C

21. For they were desirous to take them, that they might "punish them; for they had come into the land of Nephi by night, and carried off their grain, and many of their precious things; therefore they laid wait for them.

22. And it came to pass that there was no more disturbance between the Lamanites and the people of Limhi, even until the time that Ammon and his brethren came into the land.

23. And the king having been without the gates of the city with his guard, discovered Ammon and his brethren; and supposing them to be priests of Noah, therefore he caused that they should be taken, and bound, and cast into prison. And had they been the priests of Noah, he would have caused that they should be put to death;

24. But when he found that they were not, but that they were his brethren, and had come from the land of Zarahemla, he was filled with exceeding great joy.

25. Now king Limhi had sent, previous to the coming of Ammon, a "small number of men to search for the land of Zarahemla; but they could not find it, and they were 'lost in the wilderness.

26. Nevertheless they did find a land which had been peopled; yea, a land which was 'covered with dry bones : yea, a land which had been peopled, and which had been destroyed; and they having "supposed it to be the land of Zarahemla, returned to the land of Nephi, having arrived in the borders of the land not many days before the "coming of Ammon.

27. And they brought a "record with them, even a record of the people whose bones they had found: and they were engraven on plates of ore.

28. And now Limhi was again filled with joy on learning from the mouth of Ammon that king Mosiah had a "gift from God, whereby he could interpret such engravings; yea, and Ammon also did rejoice.

29. Yet Ammon and his brethren were filled with sorrow because so many of their brethren had been slain;

30. And also that king Noah and his priests had caused the people to commit so many sins and iniquities against God; and they also did mourn for the death of Abinadi: and also for the 2"departure of Alma and the people that went with him, who had formed a church of God through the strength and power of God, and faith on the words which had been spoken by Abinadi;

31. Yea, they did mourn for their departure, for they knew not whither they had fled. Now they would have gladly joined with them, for they themselves had entered

1

into a covenant with God, to serve him and keep his com mandments.

4

32. And now since the coming of Ammon king Limhi had also entered into a covenant with God, and also many of his people, to serve him and keep his commandments. 33. And it came to pass that king Limhi and many of his people were desirous to be baptized; but there was none in the land that had authority from God. And Ammon declined doing this thing, considering himself an unworthy servant;

34. Therefore they did not at that time form themselves into a church, waiting upon the Spirit of the Lord. Now they were desirous to become even as Alma and his brethren, who had fled into the wilderness.

35. They were desirous to be 2"baptized, as a witness and a testimony that they were willing to serve God with all their hearts; nevertheless they did prolong the time: and an account of their baptism shall be given hereafter.

36. And now all the study of Ammon and his people, and King Limhi and his people, was to deliver themselves out of the hands of the Lamanites, and from 2 bondage.

CHAPTER 22.

1. AND now it came to pass that Ammon and king Limhi began to consult with the people how they should deliver themselves out of bondage; and even they did cause that all the people should gather themselves together: and this they did that they might have the voice of the people concerning the matter.

2. And it came to pass that they could find no way to deliver themselves out of bondage, except it were to take their women and children, and their flocks, and their herds, and their tents, and depart into the wilderness; for the Lamanites being so numerous that it was impossible for the people of Limhi to contend with them, thinking to deliver themselves out of bondage by the sword.

3. Now it came to pass that "Gideon went forth and stood before the king, and said unto him, Now O king, thou hast hitherto hearkened unto my words many times when we have been contending with our brethren, the Lamanites.

4. And now O king, if thou hast not found me to be an unprofitable servant, or if thou hast hitherto listened to my words in any degree, and they have been of 'service to thee, even so I desire that thou wouldst listen to my words at this time, and I will be thy servant, and deliver this people out of bondage.

2b, Mos. 18:13, 17. 1 Nep 11 25. 2 c, ver. 35. 2d, see u, 1. Nep. 9. 2e, Mos. 25:17, 18. 2f, Mos. 7: 2, 3. 2g, Mos. 21: 13.

5. And the king granted unto him that he might speak. And Gideon said unto him,

6. Behold the back pass, through the back wall, on the back side of the city. The Lamanites, or the guards of the Lamanites, by night, are drunken; therefore let us send a proclamation among all this people, that they gather together their flocks and herds, that they may drive them into the wilderness by night.

7. And I will go according to thy command, and pay the last tribute of wine to the Lamanites, and they will be drunken; and we will pass through the secret pass on the left of the camp, when they are drunken and asleep :

8. Thus we will depart with our women and our children, our flocks, and our herds into the wilderness; and we will travel around the land of Shilom.

9. And it came to pass that the king hearkened unto the words of Gideon.

10. And king Limhi caused that his people should gather their flocks together: and he sent the "tribute of wine to the Lamanites; and he also sent more wine, as a present unto them and they did drink freely of the wine which king Limbi did send unto them.

11. And it came to pass that the people of king Limhi did depart by night into the wilderness with their flocks and their herds, and they went 'round about the land of Shilom in the wilderness, and bent their course towards the land of Zarahemla, . being led by Ammon and 'his brethren.

12. And they had taken all their gold, and silver, and their precious things, which they could carry; and also their provisions with them, into the wilderness; and they pursued their journey.

