Four Exoduses

There are four accounts in the Book of Mormon of a group of people fleeing or escaping from the land of the Lamanites and finding safety in the land of Zarahemla.  The stories show the way that the Lord will protect His people as well as the joy of reunion.  The first exodus was led by Mosiah who “was warned of the Lord that he should flee out of the land of Nephi” (Omni 1:12).  Mosiah took the righteous Nephites and left before the rest of the Nephites were destroyed by the Lamanites and the land of Nephi was taken over by them.  Mosiah’s people found the land of Zarahemla where the people of Mulek had established their society, and ultimately “the people of Zarahemla, and of Mosiah, did unite together” (Omni 1:19).  

                 The second group to escape the land of Nephi for Zarahemla was the people of Limhi.  After being subject to the Lamanites for years and having many of their number slain, Gideon and Ammon  helped them devise a way to slip out of the city: “And it came to pass that the people of king Limhi did depart by night into the wilderness with their flocks and their herds” (Mosiah 22:11).  It was only through the grace of God that they were able to find their way out and make it back to Zarahemla.  And when they did, they “joined Mosiah’s people” and they were “received… with joy” (Mosiah 22:13-14).  The third group had a similar story: Alma’s people were captured by the Lamanites and it was only through the power of God that they were delivered from bondage.  Again by night they gathered together their goods and the Lord caused a deep sleep to come upon the Lamanites and simply “departed into the wilderness” (Mosiah 24:20).  Because they did “submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord,” He watched over them and ultimately brought them back to Zarahemla to join the Nephites, and “king Mosiah did also receive them with joy (Mosiah 24:15, 25).         

                The fourth group came many years later after the mission of the sons of Mosiah to the Lamanites.  There were many converted Lamanites who took upon themselves the name of Anti-Lehi-Nephi and the other Lamanites became angry with them and slew many of them.  Eventually, Ammon was worried that they would be completely destroyed, and he said to them, “Let us gather together this people of the Lord, and let us go down to the land of Zarahemla to our brethren the Nephites” (Alma 27:5).  The Lord warned Ammon that they needed to go or they would be destroyed by the Lamanites, and ultimately the Nephites showed great love and gave up part of their land and the voice of the people allowed the converted people of Ammon to join them.  They became an integral part of the Nephite society, especially during the war period when their sons fought with the Nephites. 

                It seems to me that these small exoduses can be a symbol to us of our mortal journey.  We are all in the land of the “Lamanites” trying to make our way back home to safety.  The Lord promises to warn us and protect us and deliver us from evil if we will follow Him, and ultimately we can return to live in the presence of our Heavenly Father if we are willing to be obedient and make the journey.  And the reunion there promises to be great as we join those family and loved ones who have gone before us.  We will have the “exceeding joy” that these groups saw in their own uniting and that will come to the “truly penitent and humble seeker of happiness” (Alma 27:18).