Post by Helem –
Having been sent by Mosiah to find the remnants of Zeniff; Ammon, Amaleki, Hem, myself and 12 others have had an extremely challenging and interesting time. But wow, what a story King Lemhi has shared with us of the last 80 or so years since Zeniff (Lemhi’s grandfather) left Zarahemla. King Lemhi has shared much of that in previous posts. There are some remarkable people that we’ve learned about and met. One of those is King Lemhi’s own captain, Gideon. I think he is one of my hero’s. Let me tell you somewhat about this great man.
After King Noah had put the prophet Abinadi to death by fire, and had sent his armies to destroy Alma and those who had united with Alma in following the teaching of Abinadi, the armies returned having sought in vain to find them. King Noah’s army had been reduced so there was not a large force and there began to be a real division among the remainder of the people. A portion of the people began to threaten the king causing a real contention among the people. And along comes my hero, Gideon.
Gideon was a strong man and an enemy to the king. He had had enough and in his anger he drew his sword and swore he would kill the king. He and King Noah fought and when Noah realized he was no match for Gideon, he did what any self respecting wicked coward would do, he ran. Gideon pursued Noah until the king got up on the tower by the temple. Gideon was about to follow him up the tower when Noah was able to see the land was being invaded by the Lamanites. Noah only cared about himself but being a great liar and a great coward he pled with Gideon to spare him so the Lamanites wouldn’t destroy Noah’s people. Gideon did spare Noah’s life. Rather than lead the people as a valiant king would, Noah turned and ran and commanded his people to do so as well.
Imagine, being led by a coward to run, men, women and children fleeing into the wilderness before an army of blood thirsty men. They didn’t get far before the army overtook this fleeing people. Now in vintage Noah style, King Noah commanded the men to leave their women and children behind and continue fleeing into the wilderness. Gratefully many of the men refused this command of the king and they stood to die with their wives and children. When these men sent their fair daughters to plead with the army for their lives, the army had compassion, being charmed by their beauty. The conditions were set that to live, they would return to the land of Nephi and would be able to possess the land if they turned Noah over to the Lamanites and they gave half of all they possessed as a tribute to their Lamanite King from year to year. So, the people surrendered half their gold, silver, and their property to the king of the Lamanites. They were captive – in bondage, just as Abinadi had prophesied.
Among these captives was one of King Noah’s sons – Lemhi. Lemhi knew very well how wicked his father was, yet he wasn’t anxious to deliver him to the Lamanites. My man Gideon, secretly sent some men into the wilderness in search of the king and all those that had fled with him. When they caught up with the group, Gideon’s men learned these men had decided to turn back and re-join their families to seek revenge or die with them. When cowardly King Noah commanded them not to return to their families, they took the king and put him to death by fire. You would think it was poetic justice but again, it was just fulfillment of Abinadi’s prophesy that the king would suffer the same fate as did Abinadi.
When these men were about to take the priests and execute them as well, the priests escaped, which as I will relate later was another cause for death and suffering. That was about the time Gideon’s men arrived. When Gideon’s men related what had happened back in the land of Nephi after they fled, the men were so grateful and together they all returned rejoicing. The king of the Lamanites was pacified and for the next few years Lemhi and his people kept their oath and paid tribute to the king of the Lamanites of one half of all they possessed.
A couple years into their bondage, because of the continued treachery of the wicked priests who had escaped, the Lamanite army attacked. King Lamoni had been watching from his tower and saw the Lamanite army preparing to attack so he prepared his people and had them lay wait for the attack. The people of Lemhi were greatly outnumbered yet they fought like lions and a great battle ensued. We were told they so exerted themselves and like dragons they fought. The king of the Lamanites led this attack and was found among the dead once the dust settled, or should I say the blood let stopped. The king of the Lamanites was severely wounded but was not dead and was brought to Lemhi. Lemhi, rather than killing the king for breaking his oath, asked why he would do so. The king of the Lamanites related that 24 of the Lamanite daughters had been kidnapped and in retaliation he brought his armies to destroy the people of Lemhi.
King Lemhi determined to discover who had taken the Lamanitish women when our hero Gideon again stepped in to provide solutions. Gideon reminded Lemhi of the priests of his father and how they were as now in the wilderness and it would certainly be them who had taken these Lamanite daughters. Gideon told Lemhi that the only way to protect the people from another battle, one which they would surely lose, would be to pacify the king and have him in turn pacify his armies. Again, the wisdom of Gideon averted a great massacre. Without weapons they carried the wounded king before the armies of the Lamanites and the oath was renewed and peace again prevailed.
This peace didn’t last long, soon the Lamanites were causing enough trouble to cause Lemhi to permit his people to gather an army to push the Lamanites back. Each of three times they tried, all they accomplished was to create more widows and fatherless children. Finally they gave up and in the depths of humility, deep humility, they submitted themselves to this great and sore bondage.
Abinadi warned if they did not repent they would be in bondage. They did not repent. He warned the second time around that if they did not repent they would be destroyed. Again they did not repent. Now they suffered bondage and many had been destroyed. This was the condition of Lemhi and his people when we arrived.
Now back to my boy Gideon. Yes we were sent to learn about the remnants of Zeniff’s people, but the task immediately became a rescue. But how? The Lamanites had placed guards surrounding the land of Nephi and it would be virtually impossible to escape. There was no way to fight our way out. That had only resulted in death. Gideon, in his great humility approached the king and I loved how he suggested a way out.
“O king, thou has hitherto harkened unto my words many times when we have been contending with our brethren, the Lamanites. And now, O king, if thou hast not found me to be an unprofitable servant, or if thou has 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.”
As I heard this come from one of the mightiest men I have ever known, and I have known many, including our leader Ammon, who is a descendent of Zarahemla, I was awestruck at Gideon’s meekness. Of course Lemhi let him speak and it’s a good thing. This escape tonight is all Gideon. This is his plan. If you never see any more posts about this people you will know that it failed. There is a secret passage through the back wall on the back of the city. So Gideon will take the last tribute of wine to the Lamanite guards, they will certainly get drunk and we will be on our way.
Sounds easy, but now as we help the people gather their flocks, herds, precious things, children, old widows, young widows, gold and silver, its not so simple. Remember, our team of 16 were traveling light and it took us about 6 weeks to get here. Now we are going to work our way past the Lamanite cities, around them, through rough and dangerous wilderness to get back to Zarahemla. Not to mention, when these drunks wake up there will be heads that roll and they will be after us with all their fury.
I love Gideon.
Gideon is such a great man, I won’t be surprised if they don’t name a valley, a land or even a city after him.
Book of Mormon – Mosiah 19, 20, 21 and 22