B.C., Zeniff is a spy for a group of Nephites who journey from Zarahemla to the land of Nephi. Zeniff sees good among the people and doesn't want to destroy them, but the leader of this expedition is bloodthirsty and commands that Zeniff be slain. Family members fight, most of their army is destroyed, they return to Zarahemla. (Omni 1:27-28; Mosiah 9:1-2)
2. Zeniff really, really wants to go to the land of Nephi, so he gathers up whoever will go with him, and he again journeys to the land of Nephi. This time he negotiates with the Lamanite king and is granted the land of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom to live in. They plant crops and settle the land. (Omni 1:29; Mosiah 9:3-9)
Many years pass in relative peace. Eventually they have battles with the Lamanites, who only let them settle the land so they could enslave them, but Zeniff's people fight "in the strength of the Lord" and retain their freedom. Eventually, (around 160 B.C.) Zeniff dies and his son, Noah, becomes king. Noah uses flattery to lead the people into wickedness and the Lord sends Abinadi to warn them to repent. Abinadi is put to death by Noah, but one of Noah's high priests, Alma, believes Abinadi's words and is exiled.
3. After Abinadi's martyrdom, Alma teaches the people in secret, and his followers gather at the waters of Mormon. Later (about 145 B.C.), when the king discovers them and sends an army after them, they flee into the wilderness, eventually settling the land of Helam. (Mosiah 18:34; 23:1-5,19)
4. The Lamanites attack the people of Noah, Noah tells the people to flee, and even to abandon their wives and children in their flight. Eventually some of the people kill Noah, but before they can kill the wicked priests as well, the priests escape into the wilderness. Two years later, the priests kidnap twenty-four of the Lamanite daughters and eventually settle a land they call Amulon. (Mosiah 19:19-21; 23:31)
5. Noah's son Limhi becomes king over the people in Lehi-Nephi and Shilom, but they are subject to the Lamanites, paying high taxes. They fight several battles with the Lamanites in an effort to free themselves, but are unsuccessful. In search of help, they send forty-three people to seek for the land of Zarahemla. They get lost, but eventually find the land the Jaredites had formerly inhabited (called a land of bones) and return with twenty-four engraved gold plates. (Mosiah 8:7-9)
6. In about 121 B.C., King Mosiah, back in the land of Zarahemla, sends sixteen men, led by a man named Ammon, to go find out what happened to the people who had gone to Lehi-Nephi. After getting lost and wandering for forty days in the wilderness, they were mistaken for the missing wicked priests, and so were taken by Limhi's guards and thrown into prison, but were freed two days later after they had a chance to explain who they were. (Mosiah 7:1-7,13-14)
7. Limhi and his people manage to escape from the Lamanites and find their way back to Zarahemla. (Mosiah 22:10-13)
8. A Lamanite army attempts to follow Limhi's people, but they loose the trail and get lost in the wilderness. They do, however, discover the land of Amulon, and the wicked priests and their Lamanite wives join the Lamanite army on their trek through the wilderness searching for the land of Nephi. This group then finds the land of Helam where Alma and his people are living, and Alma's people are enslaved for a while, but eventually Alma and his people manage to escape and find their way to Zarahemla as well in about 120 B.C. (Mosiah 22:16; 23:30-39; 24:20-25)
So, in spite of getting lost and wandering in the wilderness, everyone found their way back to Zarahemla in the end.
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| This is the institute picture... Click on it to see it larger. My numbering isn't quite the same as theirs, since I include Amulon's group, and my list is in chronological order. |
2. Zeniff really, really wants to go to the land of Nephi, so he gathers up whoever will go with him, and he again journeys to the land of Nephi. This time he negotiates with the Lamanite king and is granted the land of Lehi-Nephi and Shilom to live in. They plant crops and settle the land. (Omni 1:29; Mosiah 9:3-9)
Many years pass in relative peace. Eventually they have battles with the Lamanites, who only let them settle the land so they could enslave them, but Zeniff's people fight "in the strength of the Lord" and retain their freedom. Eventually, (around 160 B.C.) Zeniff dies and his son, Noah, becomes king. Noah uses flattery to lead the people into wickedness and the Lord sends Abinadi to warn them to repent. Abinadi is put to death by Noah, but one of Noah's high priests, Alma, believes Abinadi's words and is exiled.
3. After Abinadi's martyrdom, Alma teaches the people in secret, and his followers gather at the waters of Mormon. Later (about 145 B.C.), when the king discovers them and sends an army after them, they flee into the wilderness, eventually settling the land of Helam. (Mosiah 18:34; 23:1-5,19)
4. The Lamanites attack the people of Noah, Noah tells the people to flee, and even to abandon their wives and children in their flight. Eventually some of the people kill Noah, but before they can kill the wicked priests as well, the priests escape into the wilderness. Two years later, the priests kidnap twenty-four of the Lamanite daughters and eventually settle a land they call Amulon. (Mosiah 19:19-21; 23:31)
5. Noah's son Limhi becomes king over the people in Lehi-Nephi and Shilom, but they are subject to the Lamanites, paying high taxes. They fight several battles with the Lamanites in an effort to free themselves, but are unsuccessful. In search of help, they send forty-three people to seek for the land of Zarahemla. They get lost, but eventually find the land the Jaredites had formerly inhabited (called a land of bones) and return with twenty-four engraved gold plates. (Mosiah 8:7-9)
6. In about 121 B.C., King Mosiah, back in the land of Zarahemla, sends sixteen men, led by a man named Ammon, to go find out what happened to the people who had gone to Lehi-Nephi. After getting lost and wandering for forty days in the wilderness, they were mistaken for the missing wicked priests, and so were taken by Limhi's guards and thrown into prison, but were freed two days later after they had a chance to explain who they were. (Mosiah 7:1-7,13-14)
7. Limhi and his people manage to escape from the Lamanites and find their way back to Zarahemla. (Mosiah 22:10-13)
8. A Lamanite army attempts to follow Limhi's people, but they loose the trail and get lost in the wilderness. They do, however, discover the land of Amulon, and the wicked priests and their Lamanite wives join the Lamanite army on their trek through the wilderness searching for the land of Nephi. This group then finds the land of Helam where Alma and his people are living, and Alma's people are enslaved for a while, but eventually Alma and his people manage to escape and find their way to Zarahemla as well in about 120 B.C. (Mosiah 22:16; 23:30-39; 24:20-25)
So, in spite of getting lost and wandering in the wilderness, everyone found their way back to Zarahemla in the end.
We read about Zeniff for our family scripture reading today :)
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