Mosiah — Chapter 10
Zeniff’s record, continued.
1 After that, we began to have peace again. I had my people make all kinds of weapons so we could protect ourselves from the Lamanites.
2 I put guards all over our land so the Lamanites would not surprise us again. This was how I protected my people and their flocks from their enemies.
3 We lived in our ancestors’ lands for twenty-two years.
4 I had the men plant all kinds of grain and fruit.
5 I had the women make all kinds of cloth so we would have clothes to wear. We prospered and had peace for twenty-two years.
6 After King Laman died, his son became king. He made his people angry, and they prepared to make war against us again.
7 But I had sent my spies to the land of Shemlon to find out what they were going to do, so I could make plans to protect my people.
8 The Lamanites came to the north of Shilom with so many men that they could not be counted. They had many weapons, but they were not wearing any armor at all.
9 I had our women and children hide in the wilderness, and I made all the men who were able gather together to fight the Lamanites. I put them in groups by ages.
10 We went to fight the Lamanites with God’s power. I went to fight, too, even though I was old.
11 The Lamanites did not know about the Lord, but they were a strong people.
12 They were wild and loved killing, and they believed in the lies their ancestors taught them — that they were taken away from Jerusalem because of the wickedness of Lehi and Ishmael, and that Nephi had treated them badly in the desert and while crossing the sea,
13 And that they were treated badly in the promised land. But Nephi was blessed more than they were only because he kept God’s commandments, and God made him their leader.
14 But his brothers were angry with him because they did not know about God’s ways. They were angry with him while crossing the sea because they had hardened their hearts against the Lord.
15 They were angry with him when they got to the promised land because they said that they be the rulers, not him, and they tried to kill him.
16 They were angry when Nephi went into the wilderness when God told him to. The Lamanites said Nephi had stolen the brass plates when he took them with him.
17 So they taught their children to hate and murder and steal from the Nephites.
18 This was why King Laman lied to me and tricked me into bringing my people to this land — so he could make us slaves and destroy us. We have suffered many things in this land because of them.
19 Now after I, Zeniff, told my people these things about the Lamanites, I got them ready to fight with all their might, trusting in God. Then we fought the Lamanites face to face.
20 We chased the Lamanites out of our land and killed so many of them that we did not count them.
21 We went back to our land and began raising our crops and herds again.
22 Now since I am old, I have given the kingdom to one of my sons. I will stop writing now. May God bless my people. Amen.
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