Gideon Delivers the Limhites from Lamanite Bondage
Book of Mormon Notes - Saturday, July 29, 2023, Mosiah 22
In this chapter, the Limhites finally escape. They are finally delivered from Lamanite bondage. After the many trials that these people had endured since Zeniff left Zarahemla, they finally found a way to return. Zeniff’s expedition and re-colonization efforts were in many ways disastrous. Essentially, the attempt to re-inherit the land of Nephi failed. But many great and important events and discoveries took place within the Zenephite civilization, events and discoveries that are pivotal and crucial for understanding the rest of the Book of Mormon.
Without Zeniff’s over-zealous efforts to re-inherit the land of Nephi, we would not have the story of Abinadi, the conversion of Alma and his people, the discovery of the Jaredite records, or the heroism of Gideon. If Mormon’s narrative had continued with only the story of Zarahemla and King Mosiah, it would have been very difficult to explain why the departure of Zeniff, and the return of Limhi, Gideon, and eventually Alma and their people was so significant. Mormon had studied the many plates to which he had access, and he weaved together the narratives in a masterful way. Obviously he was inspired and led by the Spirit of the Lord to create this abridgment of the large plates of Nephi, to which he added his own inspired teachings, and to which his son Moroni added his own inspired teachings along with the abridgment of the Jaredite record. And all of it points to and testifies of Jesus Christ.
Interestingly, the Lord strengthened the Limhites and prepared a way for them to deliver themselves. Although their deliverance is still miraculous, it was accomplished in a very straightforward way. King Limhi and his people gathered together in a kind of democratic process to determine what would be the best way to deliver themselves from Lamanite bondage. There was no splitting of a sea, manna, or water gushing forth from a rock. But the Lord inspired Gideon, the great Limhite hero, with a plan that worked.
The voice of the people was important on this occasion, because they had to unanimously agree on a plan and execute it. All of this had to be done in secret, without being discovered by the Lamanites. Limhi’s people gathered and counseled together about a plan for deliverance, and Gideon, ever the hero, stepped forward to volunteer his service. I find in this episode a symbol in miniature of the great Council in Heaven, including the calling of Jesus Christ as our Savior. Gideon, a type of Christ, was prepared and volunteered to lead King Limhi’s people out of bondage.
Gideon paid a tribute of wine, along with an extra gift of wine, to the Lamanite guards who were often drunk by the back pass. The Limhites took as many of their possessions as they could carry and escaped during the night, with Gideon leading the way. The Lord blessed them and their plan allowed them to return to Zarahemla with their records to join King Mosiah and the people of Zarahemla. Zarahemla was becoming an even greater gathering place for the Nephites, and in my opinion, it may have been located in what will also be the future gathering place of Zion, the New Jerusalem in the last days.
King Mosiah received the Limhites with joy. He also received their records with joy. But the main record of Abinadi’s teachings must have been kept by Alma, and Alma and his people were still in the wilderness. Nevertheless, King Mosiah also received the Jaredite record that King Limhi’s people had discovered. All things were flowing toward King Mosiah, this great king, this great prophet and seer. In a similar way, all things flowed toward the Prophet Joseph Smith, the great prophet and seer of the last days. He was the instrument for the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the establishment of Zion again upon the earth. I find a parallel between the great gathering in Zarahemla and the gathering that Joseph Smith initiated.
The Lamanites tried to hunt down the Limhites, but once again, they could not find them or follow their tracks. The possibility of travel by river has been suggested, and I think that it is likely that many of the Nephite journeys were not only by land. This is another reason why I think that a North American setting for most Book of Mormon activity makes the most sense.
Gideon had earned the esteem of the king and his people because of his courage and his valiant deeds before the great escape. With their successful escape and return to Zarahemla, Gideon was a great hero for the Limhites, and King Mosiah’s people in Zarahemla must have also esteemed Gideon as a hero. It is probably not a coincidence that his name reminds us of the great hero in the Old Testament. Furthermore, Gideon later established a city, or at least there was a Nephite city named Gideon. We will pay attention to this city to see how it was established and what it was special.