In chapters 9 and 10 of Mosiah, we come to a flashback within a flashback. When Ammon and the Nephites from Zarahemla found the people of Limhi, the descendants of Nephites who had left Zarahemla three generations earlier, they heard an account of their bondage to their enemies from Limhi. As the king and record-keeper for his people, Limhi had records of the people dating back to his grandfather, Zeniff's, day. These records are inserted into the Book of Mosiah. For the next thirteen chapters, we come to know these people, particularly the wicked King Noah (Zeniff's son and Limhi's father) and of the prophet, Abinadi, who was sent by the Lord to testify and to teach. We are also introduced to a man named Alma, who was a priest in King Noah's court.*
God's people have always kept records. From an early Hebrew prayer carved into the walls of an ancient Egyptian salt mine** to the Dead Sea Scrolls and beyond, we find evidence of the importance of keeping such sacred records. In fact, in my scripture study routine this morning, I watched two BYU devotionals. One alluded to the Diary of Anne Frank, the record of a Jewish family in Holland hiding from the Nazis in a secret annex. Apparently, just before the family moved to the annex, Anne heard a government representative on the radio say that the history of that time would not be found in the official records, but in the diaries and letters of the people who lived through it. Anne took that to heart and began to rewrite her diary in a form that she hoped might be published one day in the future.
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Zeniff's record began with his account of his pilgrimage to the Nephite's ancient homeland, now in the hands of their enemies, the Lamanites. One thing I like about Zeniff is his honesty in reporting. He admits that he was over zealous to possess part of his former homeland to the degree that he was easily drawn into a dishonest contract with the Lamanite king.
It reminds me of the old saying that "if one is to sup with the devil, one must use a long spoon." My alternative would be "just don't sup with the devil!" The problem is that it is sometimes difficult to see who he is. Many wolves masquerade as sheep. People who are honest in their dealings with others sometimes have a hard time seeing that these others may not be honest.
That was the case with Zeniff. He believed King Laman when he said he would give them two sections of land and that he promised not to attack them. Zeniff later realized, to his sorrow, that King Laman had no intention of keeping his promise. The Nephites, being an industrious people, began to build cities and plant crops and raise herds of animals. When they had accumulated sufficient wealth, the Lamanites fell upon them. Zeniff was forced to arm his people for war. Because they relied on the Lord, they were preserved in warfare.
When his son, Noah, became king, the same could not be said. This condition led to the downfall and bondage of this people.
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In this blog, I am trying to be a covenant keeper by recording what the Spirit teaches me about the scriptures and how it applies to what is happening in my day. My mind is often led to other relevant sources from literature, music, even films. My sister once asked if it was scary living in my brain. Actually, it is exhilarating!
© Dr. Kathleen Rawlings Buntin Danielson, April 2020
*Again, the complexity and internal consistency of the Book of Mormon boggles my mind. I know that an uneducated farm boy of upstate New York could have written it. In fact, it is a miracle that he could have even translated, and would not have been able to do so were it not for the gift and power of God.
** written in an archaic form of Hebrew, it reportedly said "Elohim, save me," presumably written by a Hebrew slave as noted in the documentary Exodus Decoded by Simcha Jacobovici.
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