A Man Whose Name Was Gideon

We have five stories about Gideon in the Book of Mormon, and these combine to help us see the faithful, determined, and courageous person that he was. After the people of Alma (the Elder) escaped from King Noah, Gideon opposed the unrighteous monarch. We read, “And now there was a man among them whose name was Gideon, and he being a strong man and an enemy to the king, therefore he drew his sword, and swore in his wrath that he would slay the king” (Mosiah 19:4). Although the text doesn’t mention Abinadi here, perhaps he was seeking vengeance for the fact that King Noah had killed him, an innocent man. Gideon was a stronger man than King Noah and would have slain him if Noah hadn’t pleaded for mercy because the Lamanites were coming to attack their people. Thus, here in this story Gideon showed his physical strength, his sense of justice and opposition to wickedness, and at least some amount of compassion and mercy.  

                The second story of Gideon, which took place shortly thereafter, is the brief account of his seeking out of the king after the Nephites were taken captive by the Lamanites. He had spared Noah’s life because the king was worried the Lamanites would destroy their people. But then Noah fled and in an act of total cowardice left the women and children to be captured by the Lamanites. Gideon must have been furious to realize that he spared Noah’s life so he could save the people only to have him abandon them completely. Realizing this, “Gideon sent men into the wilderness secretly, to search for the king and those that were with him” (Mosiah 19:18). Gideon was not one to wait around for things to happen—he took matters into his own hands and wanted to make sure the king got the justice that was due him. He likely was not acting under the direction of Limhi even though he was a friend to the new king—when Gideon saw that something needed to be done, he did it. Those men that Gideon sent found that the people had already killed Noah.

                The third story of Gideon was when he saved the people from being destroyed by the Lamanites. The daughters of the Lamanites had been stolen by the priests in the wilderness, and the Lamanites attacked the Nephites. King Laman was captured and interrogated, and Limhi was ready to search his people to see who had taken the Lamanite women. Gideon was a fast thinker, though, and figured out what had happened: “Now when Gideon had heard these things, he being the king’s captain, he went forth and said unto the king: I pray thee forbear, and do not search this people, and lay not this thing to their charge. For do ye not remember the priests of thy father, whom this people sought to destroy? And are they not in the wilderness? And are not they the ones who have stolen the daughters of the Lamanites? And now, behold, and tell the king of these things, that he may tell his people that they may be pacified towards us; for behold they are already preparing to come against us; and behold also there are but few of us. And behold, they come with their numerous hosts; and except the king doth pacify them towards us we must perish” (Mosiah 20:17-20). Gideon undoubtedly had received inspiration from the Lord, and if he hadn’t boldly gone to the king with this thought, the Nephites would have been destroyed. Gideon was a man who was of great service to his people and could hear the voice of the Lord.

                In the fourth story of Gideon we again see how great a servant he was to his people as he helped them escape the Lamanites. He had the idea that led to their freedom: “Gideon went forth and stood before the king, and said unto him: Now O king, thou hast hitherto hearkened 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 hast 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. And the king granted unto him that he might speak. And Gideon said unto him: Behold the back pass, through the back wall, on the back side of the city. The Lamanites, or the guards of the Lamanites, by night are drunken; therefore let us send a proclamation among all this people that they gather together their flocks and herds, that they may drive them into the wilderness by night. And I will go according to thy command and pay the last tribute of wine to the Lamanites, and they will be drunken; and we will pass through the secret pass on the left of their camp when they are drunken and asleep” (Mosiah 22:3-7). The idea was brilliant and worked perfectly. Again, I think Gideon showed that he could receive revelation, and he wasn’t afraid to use that to help the people even though he wasn’t himself the king. He was proactive and bold, while still remaining humble before the king. Ammon and his men gave the Nephites hope and guidance back to Zarahemla after their escape; Gideon gave them inspiration that enabled them to finally get out of bondage.

                In the last story of Gideon, we see his faith and determination to stand up for what was right. He withstood the false teachings of Nehor, even though he was by this time a very old man. He was around as a contemporary of Alma (the Elder) when Alma was “a young man” in the courts of King Noah and was strong enough to attempt to slay Noah at that time (Mosiah 17:2). This encounter with Nehor took place after Alma had died at the age of 82 (see Mosiah 29:46), which means that Gideon was probably around that same age (and that he had been a “young man” too in his earlier encounter with Noah). We read that Gideon “belonged to the church of God, yea, even one of their teachers; and [Nehor] began to contend with [Gideon] sharply, that he might lead away the people of the church; but [Gideon] withstood him, admonishing him with the words of God.” Just as had been many decades earlier facing Noah, he was bold and determined to stand up for what was right. But he did not have the strength he had once had: “Now, because Gideon withstood him with the words of God he was wroth with Gideon, and drew his sword and began to smite him. Now Gideon being stricken with many years, therefore he was not able to withstand his blows, therefore he was slain by the sword” (Alma 1:7-9). Once more he did not wait for someone else to step in and do something in a difficult situation—even though he was very old—but he took matters into his own hands when he saw a need, and he boldly declared what was true and right to Nehor. That was the end of the life of Gideon, but his example lives on and shows us what it means to have courage and determination and inspiration and to unselfishly serve the Lord and His people.