Post by Zeniff-
I may be too late in commenting on a post written by Amaleki about his brother leaving Zarahemla and returning to the land of our fathers’ first inheritance. I see he is no longer keeping this record and I hoped he might learn what has gone on with us before he is gone for good. He mentioned he has never heard of our group since we left Zarahemla. First of all, his brother did indeed leave with us along with many others.
My name is ZENIFF, and I was taught in all the language of the Nephites, and had a knowledge of the land of Nephi, or of the land of our fathers’ first inheritance. I was sent as a spy among the Lamanites that I might spy out their forces, that our army might be able to attack and destroy them. My problems started when I saw this land and this people, I saw that which was good among them and I didn’t want them destroyed.
When I returned to our armies in the wilderness, I made a great case that our leader should make a treaty with them instead of war. But this only caused contention. He was an austere and a blood-thirsty man and he commanded that I should be killed. This fueled the contention. There were enough of those of our army who sided with me and enough loyal to him, that to rescue me, great blood was shed. Tragically, father fought against father, and brother against brother, until the greater number of our army was destroyed in the wilderness. Those of us who were spared returned to the land of Zarahemla to relate that tale to their wives and their children. That is when I met Amaleki’s brother.
This was not the end of it. Having seen the lands Mosiah and our people had left, I become over–zealous to inherit the land of our fathers. So I collected as many as were desirous to go up to possess the land, and started again on our journey into the wilderness to go up to the land, this time to make a treaty rather than war. This journey was not an easy one. We were smitten with famine and sore afflictions. In all my zeal, we were slow to remember the Lord our God.
We traveled many days’ wandering in the wilderness before we arrived here at the place where our brethren were slain, and here we pitched our tents, which conveniently is near to the land of our fathers. Now that we are camped here, my plan is to check out the disposition of the king and determine if we might be able to go in with my people and posses the land in peace. Tomorrow, I plan on taking 4 of my men with me into the city to assess our destiny.
(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 9)
