Post by Helam –
I had never given much thought to the kind of experience it was a hundred years ago when King Mosiah (King Benjamin’s father) left this land and united his people with my people in the land of Zarahemla. Of course I wasn’t born yet, so I had very little interest until now. Imagine, a people leaving the land of their inheritance, uniting with a strange people in Zarahemla, getting settled in, only to have a group of them leave and go back to re-establish themselves in the land of Nephi, and now 80 years or so later be in the bondage to the very Lamanites their ancestors had fled so many years ago.
Here we are, repeating the exodus. King Lemhi announced to the people that the people in Zarahemla were alive and were not the destroyed civilization which had been found years earlier. This was big news for his people. He then asked Ammon to address the multitude and share with them the history of the past 60-80 years since Zeniff departed Zarahemla.
You can imagine their interest. These two parallel societies had both suffered much by way of war, contention and bloodshed. Both had prophets and both had been preserved by God. Ammon paid particular attention to the teachings of King Benjamin as he taught the people of King Lemhi. Rather than a mere history lesson, Ammon taught the profound teachings of King Benjamin with power and the spirit so that they might understand all the words which he spoke. When King Benjamin spoke – his testimony and teachings reached deep into our hearts making an impact to change our lives forever. Ammon’s passion to share these words caused him great pleasure as he shared with these people so hungry for deliverance of both temporal and spiritual captivity.
After Ammon finished this great discourse or lesson or story – whichever you want to call it, King Lamoni dismissed his people to return to their own homes.
For our little group of 16 men, the day then got interesting. King Lemhi had the record of what had taken place with his people since Zeniff’s departure brought to Ammon so we could read them. This story is of such a fascinating nature, I don’t feel capable to relate it to you. I have asked King Lemhi himself if he would share what is found in their record in the next several posts. You too will be intrigued.
(Book of Mormon | Mosiah 8:1 – 5)
(Book of Mormon | Omni 1:12 – 30
