Post by Lemhi –
As I mentioned in my last post, Helam asked me to share my Grandfather Zeniff’s history of when he left Zarahemla to go up to the land of Nephi. I am a little embarrassed but still honor him. Mostly, I’m ashamed of my father King Noah, but that story will be later.
Zeniff was part of a team of spies which were part of a military operation with a mission to attack and destroy the Lamanites. He was sent to spy on the forces of Lamanites that were in the land of Nephi which was the land of our fathers’ first inheritance. When he returned to report to his army, he related all that was good among the Lamanites and that it was a choice land and he didn’t want to attack and destroy. He proposed that they make a treaty with the Lamanites and thus enjoy that land. Zeniff was so passionate about his desire that there arose a contention among these men. The ruler of this army was described as an austere and blood-thirsty man and he commanded the army to kill my grandfather.
This contention got to the point that practically a civil war broke out within the ranks of this army. In my grandfather’s own history he tells that “I was rescued by the shedding of much blood; for father fought against father, and brother against brother, until the greater number of our army was destroyed in the wilderness.” If I hadn’t seen how a people can get so stirred up in hatred myself, I wouldn’t be able to believe that an army could turn on itself and family actually kill family. But that is what happened. After this contention or should I call it self-destruction, the few survivors including my grandfather returned to the land of Zarahemla, to relate that tale to their wives and their children.
That didn’t stop my grandfather. He being over-zealous to inherit the land of our fathers, collected as many as were desirous to go up to possess the land, and started again on a journey into the wilderness to go up to the land; but they were smitten with famine and sore afflictions; for they were slow to remember the Lord their God. We know this from Zeniff’s own record he kept and in his record he admits to these challenges and his own zeal and lack of reliance of the Lord.
He says it was many days’ wandering in the wilderness until they pitched their tents in the place where the army brethren were slain, which was near to the land of our Nephi. If you have been following this blog for long you remember that when our first parents, Lehi, Nephi and the rest of the family landed in this promised land the first place they settled was the land of Nephi. As Laman and Lemuel and those that followed them became more and more hostile to Nephi and those who were true to the commandments of the Lord, Nephi and his followers left the land of Nephi and settled elsewhere. Since then the followers of Laman and Lemuel – whom we call Lamanites have inhabited the land of Nephi.
Safely encamped outside the land of Nephi, Zeniff took four of his men and went into the city and into see the king. He wanted to know the disposition of the king, and learn if Zeniff’s people could go in and possess the land in peace.
In meeting with the king, the king covenanted with Zeniff that my grandfather might possess the land of Lehi-Nephi, and the land of Shilom. What was amazing was that the king commanded his people to leave that part of the land so Zeniff and his people could possess it. That could not have been popular with the people who had to leave their homes.
Neverless, these Nephites now in a land of Lamanites, began to build building and to repair the walls of the city of Lehi-Nephi and the city of Shilom. They began to till the ground with all manner of seeds, with seeds of corn and wheat and barley and neas and sheum and all sorts of fruits and they prospered.
As cunning and smart as was my grandfather, I am surprised he didn’t realize he was being outsmarted by the cunning and craftiness of King Laman who only gave up the land so he could bring Zeniff’s people into bondage.