13. And after being many days in the wilderness, they arrived in the land of Zarahemla, and joined his people, and became his subjects.

14. And it came to pass that Mosiah received them with joy; and he also received their "records, and also the 'records which had been found by the people of Limhi.

15. And now it came to pass when the Lamanites had found that the people of Limhi had departed out of the land by night, that they sent an Parmy into the wilderness to pursue them;

16. And after they had pursued them two days, they could no longer follow their tracks; therefore they were 'lost in the wilderness.

An account of Alma and the people of the Lord, who were driven into the wilderness by the people of king Noah. CHAPTER 23.

1. Now Alma, having been "warned of the Lord that the armies of king Noah would come upon them, and had made it known to his people; therefore they gathered together their flocks, and took of their grain, and departed into the wilderness before the armies of king, Noah.

2. And the Lord did strengthen them, that the people of king Noah could not ove take them, to destroy them.

3. And they fled 'eight days' journey into the wilderness. 4. And they came to a land, yea, even a very beautiful and pleasant land; a land of pure water

5. And they pitched their tents, and began to till the ground, and began to build buildings, &c.; yea, they were industrious, and did labour exceedingly.

6. And the people were desirous that Alma should be their king, for he was beloved by his people.

7. But he said unto them, Behold, it is not expedient that we should have a king; for thus saith the Lord: Ye shall not esteem one flesh above another, or one man shall not think himself above another; therefore I say unto you, it is not expedient that ye should have a king.

8. Nevertheless, if it were possible that ye could always have just men to be your kings, it would be well for you to have a king.

9. But remember, the "iniquity of king Noah and his priests and I myself was caught in a snare, and did many things which were abominable in the sight of the Lord, which caused me "sore repentance;

10. Nevertheless, after much tribulation, the Lord did hear my cries, and did answer my prayers, and has made me an instrument in his hands, in bringing "so many of you to a knowledge of his truth.

11. Nevertheless, in this I do not glory, for I am unworthy to glory of myself.

12. And now I say unto you, ye have been oppressed by king Noah, and have been in bondage to him and his priests, and have been brought into iniquity by them: therefore ye were bound with the bands of iniquity.

13. And now as ye have been delivered by the power of God out of these bonds; yea, even out of tho hands of king Noah and his people, and also from the bonds of iniquity, even so I desire that ye should stand fast in this liberty

a, Mos. 18: 34, 35. b, Mos. 18: 33, 34. 19: 1. c, Eight days' journey from Mormon, on the borders of Nephi. 29. 27: 3 5. See j, Jacob 2. e, Mos. 24:8-12. g, Mos. 18: 1. h, Mos. 18: 35. 1 -3. Mos. 18: 34, 35.

d, vers. 8-15. Mos. 18: 2111: 1-15. f, Mos. 17: 1-4. i, Mos. 11: 2-15 j, vers

wherewith ye have been made free, and that ye trust *no man to be a king over you;

14. And also trusting 'no one to be your teacher nor your minister, except he be a man of God, walking in his ways and keeping his commandments.

15. Thus did Alma teach his people, that every man should love his neighbour "as himself: that there should be no contention among them.

16. And now Alma was their "high priest, he being the founder of their church.

17. And it came to pass that none received authority to preach or to teach, except it were by him from God. Therefore he consecrated all their priests, and all their teachers, and none were consecrated except they were just men.

18. Therefore they did watch over their people, and did nourish them with things pertaining to righteousness.

19. And it came to pass that they began to prosper exceedingly in the land; and they called the land Helam.

20. And it came to pass that they did multiply and prosper exceedingly in the land of Helam; and they built a city, which they called the city of Helam.

21. Nevertheless, the Lord seeth fit to chasten his people; yea, he trieth, their patience and their faith.

22. Nevertheless, whosoever putteth his trust in him, the same shall be lifted up at the last day. Yea, and thus it was with this people.

23. For behold, I will shew unto you that they were brought into bondage, and none could deliver them but the Lord their God; yea, even the God of Abraham and Isaac, and of Jacob.

24. And it came to pass that he did deliver them, and he did shew forth his mighty power unto them, and great were their rejoicings.

25. For behold, it came to pass that while they were in the land of Helam, yea, in the city of Helam, while tilling the land round about, behold an army of the Lamanites were in the borders of the land.

26. Now it came to pass that the brethren of Alma fled from their fields, and gathered themselves together in the city of Helam; and they were much frightened because of the appearance of the Lamanites.

27. But Alma went forth and stood among them, and exhorted them that they should not be frightened, but that they should remember the Lord their God, and he would deliver them;

28. Therefore they hushed their fears, and began to cry unto the Lord, that he would soften the hearts of the Lamanites, that they would spare them, and their wives, and their children.

k, vers. 6-9.

III. Nep. 14: 12.

Mos. 29:5--36.
n, Mos. 18: 18.

35, 38, 39. 27: 16. 26: 28. 38: 5. III. 4. see o.

l, Mos. 18:18-29. m, Mos. 18:21. See c, Mos. 6. o'vers. 20, 25, 26, 29, Alma 24: 1. p, 1. Nep. 13: 37. 16: 2. Alma 26: 7. Nep. 15: 1. 27: 14, 15, 22. Mor. 2: 19.. Ether 4: 19.