Post by Mosiah –
Until you experience the challenges I, king over Zarahemla and all the land round about, am currently charged by God to manage, you may never understand the decisions I’ve made. I may not even comprehend them all. I struggle to balance the feelings of my duty to family, to the people over whom I reign, to all those who came before us and have kept the sacred records, and especially to my God.
My four sons and many of their associates are now leaving to teach the Lamanites. Yes, the very Lamanites from whom Lemhi and Alma with their people were recently delivered. How can a father sanction that?
The sacred records having been kept safe for more than 500 years are now in the care of Alma – the former most vile of sinners. How can a king risk that?
I am getting old and now have no heir’s upon whom to bestow the kingdom. How can I justify that.
To top all of this off, the translation of the records brought to us from Lemhi is now complete and the weight of that story’s tragedy clings to my very soul. How can I bear that?
Alma, my sons Ammon, Aaron, Omni and Himner and those who were with them when the angel appeared; began from that time forth traveling through out the land preaching, publishing, testifying, warning, expounding, exhorting, imparting, explaining, repairing, and declaring good tidings. So dedicated in serving the Lord and making up for the great damage they’d done, these whom we considered lost, have been more than found, they truly have been redeemed.
Even in the face of much persecution and trial among some of these my people who are unbelievers, they didn’t shrink. They became so powerful in publishing the word of God; if there were ever better instruments in the hands of God in bringing His children to the knowledge of the truth and the knowledge of their Redeemer, I’ve not read about them in the many records I’ve recently placed in Alma’s charge.
Their zeal became so powerful, I their king couldn’t deny them the opportunity to impart the word of God to the Lamanites. I sought God’s blessing in this matter and He indeed told me a great work was to be had there at their hand.
They petitioned me saying they may perhaps bring the Lamanites to the knowledge of their God and convince them of the iniquity of their fathers and that perhaps they might cure them of their hatred toward the Nephites; that they might also be brought to rejoice in the Lord their God and become friendly one with another and there be no more contention in the land.
How does a father or even a king say no to that?
They couldn’t stand the thought any human should perish and should endure endless torment. These my sons, trembled at the thought. If the Lord was fit in His infinite mercy to spare my sons, He certainly can do so for our brothers the Lamanites.
He said so Himself. The Lord assured me that many will believe in my son’s words and those that do, will have eternal life and the Lord will deliver my sons out of the hands of the Lamanites. I don’t know when or if I will ever see my sons again. I bid them farewell with the love of a proud but heart-aching father.
Just to make one thing clear, I did offer each of my sons my kingdom; and to a man they refused, telling me it wasn’t a kingdom big enough, they sought only the Kingdom of God.
